GRENADA LAKE
With its slab action no longer a secret, Grenada Lake is likely the top trophy crappie lake in the country. Located five miles east of the town of Grenada off Interstate 55, this 35,820-acre lake is home to some monster crappie. With an even dozen boat ramps available to them, anglers can easily access that trophy action.

Grenada Lake's fame has resulted in increased fishing pressure, as would be expected. Fishing effort in 2005 was the highest ever recorded. In fact, the crappie harvest totaled 433,747 pounds, which was estimated to be between 50 and 60 percent of the fish in the lake!

Past levels of low fishing pressure produced large crappie, but the present harvest rates are likely to change that. To prevent a collapse in the trophy fishery, the MDWFP enacted a 12-inch minimum size limit in 2006. More restrictions may be necessary.

For big crappie, the hotspots include the Redgrass, Wolf, Perry and Turkey creek arms of the reservoir. The hot lures for slabs at Grenada Lake are pink and black-and-chartreuse jigs. Some anglers tip them with minnows.

The main factor to keep in mind about Grenada Lake is that it is a flood control impoundment. Typically, such reservoirs are extremely low in February, leaving many of the better fishing spots high and dry. Most years the water levels at Grenada Lake don't come up until late March.