Mississippi

Arkabutla
For water level information, call 662-562-6261 or check www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/YAZOORIVER.html. At the time of this report the lake level was approximately 216.5 and stable. Our source told us, “Due to the heavy rain in December, the lake has risen and is very muddy, essentially stopping all fish from biting. The best bet during January to possibly catch any fish is to fish the spillway for crappie using either a hot pink or black/chartruese colored Peanut Craft jig without a float. Stay home and get your tackle ready for spring.”

Bay Springs
Main lake points with structure are key areas for winter bass fishing at Bay Springs. The deep clear water will have bass and crappie hovering tight around structure with crappie in the brush piles as well. Find the baitfish and find the game fish. Spinner baits, crank baits, shakey heads and drop-shot rigs are the best options for success. During the time of this report the December conditions have been unseasonably warm for several days. If this trend continues look for jerk baits to catch more fish. If winter precipitation arrives, fish closer to structure, try tipping crappie lures with minnows or jigging straight down into and around cover. Hair jigs will be a good choice for slabs too. Catfish should be in deep water also, around chunk rock bottoms and banks, steep banks, in current and eddies around the current and venturing onto flats after baitfish. Take a change of clothes while on the water in case the unthinkable happens. Wear your PFD!

Enid
At the time of this report the water level was 233.6. For water level information, call (662) 563-4571 or check www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/YAZOORIVER.html. Crappie are your best opportunity to catch fish in winter conditions. Fish the main lake with roadrunners trolled slowly tipped with a minnow. Hair jigs should work too with or without a minnow. Jigs fished straight down over brush piles in deep water will catch fish too. Bass are catchable but will be scattered and harder to entice. Find the baitfish and find the bass, and catfish, and white bass. Use shad-like lures when you find them.

Grenada
At the time of this forecast the lake level was approximately 194. Troll slowly or drift jigs and/or minnows. Try roadrunners or hair jigs too. Jig-n-pigs around the dam should catch a few bass. Most of the time in January the bite will be slow and scattered. Crappie anglers will have the best results. Deep water and a slow retrieve will be key for all game fish.

Greenville Area Runs
Terry Bates told us, "Old man winter has arrived in the Mississippi Delta, and while lots of people are hunting duck, deer, or whatever, the fish are still biting!
The Mississippi River took an unexpected rise recently and began rising, and has continued on that path. By the time you see this forecast the river should be around three-feet below flood stage. This put the river very high for this time of year and again lots of people are nervous about what the river is going to do. With that said, the fish are still biting on Lake Ferguson if you can find them. Lots of crappie are being caught using jigs, small spoons or minnows. Crappie are being caught around the grain elevator in 15- to 20 beside the loading piling and grain elevator support structure. Remember the fish are deep, 15- to 25-feet. Once you catch a couple, more are in the area. Bass are also biting. On December 10th we had a winter trail tournament for the new Mississippi River Anglers Association Tournament Trail and Billy Hopkins and Newton Ford brought in five bass weighing in at 18.24-pounds, with second being Andy Graves and Jason Lunceford with 16.55-pounds. I came in third with 15.50-pounds including the big fish of the tournament weighing in at 5.31-pounds. Two weeks before this forecast the river was at 19-feet on the Greenville gauge, now at 43-feet things have changed somewhat. When the river starts back on a fall the fish are relating to the outside edge of big willow tree lines, on deep points. Jigs and spinner baits are catching fish on the tree lines in 10- to 15-feet of water. On the deep points jigs are the ticket fished in 10- to 30-feet of water.
At Lake Washington, located 20-miles south of Greenville, bass are being caught on spinner baits, tubes and jigs in -3 to 6-feet of water. Best colors are white/chartreuse spinner bait and black/red flak or black/blue flak tubes and jigs. Fish are way up in the cypress trees and on the roadside up on the bank. I’m using 20-pound line down here because Lake Washington has some big fish in it and right now is a good time to catch one. On the spinner bait I’m throwing 20-pound Vicious Supreme and on my tubes and jigs I use 20-pound Vicious Fluorocarbon. Right now there are some real big fish being caught at Lake Washington, you may not get but a few bites, BUT they’ll be good fish, maybe a monster!
Anyone wanting to go Fishing or need more info on local lakes can call me at Big River Guide Service at 662-390-3886. GOOD FISHING TO ALL! Also please remember keep what you can eat, release the rest for the next person."

Lakeview
Lakeview, just south of Memphis, is closed to the public and will not be reopened; therefore the only bait shop along Highway 61 from Memphis to Clarksdale that is open is South 3rd Bait Shop located at 5229 South 3rd/Highway 61. South 3rd Bait Shop is now owned by Elane Walls and her son. For more information, please call (901) 789-5678.

Sardis
At the time of this report the lake level was 241.4. Our source for Sardis Lake told us, "Sardis' Winter draw-down is under way at Sardis and will continue until a pool stage of 236-feet is reached. For those that must get on the lake, the best bite will be white bass around the Engineer's Point area using a 1/2-ounce Peanut Craft jigging spoon or Strike King 3XD crank bait in a Sexy Shad color. A few catfish can be caught in the same area using cut shad or shrimp on the bottom in the channel. For crappie fishermen, some fish can be caught in the spillway using a tandem jig rig (2-1/16-ounce Peanut Craft tube jigs in pink and black/chart.) under a float fished 4- to 5-feet deep. Bass fishermen need to work on gear for the upcoming season."

Tunica Cut-Off
For the river level and five day forecast, call (901) 544-0408 ext. 401 or check www.mvk.usace.army.mil/riverstage/bullet.txt. Crappie will be around deep mats in front of boat dock and in brush piles. Use roadrunners tipped with a minnow or hair jigs. Jig down to the fish with a long crappie rod, work the bait in good with strong line to work your fish out. January fishing will be slow especially 2- to 3 days immediately following snow, sleet and rain. Some bass can be caught if you’re really patient and work your bait slowly. Use larger presentations but slower retrieves.