Observations on Sardis

1. Nobody works anymore.
2. Sardis is the most popular lake in the world.
3. Boat ramps at Sardis are severely inadequate where most needed.
4. Some people still can't figure out if you don't follow the ditch leaving holiday lodge it will mean trouble. Especially in a V hull.
5. Trolling has become the most popular fishing method in the world.
6. Some people don't belong on the lake and show absolutely zero courtesy to other boaters.
7. The older I get the harder it is physically for me to fish long period of time.
8. Overall, most fishermen I meet are nice and out to just enjoy the outdoors. Except for item 6.
9. Fish are scattered anywhere from 3 feet to...wherever. Ended up with 10 nice ones and my buddy had 8 single pole.
10. There are 5 fishermen for every tree/stump at Sardis.
11. It was a beautiful day to fish.
12. I miss the old days of buck brush and trees everywhere and I think the fish do too. They can't hide!
13. Nothing much better than feeling a crappie thump a jig.
14. Crappies are some fine eating---but it would be cheaper to buy fish than what it cost to fish.
15. I'm thankful for my dad and what he taught me on the lake and miss him very much. Nothing like fishing with your dad.
16. Holiday lodge still has some good food and easy on the pocket.
17. Its impossible to escape wind at Sardis.
18. COE please add some water.
19. Crappie are smarter than I am.
20. I'm addicted to fishing!

#15 true for lots of us. Stay addicted and don't let the nut cases ruin your days on the lake. We have less of those special days ahead.

Good observations! X2 on not letting the goobs get to ya!

21. Find that big aqua colored boat and follow closely behind
22. Winch boat completely on trailer before pulling up on ramp. (A first for me but I saw a guy dump a big, nice new boat on the ramp. Took about 15 guys to get it on trailer.
23. Bring binocs and watch the fish eagles fighting with the gulls around their nests
24. A somewhat slow day fishing is better than... a lot of things...

14. I can't find crappie in the stores.

I was there for the show today. 3 ring circus with out the ring master. Got boat off and pulled up on bank, get in truck and find I'm blocked by a big ole V hull with the truck jacked around in front of my pickup, then they want to have a attitude with me for wanting off the ramp while 6 more are waiting to get unloaded. 2 guess where they from. Go to the back 40 and park in the sand pit, get back to my boat and here is where rule 6 kicks in. Not 1, Not2, but 3 boats in the ditch that won't start. 2 guys in 1 with no rope in boat to throw me to pull em in and they trying to pole a 16 ft with 2 fiberglass crappie poles. Finally saw a opening and shoved boat through it and got gone. Ended with a limit and enjoyed most of the day. At one point counted 92 boats in my site. Highlite of my day was as I was leaving the house something flew down over me as I was going down the back road and thought I was seeing things then it flew over into a stand of trees, would have never believed it if I hadn't seen it but was a Eagle. Don't know why he would be around here.

#6 Is my fave. Always some that won't give you a break. 250 HP= 35 IQ.

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Originally Posted by cray

Highlite of my day was as I was leaving the house something flew down over me as I was going down the back road and thought I was seeing things then it flew over into a stand of trees, would have never believed it if I hadn't seen it but was a Eagle. Don't know why he would be around here.

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He heard the circus was in town and flew up from Enid to see for himself.

#13 and #15 times 1,000,000,000

92 boats really. Wow couldn't stand that. Love my lake, can catch crappie and some days I never see some one else trolling.

Can't imagine having that many boats within sight.

1-6 are the reasons I don't fish Sardis or Grenada anymore. No fun fighting crowds.

I live close to grenada lake and left it yesterday because i knew what was going on with the tournament and went to sardis. thought it might not be as bad. wrong! never expected that much of a crowd.

I just can't see how the population of fish can stand the pressure.

We saw fifteen boats last weekend and that was about it.

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Originally Posted by cray

I was there for the show today. 3 ring circus with out the ring master.

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Great description Cray. Heckuva way to get a limit.

I feel sorry for them grenada fish they are gonna take a pounding this year with so little water

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Originally Posted by Donald@CrappieLogic

I feel sorry for them grenada fish they are gonna take a pounding this year with so little water

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Just like what Butla went through couple yrs ago.. Be the Nada boys crying bout low water and boat pressure this yr..

Glad you were able to catch you a limit cray!And made it back home safely!Ain't spring wonderful!

Thanks SL. It sure is nice just to be able to get out of the house in some decent weather. It was almost as big a Zoo trying to get out. Luckily there was a local came in right behind me and we helped each other get out and out of the way. The fish were just a plus on top of a beautiful day.

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Originally Posted by dhdr24

I just can't see how the population of fish can stand the pressure.

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Because only about 5% of the "fishermen", actually catch any fish.

not at sardis.

I agree with Feelay, in all that mess I fished around yesterday didnt see more than a dozen fish caught in around 3 hrs. Folks at ramp all had 2 or 3. Neighbor said the same thing about Enid today. Whole lot of fishing but not a lot of folks catching.

I've been fishing Sardis for a few years and never experienced what I saw when I arrived Thursday. Never have I had to wait thirty minutes to get to the ramp. Being a novice boater, nerves set in prior to getting to the ramp with the "new to me" boat. Approaching the ramp, it seemed 6 inches wide, so i pulled up to wait for the gentleman to at least get his boat off the trailer. I overheard a gentleman tell another, "well he could go ahead and back in, he's got plenty space." In reverse I went and managed to inch my way in. Did I mention I was by myself which makes the launch a little longer. Motor didn't start initially and I could feel the tension in the air. After a few turns, she cranked, to the ditch I went, and proceeded to park a country mile from the ramp. Into the carousel of boats I went. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful day. Caught a few and went to the house. So, from a novice's (Goob in training) point of view, I personally want to thank anyone on this forum who has ever taken the time to help a fellow fisherman.

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Originally Posted by minnerchunker

I've been fishing Sardis for a few years and never experienced what I saw when I arrived Thursday. Never have I had to wait thirty minutes to get to the ramp. Being a novice boater, nerves set in prior to getting to the ramp with the "new to me" boat. Approaching the ramp, it seemed 6 inches wide, so i pulled up to wait for the gentleman to at least get his boat off the trailer. I overheard a gentleman tell another, "well he could go ahead and back in, he's got plenty space." In reverse I went and managed to inch my way in. Did I mention I was by myself which makes the launch a little longer. Motor didn't start initially and I could feel the tension in the air. After a few turns, she cranked, to the ditch I went, and proceeded to park a country mile from the ramp. Into the carousel of boats I went. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful day. Caught a few and went to the house. So, from a novice's (Goob in training) point of view, I personally want to thank anyone on this forum who has ever taken the time to help a fellow fisherman.

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Glad you had a good day.. I hate that boat ramp. My dad has a place down there and I stil refuse to put in at Holiday.. Would rather run down the lake from Engineers..

I'm 51 and been fishing at Sardis since I was 10. Used to camp at the camp ground with my dad in that first slot. Years ago the line used to back up past the camp ground before I even woke up, so a lot of this is nothing new. It just seems to go thru cycles depending on the water levels and "reports" posted. This website alone has helped spread the good word on the lakes successes and draw people in from out of town. Same with the Guides. Its a business and I understand that. Nothing wrong with making money fishing. I'm beginning to think Missouri and Illinois don't have any lakes--or at least they close down during spring. I also think a lot more than 5% are catching fish. Trolling takes a lot of fish out of the lakes. It used to be nothing for me to go out and catch 50 fish single pole fishing. I could fish in brush most didn't want to deal with. Finesse fishing. Its all gone now or at least water levels don't get that high like back in the day. That would be an absolute phenomenal day now--and not likely because as soon as I'd start catching boats would be all around me! The size limit has worked well in my opinion to help the overall size of fish, but the population is not near what it used to be. The fish can't hide anywhere with most of the brush gone. I have mixed feelings. One its great to see so many people enjoy fishing and it would be selfish of me or anyone to think otherwise. On the flip side, I think it would be naïve to think more fisherman don't put pressure on the lakes. And the changing conditions of the lakes in general make it much easier for those to troll and catch fish. They simply have a lot more lake accessible to troll than 20 years ago. Just my thoughts this morning. Enjoy the day and if you get a chance, take a kid fishing! Someone will need to carry on the tradition.

#15. My dad is still around and is my best friend, he's in his late 60's now and doesn't get around as well as he use to but is still out there going at it. Can wait until the week of 3/31 I get to spend 5 days of just him and I chasing crappie.

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Originally Posted by cray

I agree with Feelay, in all that mess I fished around yesterday didnt see more than a dozen fish caught in around 3 hrs. Folks at ramp all had 2 or 3. Neighbor said the same thing about Enid today. Whole lot of fishing but not a lot of folks catching.

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The fish got lucky on Thursday. COE shut the spillway down to 100 cfps that morning and took the current out of the lake....slowed the bite considerably. With Butla messed up and all the information flowing around on the internet, Sardis has been getting hammered since August 2012. It amazes me that it can take all the pressure and still produce good fish. Hope we're not watching a great fishery get crippled.

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Originally Posted by BigBlue

Glad you had a good day.. I hate that boat ramp. My dad has a place down there and I stil refuse to put in at Holiday.. Would rather run down the lake from Engineers..

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Im with you. I'd rather take a swift kick in the tenders as to launch at holiday. Did it twice and will never do it again.

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Originally Posted by Big Smooth

#15. My dad is still around and is my best friend, he's in his late 60's now and doesn't get around as well as he use to but is still out there going at it. Can wait until the week of 3/31 I get to spend 5 days of just him and I chasing crappie.

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Now that's something to look forward to, good luck to you and dad.

Didnt take but once for me......

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Originally Posted by KDAVID1

Im with you. I'd rather take a swift kick in the tenders as to launch at holiday. Did it twice and will never do it again.

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I gave it the benefit of the doubt

Nothing against the Holiday Lodge folks but I'll never use that ramp again.

Holiday is a great place to eat though

Gotta love spring fishing in Mississippi. Be sure to take your blood pressure meds cause you will need it. It can actually be amusing at times.

They will thin down in about a month.

I was there Thursday afternoon,,,, It was a total joke,,,I couldn't believe the amount if folks that didn't work that day,,,,Must had been half the state of Mississippi,,,,anyway,,,even at engineer point folks were jammed in there like sardines trying to get in and out,, running people out before they safely strapped in...jamming there trailers inbetween folks,,,Worst place ever I've seen at a safety standpoint... They need some serious help containing that place come the spawn,,,,Think I was entertain a new place to fish,,,,you can have it ,,,,Nice fishing hole but crazy as all get out people,,

I'd like all the sippi residents to know that most all us oos' ers are very appreciative of the fisheries of you're fine state and hopefully yall are very proud of what you have. The state in which I live, or at least the area of it will never come anywhere close to holding the opportunity of which yall have. I know its a madhouse to say the least at most ramps this time of year and believe most folks could do better at loading and unloading and out the way but usually have too much running through what little brains they have. I also think talking about it on here and other places be it calling people names on Facebook or telling boatramp horror stories really loud at crackerbarrel would help. Can't fix stupit

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Originally Posted by Jerkn Meat

Gotta love spring fishing in Mississippi. Be sure to take your blood pressure meds cause you will need it. It can actually be amusing at times.

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Yep best entertainment money can buy