*Sardis Reservoir is 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.

Sardis Reservoir is one of four flood control reservoirs (FCRs) in north Mississippi. Built by the US Army Corps of Engineers (COE) in 1939 on the Little Tallahatchie River, it is the oldest FCR with a summer pool of 32,100 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 (10,700 ac); flood pool is 58,500 ac. Sardis is the state’s most popular angling destination.  Unique to Sardis is the 400-acre Lower Lake below the spillway.

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

Alert

At most access areas, launching is at the middle ramp. There may be flooding debris washed and/or blown onto some ramps.

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 08/12/2025

SpeciesDetail
Largemouth BassBass are deep with water temperatures in the upper 80s . Target bass with soinnerbaits, jigs, and topwater lures early morning and late evening. In the heat of the day cast main lake points, river ledges, and creek channels. Fish deep diving crankbaits, football jigs, or soft plastics (Carolina, Texas, or Ned rigs, drop shots, swim jigs, etc.). Consider crawfish patterns and jigging spoons around structure, points and humps.
CrappieBruce at Wyatt's Crossing Outdoors 901-870-0298 reports anglers are doing good fishing in the deeper areas of the lake. MDWFP creel survey personnel report suspended fish being caught 15 - 18 ft deep in 20+ft water from Teckville to Clear Creek. Fish jigs and/or minnows in the mouths of creeks, standing timber, or trolling the main lake. Many folks have been successful pulling crankbaits. 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 other baits 4 - 6 ft deep near any cover (timber, flooded vegetation, rip-rap, etc.). Bream bed on flooded gravel roads (or parking lots), ATV trails, or firm sand. The Piney Point area going towards Blackwater Creek is a good spot for bedding bream.
CatfishCatfishing has been slow lately. Target catfish on the bottom with liver, crawfish, shrimp or cut bait. Fish worms or stinkbaits in the river and creeks (from boat or bank). With rainfall runoff, fish main lake flats 1 to 2 ft off the bottom with various baits. Check and/or move lines often if the water level changes. 
White BassBruce at Wyatt's Creek Outdoors 901-870-0298 reports anglers are catching white bass at Wyatt's landing flooded parking lot.  Fish 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".

Check water level trends; except for catfish, fishing is usually better on a slow fall than a fast rise.

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

Water Level

Water level 258.46 ft, dropping 0.14 ft/day Tuesday, 0.5 ft over the guide curve. Less rain has enabled COE to release more water. Falling water levels will pull fish out of flooded vegetation via tributaries toward the main lake. It will also concentrate fish and baitfish. Water levels this week will depend on the amount of rainfall and gate operations. Expect 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 (236 ft) is 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)563-4531 or check at Vicksburg District Daily River Bulletin for a table OR Little Tallahatchie River @ Sardis Dam, MS for a graph OR Yazoo River Basin Reservoirs for both (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.

Spillway

The spillway had two gates open 9.0 ft and was releasing 2911 cfs Tuesday. Less rain has enabled COE to release more water. Best luck in the spillway and Lower Lake is when some water is being released, but not too much. Flow coming through should improve fishing above and below the dam. Best luck lately has been for catfish on natural bait fished near the bottom in the spillway or near the Lower Lake runout. For crappie, fish jigs and/or minnows out of the current or right along the rocks. They can also be caught trolling or drifting in the Lower Lake. White Bass will be in the current where you can drift a 2-jig rig just off bottom (watch the rocks!) or fish small crankbaits or tailspinner lures. For bass, cover in the old river run is the best bet, or fish along the rocks in the spillway with spinnerbaits or swimbaits. Fish crickets under a bobber near the rocks for bream. Expect frequent spillway gate closures and openings as the Corps maintains rule curve in the reservoir above.

Spillway gate openings, flow rates, and spillway water levels can be obtained at (662)563-4531 or check at Vicksburg District Daily River Bulletin for a table OR Little Tallahatchie River @ Sardis Dam, MS for a graph OR Yazoo River Basin Reservoirs for both (click on the "24-hour change" numbers for a picture explanation of gate flow, spillway flow, etc.). Be sure to check the date on the table; it usually is updated midday.

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, including Sardis Lower Lake, has a 10-crappie creel limit.

Sardis 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

*Sardis Reservoir Interactive Map

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