By Chris Hannaford
Enid Lake Park Ranger
and Doyle Morrow
Enid Lake Fishing

 Even though Enid Lake is home to the World Record White Crappie, it is also home to an abundant catfish population.

Many anglers begin fishing for “Mr. Whiskers” himself every spring along the rip rap rock on the face of Enid Dam. During the spring anglers have great success catching catfish on the face of the dam in water from one to six foot deep using worms and minnows.

As the temperature and heat index begins to climb into the upper 90s and the fish return to deep water, most anglers turn to fishing early morning and late afternoon using  fishing techniques called “drifting” and “tight lining.”

These techniques give the anglers a more relaxing fishing trip without having to cast and retrieve numerous times. Anglers can just sit back, relax, and watch their lines.  

Drift fishing also lets the angler cover a lot of water. Anglers rig their line with a weight and hooks baited with worms, minnows, shrimp or chicken livers, and bounce the bait off the bottom of the lake while letting the wind or current push their boat.

Another good fishing technique for this time of year is tight lining. With this style, anglers rig their poles just about the same as drift fishing, but instead of drifting they are keeping their line tight in a stationary position. This style of fishing is usually seen in the outlet channel below the dam, and is a great technique for fishing at night.

Even though catfishing is very popular at Enid Lake during these hot steamy days, crappie anglers also have a unique style of fishing called “trolling.”

Trolling provides crappie anglers the same advantages as anglers drifting or tight lining for catfish. Crappie anglers typically rig their trolling poles with deep diving crank baits or jigs and minnows.

Anglers then place several poles (five poles per licensed angler) in the front and back of their boat and motor very slowly, “trolling” in 15 to 20 feet of water around structures including creek channels, stump beds, submerged points, etc.

For fishing rules and regulations please contact the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks at 662-563-6330.

Currently anglers are reporting good fishing conditions for both crappie and catfish. The staff at Enid Lake would like to remind all anglers to practice water safety while fishing at Enid Lake. Wear your life jacket!

Enid Lake Campgrounds

Enid Lake personnel would like to remind all campers that the Woodpile Loop (campsites 73-99) in Wallace Creek Campground has been closed for campsiterenovations.  These campsites are scheduled to re-open later this fall.
For more information on Enid Lake fishing and camping please contact the Enid Lake Field Office at 662-563-4571.