Crappie feeding fast during drawdown to winter pool
Oct. 20—Some people might get tired of chasing crappie, but Andy Houston, of Mantachie, says he doesn't know who those people would be.
"It never gets old," he said.
Crappie fishing is always a good time, but one of the very best of times is right now. Mississippi's watershed lakes, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, are drawn down each fall to be sure they'll be able to hold whatever heavy seasonal rains come their way. These lakes, which include Grenada, Sardis and Enid, are also nationally-famous for the quality of their crappie fishery. This annual drawdown to winter pool incites a frenzy among crappie that makes fishing for them right now hard to beat.
"The crappie position themselves just off the drops and in the mouths of the creeks," Houston said. "The falling water pulls the baitfish to them."
Crappie are a predator species like bass, though they're typically much more finicky. The combination of cooler temperatures, shorter days and falling water levels makes their predator side show in a much more obvious way.
"It's phenomenal right now," Houston said.
Sardis, Enid and Grenada Lakes, among others, are operated strictly for flood control purposes. In the summer, Sardis, for example, is allowed to come up to a depth that has the lake surface 260 feet above sea level. At this depth, there are far more acres of lake available for fishing and recreation. In preparation for winter rains, the lake is then drawn down to winter pool over the course of many weeks. Winter pool at Sardis is typically held at 238 to 240 feet above sea level. Currently the lake is just under 248 and the drawdown, which has been underway for several weeks, continues.
Crappie feeding right now are suspending 10 to 12 feet deep in 16 to 17 feet of water.
For tackle right now, Houston favors jig heads in the 1/8- to 3/16-ounce size, with plastics as close to a natural shad color as can be found. For line, he strictly prefers 6-pound-test monofilament.
"The way the line suspends the jig with monofilament is much better than you get with fluorocarbon," he said. "The jig just doesn't have the action it does with monofilament."
He favors crappie jigging rods by BnM and Jenko, as well as a rear-mounted trolling motor setup created by a company named Crappie Brakes, in Batesville.
Houston and his friend Curt Brown, of Baldwyn, are joining forces to launch a fishing guide service they've named Lone Cypress Fishing. They specialize in crappie and are available to book now. To get in touch, contact them through Facebook messenger or text Houston at 662-554-2146.
"We're not going to overload ourselves, but we'll take some people and let other folks enjoy it," Houston said. "There are a lot of people who come down and fish with us who've never seen a 2-pound crappie. It's really fun to watch people enjoy the crappie fishing we have here."
Crappie can be caught in every month of the year, though tactics for taking them change with the seasons.
Kevin is the weekend edition editor for the Daily Journal. Contact him at kevin.tate@journalinc.com.
