District 2 – Sardis Lake: Last Updated:   7/7/2008

Water level 262.17, falling 0.15 foot/day, clear. For water level information, call (662)563-4531 or check http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/riverstage/bullet.txt.

Wyatt’s Crossing Outdoors reports nearly all folks fishing the upper end of the lake are after catfish with rod and reel or trotline using various baits.

Long’s Sporting Goods and Quick Stop reports a lot of crappie have been caught recently. Although a lot have been returned, some folks have been keeping limits.

Trolling crankbaits 20 – 24 feet deep in the lower third of the lake has been the best for keepers. For bass, fish crankbaits or soft plastics in cover on main lake points 15 – 20 feet deep. Bream have been bedding from Piney Point to Whiskey Hill over a sand bottom; fish crickets.

Despite last month’s white bass kill, there have been reports of fish to over two pounds caught off main lake points on small crankbaits or jigs. Catfishing is best on liver or shad on trotlines, but they can also be taken on the dam and boat ramps fishing worms under a bobber over rip-rap rocks. The lake is 2.2 feet over summer pool (260 feet by May 1).

The spillway had one gate open 6.0 feet, one open 7.0 feet (3200 cfs) July 7. Channel catfish on nightcrawlers, chicken liver, or minnows have been the best bet. For flatheads, use live bait. White bass can be taken in the faster water. Few reports on bass or crappie.

Enid Lake: Water level 252.43, falling 0.05 foot/day, clear.

Best luck for crappie is trolling 18 – 22 feet deep in the mouth of Longbranch and other creeks and along the dam; for keepers, fish larger crankbaits or four inch plastic minnows. Fishing jigs and/or minnows results in mostly short fish.

Best luck for largemouth bass has been from main lake points; fish crankbaits and soft plastics. Topwaters and soft plastics have been working in Wildcat Brake, too.

Channel catfish have been biting worms, liver, or cut shad on the rip-rap rocks on the dam or boat ramps and in Otoucalofa Creek. Handgrabblers are still pulling out a few. For bream, fish crickets in creek coves and on the dam near the spillway tower. White bass have been schooling off main lake points; use jigs or small crankbaits. The lake is 2.4 feet above summer pool (250 feet).

The spillway had one gate open 1.0 foot (400 cfs) July 7. Best luck here has been for channel catfish on standard baits. A few flatheads are showing up on live bait.

Arkabutla Lake:

Water level 231.53, falling 0.2 foot/day, murky to clear. For water level information, call (662) 562-6261 or check http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/riverstage/bullet.txt.

Folks have been catching crappie here either drifting minnows or pulling crankbaits 14 to 16 feet deep in the mouths of creeks.

Crankbait fish are averaging 1 – 2 inches longer than those caught on jigs and/or minnows. Some catfish are being taken by folks after crappie, and, like other high water years, there are lots of little bass stealing minnows.

Fishing has been good for blue (white river or white humpback) and channel catfish with worms or cut bait on trotlines. For flatheads, live bait is better. Smaller channel cats can also be taken with worms or liver fished under a bobber over rip-rap on the dam and ramp areas.

White bass can be caught off main lake points with jigs or small crankbaits. Some good reports on largemouths have come from folks fishing soft plastics and crankbaits on main lake points. The lake is 11.5 feet above rule curve. Expect the lake to be drawn down as fast as the weather and river levels in the Delta permit.

The spillway had 1 gate open 7.5 feet (2450 cfs) July 7. Best fishing here has been for catfish on the wingwalls. A few crappie have been taken in quieter water. For spillway fishing regulations, check http://www.mdwfp.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=35598