*Enid Lake is a flood control reservoir in north Mississippi operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE). The MDWFP Fisheries Bureau manages Enid Lake's fisheries resources and provides weekly fishing reports.

Enid Lake Overview

Enid Reservoir is one of four flood control reservoirs (FCRs) in north Mississippi. Built by the US Army Corps of Engineers (COE) in 1954 on the Yocona River, it has a summer pool of 16,130 ac. Water levels follow an annual rule curve but deviate from it due to local precipitation and COE spillway gate operations. The reservoir is lowered in fall to winter pool (6,120 ac); flood pool is 27,950 ac. Enid contains 400 ac Wildcat Brake , a sub-impoundment in the upper reservoir between the Yocona River and Otoucaloufa Creek. The reigning World Record White Crappie was caught at Enid Lake in 1957.

 

For more information on this lake's fees, permits, rules and regulations, and amenities visit the Enid Lake page at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website.

Address: 264 County Road 39, Enid, MS 38927

Alert

New crappie regulations went into effect on July 24, 2024 on the four Flood Control Reservoirs (Arkabutla, Sardis, Enid, and Grenada) and their spillways.

The daily creel limit for crappie is 10 fish per angler, and the daily aggregate limit is 25 fish for boats with three or more anglers. Crappie must be over 12 inches, and the pole limit remains at 4 per angler. In addition, fish may only be cleaned at designated fish cleaning stations if available, not on the water or in the boat ramp parking lots. In the spillways, the daily limit is 10 fish per angler. There are no boat or size limits in the spillways. Pole limits in the rip-rapped portions of the spillways remain 1 per angler.

Fishing Report - Updated 4/15/2025

BassBass are moving into shallower water via tributaries and ditches as the water rises. There should be some spawning; look for firmer bottom such as flooded gravel roads or 4-wheeler trails. Any cover (wood, brush tops, stake beds, flooded grass, etc.) is a plus. Fish vibrating jigs, buzzbaits, or slow-rolled spinnerbaits from the surface to 6 ft deep. Fish soft plastics (Carolina, Texas, or Ned rigs, drop shots, swim baits, etc.) for light biters.
Crappie Crappie have been moving/spawning in the tributaries and shallows. Higher water has the fish more spread out. Fish in or outside the creeks in the upper end of the lake (Billy's, Lovejoy, etc.) by boat, bank, or wading. Fish bright-colored jigs and/or minnows 1 - 4 ft in spawning areas or out from them, troll in the main lake, or bank fish in the river and creeks. Use bigger baits and/or fish deeper to target larger crappie. Replace treble hooks with single hooks and/or pinch down the barbs to make releasing short fish faster and less damaging; it does no good to release dead fish.
BreamNo reports. Try redworms fished 1.5 - 4 ft deep near any cover (brush tops, timber, flooded grass, etc.). 
Catfish Catfishing has been good in the higher water with fish feeding up pre-spawn. Fish worms or stinkbaits in the river and creeks if there is rainfall runoff or fish various natural baits over recently flooded main lake flats (worms are good on a rise). Rod-and-reel (drifting or stationary), trotlines, and noodles (jugs) will all work, but check and/or move lines often with the water falling or rising.
White BassSome fish are on their spawning run. There have been good recent reports (50+ fish/trip) wading in the river and larger creeks. Cast shad-imitating jigs or small crankbaits over hard-bottomed, sandy main lake points or sand bars in tributaries. There are no size or number limits on white bass. They taste better if immediately put into an ice/water "slush".

More seasonal temperatures are in store this week with rain moving in this weekend. Water levels should remain fairly stable since the COE cannot release much water with the Mississippi River flooding. Check water level trends; except for catfish, fishing is usually better on a slow fall than a fast rise.

Crappie spawning starts when average daily water temperature at “fish depth” is about 58, peaks at about 65, and ends at about 75 F. Timing and duration of the spawn depends on temperature and water level trends, weather fronts, and moon phases. Fish will spawn shallower in rising water, deeper in falling water. Bigger females usually spawn first. Males of any size can be caught throughout the spawn. Males will stay on the nest until eggs hatch and fry swim up (4 - 7 days) even if the water rises or falls (unless the nest gets too shallow). Males of both Black and White Crappie get darker during the spawn; females do not change color. Historically, crappie spawn on the flood control reservoirs from the last week of March until about the first week of May, but it may shift earlier, later, or be split into two or more peaks due to weather and water fluctuations.

Water Level

Water level 251.18 ft, rising 0.05 ft/day, 5.5 ft over rule curve Tuesday. Expect the water level to stabilize later this week. Expect rapid water level rises and drawdowns as rain events happen and the Corps tries to achieve rule curve. The water level is supposed to rise from 235 ft March 1 to summer pool (250 ft) by May 1. 

Water levels can be obtained at (662)563-4571 or check at Vicksburg District Daily River Bulletin for a table, OR Yocona River @ Enid Dam, MS, OR Yazoo River Basin Reservoirs for both (click on 24-hour change for a picture explanation of gate flow, spillway flow, etc.).

Spillway

The spillway had all gates closed (0 cfs) Tuesday. Expect the gates to be slowly opened as flooding abates. Fishing will improve when the gates reopen. With only "leak" flow in the spillway, both crappie and catfish are being caught in the main spillway channel. Fishing should improve when the gates reopen. Expect frequent gate closures and openings as the Corps tries to achieve rule curve in the reservoir above. Best luck now is for crappie and catfish. For crappie, fish jigs and/or minnows near the rocks. Catfishing is best in pools or eddies on various natural baits. For White Bass, fish small crankbaits, jigs, or tailspinners in faster current; below the "waterfall" is a good spot. Fish for Largemouth or Spotted Bass on the rocks with spinnerbaits or swimbaits.

Spillway gate openings, flow rates, and water levels can be obtained at (662)563-4571 or check at Vicksburg District Daily River Bulletin for a table, OR Yocona River @ Enid Dam, MS, OR Yazoo River Basin Reservoirs for both (click on 24-hour change for a picture explanation of gate flow, spillway flow, etc.).

All fish captured and kept with dip or landing nets, cast nets, boat mounted scoops, wire baskets, minnow seines, and minnow traps in the spillway areas bordered by rip rap must be immediately placed on ice or in a dry container. Game fish caught with these gears must be released. This regulation was enacted to reduce the potential of spreading harmful Asian carps to the reservoir or other waters.

The 12-inch crappie length limit does not apply to the reservoir spillway, but the spillway has a 10-crappie creel limit.

Enid Reservoir Special Regulations

Creel and Size Limits

SpeciesLengths to ReleaseDaily Creel Limits
Crappie (combined black and white)12 inches and under

10 per angler

25 per boat for boats with 3 or more anglers

Statewide creel and size limits apply to all other fish species

Lake Regulations

  • Anglers may use no more than 4 poles per person and no more than 2 hooks or lures per pole.
  • Fish may only be cleaned at designated fish cleaning stations if available, not on the water or in the boat ramp parking lots

*Enid Reservoir Interactive Map

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