UTERBlack crappie fishing in Mississippi freshwater
In Mississippi freshwater, black crappie peak February–April and September–November and are around year-round, spawning in March–April, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. February: Grenada, Sardis and Enid: pre-spawn females staging — long-line trolling.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Black crappie in Mississippi freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryPeakGrenada, Sardis and Enid: pre-spawn females staging — long-line trolling.
- MarchSpawningGrenada wading season — big females in the shallow buckbrush.
- AprilSpawningLast of the spawn on Sardis and Arkabutla.
- MayLeaving
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberAround
Where to fish black crappie near Grenada Lake, Sardis Lake, Enid Lake
The crappie state: the flood-control lakes of the north — Grenada, Sardis, Enid, Arkabutla — Ross Barnett, delta oxbows, and the Mississippi River's catfish.
What to use for black crappie
- Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.
- Grass shrimpTwo or three on a #6 hook under a small cork — the bream, crappie, sheepshead and mangrove snapper bait nobody sells.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 38–86°F water, best at 56–72°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch black crappie in Mississippi freshwater?
Peak season is February–April and September–November, with fish spawning in March–April (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Black crappie are here year-round. February: Grenada, Sardis and Enid: pre-spawn females staging — long-line trolling.
Where do black crappie hold in Mississippi freshwater?
Look on lake, reservoir, dock / pilings, bridge, river, pond / pit — around Grenada Lake, Sardis Lake, Enid Lake, Ross Barnett Reservoir, Pickwick Lake, Mississippi River oxbows.
What is the best bait for black crappie in Mississippi freshwater?
Live bait: minnows (fatheads, shiners), grass shrimp. Minnows (fatheads, shiners): Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers. Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for black crappie in Mississippi freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) and change — read the current rule at https://www.mdwfp.com/enforcement-education/general-fishing-rules-regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.mdwfp.com/fishing-license-requirements.
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