Unique Info About Greneda Lake and Catching Crappie on the Lake

According to most crappie fishing enthusiasts, if you want trophy sized crappie catches, there is no place like Grenada Lake in Mississippi. Located off I-55 about 5 miles east of Grenada, Mississippi, Grenada lake is nearly 36,000 acres of flood controlled reservoir, and is the top lake for monster white perch in the country.

Many fishermen, crappie fishermen in particular, tend to store away their equipment in the winter, and wait for gentler climate changes, but for crappie fishing in Lake Grenada, the winter months may actually be the best time for catching this big, table friendly white perch. To start out, try to consult a topo map of the lake. Pay special attention to sharp drops in the main lake or river. You should target areas in which the drop is at least fifteen feet deep, moving down into the channel very rapidly.

It is also good to look for shallow water nearby. Unlike warm month fishing, where the fish tend to be scattered, fishing in the winter sees fish grouped more tightly together, and you can catch a lot of fish right in the same spot.

You don’t necessarily have to use electronics to fish for crappie on Lake Grenada in the winter, but you do need to target areas in which there is plenty of bait fish nearby. If you have buoys, drop a row along the top of the drop.

Just give yourself plenty of room in between them, so they won’t be in the way. About midway of the drop area, look for the kind of cover in which crappie normally congregate, and set a jig on the bottom between two of your buoys, and drag away.

Be sure to hover over the cover and try to get multiple bites, and if you have GPS, mark your spot when you find a good one, so you can come back to that area at a later time. This really saves you time on subsequent trips.

Remember that Grenada is a flood controlled lake. If you are fishing in the winter, a good rule of thumb is that, in January, the lake will normally be about twenty-five feet below normal. This will put many of the top spots for crappie in the dry, and you will have to look for crappie that others might miss as a result. A good topo map is invaluable in these instances. Every piece of cover will likely have fish during low level times. Just fish deep water around structure, and you should be in good shape.

For the best luck, generally speaking, try fishing for suspended fish five or six feet deep, slow trolling. Try minnows or chartreuse jigs. The Graysport area always provides ample crappie concentration. When water is high, just remember that during spawn (from 60 to 70 degrees) the crappie tend to hold their location.

As far as equipment is concerned, a heavy action rod about seven to ten foot, spooled with 15 pound test having a 4 pound line diameter, works well. This heavier line will allow you to snap the rod and dislodge your line from brush if you get caught up on the bottom.

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best crappie fishing information possible. Get more information on crappie fishing Lake Grenada here: http://www.askcrappiefishing.com/