According to the locals who fish Arkabutla on a regular basis, jigs in bright colors such as hot pink or chartreuse-and-black work best in these typically turbid waters. However, if the water temperature if 40 degrees or less, then minnows might be a better choice.

SARDIS AND ENID LAKE
I'm combining these two flood-control reservoirs because of their similarities. Sardis Lake is six miles northwest of Oxford off SR 314; Enid Lake can be accessed by taking Exit 223 (Enid) off Interstate 55. Both offer decent opportunities for nice catches of crappie, especially during the winter months.

Because of proximity to Memphis and ease of access via a major interstate highway, these two lakes receive considerable amounts of fishing pressure during the spring and summer; during the winter, however, pressure is very low.

Threadfin shad were observed for the first time in Sardis Lake in 2006, possibly getting there through illegal introduction. As happened at Enid Lake several years back, the threadfins can cause problems for the crappie. Although these shad can reproduce themselves into abundance, they serve as poor crappie forage, as they tend to be thin and small in flood-control reservoirs.

According to the MDWFP's Bureau of Fisheries, the growth and harvest rates for crappie are similar at Sardis and Enid. The data show little difference in the growth rate of white crappie compared to what was seen before the 10-inch minimum-length limit went into effect. Most white crappie are 1 foot in length by the age of 3. In the summer, the majority of white crappie caught by anglers will be 1 to 2 years old; most 3-year-olds are fished out the following spring.

This cycle repeats itself every year. Basically, a year-class survives fishing for only 18 to 24 months before it's essentially eliminated. This makes the crappie fishing extremely vulnerable during years in which spawning is poor.

Back in 1995, around two-fifths of the crappie in Sardis Lake were harvested -- about 11 pounds of crappie per acre. In 2006, close to 20 pounds of crappie were harvested per acre. Biologists are concerned that fishing methods may be influencing the crappie harvest. Trollers during the summer and fall months catch crappie at almost double the rate of stationary single-pole anglers.

According to recent data, the angler catch rate of fish per hour at Sardis Lake and Enid Lake was 2.4 and 1.7 respectively. The average size crappie kept by anglers was .8 pounds at Sardis and .9 pounds at Enid. In recent years, the angler catch rate has been increasing and the average size of the fish caught has been decreasing -- not good news for crappie anglers at these two lakes.

Volunteers have been hard at work making much-needed habitat improvements at both these waters, creating a total of 400 Christmas tree shelters at Sardis, while at Enid Lake they've been even busier, constructing 120 crappie stakebeds and an additional 830 Christmas tree shelters.

The drought of 2007 marked the third straight year for below-average rainfall totals.

"January provides some unique opportunities for crappie fishermen on both Sardis and Enid," said Keith Meals, the MDWFP's North Mississippi fisheries biologist. "Fishing pressure is very low because of the low water levels. However, the low water level also means that the crappie are compressed into a smaller area, making them easier to find."

Meals recommended that anglers focus on the deep water close to the dam and the river channel in the main lake. The riprap lining the banks of the dam absorbs sunlight and warms the surrounding water. This warmer water attracts and holds schools of crappie.