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

Grenada 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 Yalobusha River, it is the largest FCR with a summer pool of 35,820 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 (9,800 ac); flood pool is 64,600 ac. The state’s largest lake is a popular destination for crappie and catfish anglers.

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

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 7/29/2025

SpeciesDetail
BassBass are deep with water temperatures in the mid 80s.  Fish main lake points and river ledges deep.  Keep an extra rod rigged with a soft plastic (Carolina or Texas rig, dropshot, or swim bait) to follow up a missed strike or for light biters.
CrappieCollins' Bait Shop (662)226-3581 reports that crappie are spread out. With more water being pulled this week, fish should start to school up. Active sonar, trolling weighted jigs,  or pulling crankbaits have been good methods. Fish jigs and/or minnows 15 - 20 ft deep in the main lake.  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.
BreamFish redworms or crickets 6 - 8 ft near any cover (timber, brush tops, stake beds, flooded grass, etc.). Bream on bed on flooded gravel roads, ATV trails, or firm sand.
CatfishCatfishing has been good lately with about any bait or method working. Fish in the rivers and creeks in rainfall runoff or on recently flooded main lake flats with various natural baits with rod-and-reel, trotlines, or jugs (noodles). Collins' Bait Shop (662)226-3581 reported that catfishing has been especially good in the spillway in the morning using nightcrawlers, shad, and goldfish. Check and/or move stationary gear often with the water rising or falling.
White BassFish shad-imitating lures (jigs, small crankbaits, etc.) over a firm bottom (sand, hard clay) usually found on main lake points. There are no size or number limits on them. They taste better if immediately put into an ice/water "slush".

Keep an eye on the heat index and drink plenty of fluids.

Water Level

Water level 218.83ft, dropping 0.17 ft/day, 3.8 ft over rule curve Tuesday. Less rain has enabled COE to release more water. Falling water levels will start to pull fish out of flooded vegetation via tributaries toward the main lake. It will also concentrate fish and baitfish. The water level this week will depend on the amount of predicted rainfall and gate operations. Expect rapid water level rises and drawdowns as rain events happen and the Corps tries to achieve and maintain rule curve. Fall drawdown starts August 1 and winter pool (193 ft) is supposed to be achieved by December 1.  Both game and bait fish should follow the river and creeks toward the main lake. For water level information, call (662)226-5911 or check at Vicksburg District Daily River Bulletin for a table OR Yalobusha River @ Grenada Dam, MS for a graph OR Yazoo River Basin Reservoirs for both (click on "24-hour change" numbers for a picture explanation of gate flow, spillway flow, etc.). Be sure to check the date on the table; it is usually updated midday.

Spillway

The spillway was releasing 3466 cfs Tuesday PM. Less rain has enabled COE to release more water. Best luck here is when some water is being released, but not too much. Catfishing has been very good on about any bait fished near the bottom - use a bobber or slip-cork to keep from losing tackle in the rocks. Lines using live bait fished down the river have been productive. Fish for crappie with a jig and/or minnow under a bobber near the rocks or in the old river run. White Bass will be in the current where you can drift a 2-jig rig just off bottom or fish small crankbaits or tailspinner lures. For largemouths, fish spinnerbaits or soft plastics along the rocks. Expect frequent gate closures and openings as the Corps maintains the rule curve in the reservoir above. 

Spillway gate openings, flow rates, and spillway water levels can be obtained at (662)226-5911 or check at Vicksburg District Daily River Bulletin OR Yazoo River Basin Reservoirs (click on 24-hour change for picture explanation of gate flow, spillway flow, etc.). Be sure to check the date on the table; it is usually updated midday. 

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 transferring 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.

Grenada 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

*Grenada Reservoir Interactive Map

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