COE Lakes

With all the talk of flooding going on I been watching the COE lakes, mostly Grenada because its where I live. Our winter pool level is 193, they try to reach this each winter, sometimes it stays down for a while but most years it's not there very long. This year has been much the same as it was at the 193 range for little over a week before it started rising. Christmas day it was at 195 and by morning, 31st, it will be above 204, a 9 foot rise! As the lake fills it takes more rain to make it rise due to the area it covers as it rises but we are way ahead of curve.
I say all that to say this, flood control lakes are just that and we as fishermen just have to deal with what we are dealt. I have been asked to head up a campaign to ask for the COE to consider raising the "winter pool" numbers on the Big Four. We had good luck with the MDWFP back in the spring with the pole limits thing but this a completely different animal and I honestly don't think we will ever see any change in these winter pool numbers, I just don't think this is a fight that can be won.
Being flood control lakes make them unique, very rare are 2 springs the same and certainly not 2 in a row as far as where you fish. You learn the lake a many different levels and the best way to do this is with time on the water. Water clarity sometimes, like now, is very tuff and you pretty much have to put the bait on their noses but as you search and learn there are places that seem to clear up quicker making fish easier to catch on tuff days.
With winter only ten days old we are all looking forward to spring and it has the makings of being a very interesting spring. Haven't caught crappy in the cotton fields in a long time but this just may be a year for that.
Happy New Year guys and gals, hope everyone has a great year.

The Corps folks will tell you the lakes are for flood control and nothing else. They, for the most part, could care less about fishermen. Let some politician get his drawers in a wad over hydrilla around his dock or a resort owner get upset over something and see how quickly they take care of that.

We fishermen just don't count most of the time even though they were going to barricade off the tailwaters below the dams here and we got politicians on our side and the corps backed off. Of course that was an election year also.

That's what I was told also. That the reservoir where I fish is for flood control and not recreation purposes. They lower it really fast when they drop the water. I wonder just how many fish go through the water gates. Then they also seem to mess up the spring spawn when raising and lowering it then also.

At times a good many will go out the gates but it is not a constant thing. I do know that when we have a flood type year I sure am glad they did get in pulled down. Hwy 7 between Oxford and Holly Springs, Grenada and Coffeeville have both been raised but in time I am sure we will see it not be enough.

You are right. I am sure that the COE has the safety of all the people in mind. A lot more flooding would probably happen if they did not help in the flood control with these lakes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rees Guide

With all the talk of flooding going on I been watching the COE lakes, mostly Grenada because its where I live. Our winter pool level is 193, they try to reach this each winter, sometimes it stays down for a while but most years it's not there very long. This year has been much the same as it was at the 193 range for little over a week before it started rising. Christmas day it was at 195 and by morning, 31st, it will be above 204, a 9 foot rise! As the lake fills it takes more rain to make it rise due to the area it covers as it rises but we are way ahead of curve.
I say all that to say this, flood control lakes are just that and we as fishermen just have to deal with what we are dealt. I have been asked to head up a campaign to ask for the COE to consider raising the "winter pool" numbers on the Big Four. We had good luck with the MDWFP back in the spring with the pole limits thing but this a completely different animal and I honestly don't think we will ever see any change in these winter pool numbers, I just don't think this is a fight that can be won.
Being flood control lakes make them unique, very rare are 2 springs the same and certainly not 2 in a row as far as where you fish. You learn the lake a many different levels and the best way to do this is with time on the water. Water clarity sometimes, like now, is very tuff and you pretty much have to put the bait on their noses but as you search and learn there are places that seem to clear up quicker making fish easier to catch on tuff days.
With winter only ten days old we are all looking forward to spring and it has the makings of being a very interesting spring. Haven't caught crappy in the cotton fields in a long time but this just may be a year for that.
Happy New Year guys and gals, hope everyone has a great year.

---

Nice post, well said... So, have you seriously caught crappie in a flooded cotton field? I guess if the stalks are still standing then it'd be plenty of structure to fish around haha

yep . get out the small boats , we will be back in the trees .:cheers2

You are right John. I would leave this fight alone..personally, I would like to see the fish left alone in the winter. They get hit hard enough when the spring starts.

You know......we are just lucky the Federal Gov't and the COE built those lakes.....even tho the flood control practices and policy that these lakes were built for affect the fishermen....we still have the four best crappie lakes in the U.S. ..... Fishing cant be great all the time....heck its not on any lake....thats just part of fishing. :twocents

This years spring rain was the reason for these lakes. The low levels at winter they try and reach is for that purpose. You never know when you get alot of spring rain or not. Also to help control snow melt run off from up north. I used to hate the fluctuation in water depth but now I look forward to it. Makes for a better fisherman.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ragencage

Nice post, well said... So, have you seriously caught crappie in a flooded cotton field? I guess if the stalks are still standing then it'd be plenty of structure to fish around haha

---

Yep, almost every year it goes over the emergency spillway or gets real close. Jig fishing briar patches is especially fun, snakes laying the briars and crappy spawning underneath em!!!!:biggrin

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by "G"

You know......we are just lucky the Federal Gov't and the COE built those lakes.....even tho the flood control practices and policy that these lakes were built for affect the fishermen....we still have the four best crappie lakes in the U.S. ..... Fishing cant be great all the time....heck its not on any lake....thats just part of fishing. :twocents

---

Very true G, we need to count our blessings instead of getting our lips poked out.

I look at it like this, imagine where we would be today had they held these lakes up 10 ft instead of dropping to rule curve when they did. They are not going to be able to release any of this water for several weeks with the Ms river coming up like it is. And only then if we don't get anymore heavy rains like we have had. Those folks know what they are doing.

I've seen and heard of it happening a few times. The Mississippi river gets close or over flood stage. The Yazoo river rises. The COE try to release some of the water from Butla, Sardis and Nader, Greenwood will flood everytime. Butla released to much water a few years ago and flooded some communities along hwy 3.

Fishing in a cotton field. The year that Enid flooded and washed out the bridge by the new hatchery. The road to Persimmon Hill was 2' under water so it was closed. Across Bean creek from Cossar boat ramp is a creek that runs under I-55. Between I-55 and hwy 51 was a cotton field. It was the best 3 days of wading I ever had.

I hope that none of the flying carp gets into any of the lakes and reservoirs from the rivers with all the flooding. I can't imagine running the boat across a lake and a bunch of big fish jumping up getting in the boat and hitting me in the head like I have seen on youtube.

Saw em off hwy 7 in the fields along Perry Creek in the flood of the 70's

I remember a few years about 35 years ago when Sardis flooded. We waded the cotton fields and fished the flooded woods.
We pulled off the side of the highway and camped in a cotton field. That was fun.

3 more feet and I will be putting in at Bryant!!!!! ( and Torrence will be underwater!!):crazy::crazy:

As a long time Mississippi Deltan, and resident of Greenwood, I have to think that the flood control aspect of the COE lakes is more important than any fishery. I love to fish as much as any of yall, but......Attachment 224703Attachment 224704Attachment 224705 This is Greenwood during the flood of 27.

Agree completely

These reservoirs are doing right now Exactly what they were built for.

Rode out to Grenada spillway last night to watch all the snaggers, and boy they are wearing them out, but they still have the gates gapped open. I figured they'd have it shut off to keep the excess water off the miss river.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ragencage

Rode out to Grenada spillway last night to watch all the snaggers, and boy they are wearing them out, but they still have the gates gapped open. I figured they'd have it shut off to keep the excess water off the miss river.

---

What are they snagging?

Crappie, and a lot of them at that

Nice ones too!!!!