Extended Half Day Crappie Trip In Mississippi
Looking for some of the best crappie fishing in the South? You've found it. Tim Howell and Longbranch Guide Service have been putting anglers on slab crappie across northwest Mississippi's premier lakes for years. We're talking about Grenada, Sardis, and Enid Lakes—three of the most productive crappie waters you'll find anywhere. This extended half-day trip gives you plenty of time to work different spots and techniques without burning a whole day. Perfect for families, beginners, or seasoned anglers who want to dial in their crappie game with a guide who really knows these waters.
What to Expect on the Water
Your trip starts early when the crappie are most active. Tim will meet you at the boat ramp with everything rigged and ready to go—all you need to bring is your Mississippi fishing license, some snacks, and drinks to keep you comfortable throughout the day. We fish up to three people per trip, which keeps things relaxed and gives everyone plenty of personal attention. These aren't cookie-cutter trips either. Tim reads the conditions each morning and adjusts the game plan based on weather, water temperature, and where the fish are holding. Some days we'll start shallow near cover, other days we're heading straight to deeper structure. The beauty of fishing multiple lakes means if one isn't producing, we've got backup options that often save the day.
Proven Techniques That Work
We run three main approaches depending on what the crappie want: single pole setups, spider rigging, and trolling. Single pole fishing is perfect when you're marking fish on specific structure—you can drop right down on them and work the spot thoroughly. Spider rigging lets us cover more water efficiently, especially when crappie are scattered or suspended. We'll run multiple rods at different depths until we dial in the pattern. Trolling is the go-to method when we need to locate fish or when they're following baitfish in open water. Tim's got LiveScope technology on board, so you'll actually watch your jig work and see fish react to it in real time. It's like having X-ray vision underwater, and it's a game-changer for understanding crappie behavior.
What Anglers Are Saying
"We went with Tim on a day when no one was catching much of anything and Tim got us a nice mess of fish . Great guy and I highly recommend Longbranch guide service." - Billy. "Let me give you the setup. First cold front of the year, wind howling out of the east, one foot white caps, water temp down, definitely not the recipe for crappie fishing…….. We hit the water at 7:30am, worked hard all day, trolled, jigged, pitched, live scoped, deep water, shallow……. With everything stacked against us, Tim still managed to put us on the fish. We boated roughly 60, kept 20 slabs. Of the ones we threw back, eighty percent were just under the 12" requirement. Given the circumstances, Tim was top notch. I would highly recommend his services and will be a return customer." - Chris. "We come down from Kentucky got set up with a cabin and a two day fishing trip all through Tim at long branch. Hell of a guy and a hell of a mess of fish to clean afterwards. Will 100% be back again." - Tyler.
Species You'll Want to Hook
Crappie are the stars of the show on these northwest Mississippi lakes, and for good reason. These fish are absolute slabs—we're talking 12 to 15-inch fish that'll bend your rod and make you think you hooked a bass. Crappie behavior changes throughout the year, which is why having a guide who knows these seasonal patterns makes such a difference. In spring, they move shallow for the spawn and you can find them around cover in 3 to 8 feet of water. Summer pushes them to deeper structure—brush piles, creek channels, and humps in 12 to 20 feet. Fall brings some of the year's best fishing as they fatten up for winter, often schooling tight and feeding aggressively. Winter crappie fishing can be outstanding when you know where to look—they go deep and relate to specific structure, but when you find them, you can catch a cooler full. What makes crappie so addictive is their fight-to-size ratio and the fact that they school up. Find one good fish and there are usually more in the same area. Plus, they're some of the best eating fish that swim, with white, flaky meat that's perfect for the dinner table.
Time to Book Your Spot
Grenada, Sardis, and Enid Lakes consistently produce some of Mississippi's best crappie fishing, and Tim knows every productive spot on all three. This extended half-day format gives you serious fishing time without the commitment of a full day trip. Whether you're introducing kids to fishing, looking to improve your technique, or just want to catch a mess of fish with minimal hassle, this trip delivers. The customer reviews speak for themselves—Tim finds fish even when conditions are tough, and he'll work hard to make sure you have a successful day on the water. Don't forget to grab your Mississippi fishing license before the trip, pack some snacks and drinks, and get ready to see why northwest Mississippi crappie fishing has such a devoted following. Give Longbranch Guide Service a call and let's get you on the water.
5.0(14 Reviews)
Private Trip
Lakes/Reservoirs/Ponds Fishing
Top Rated
Mississippi
Expert crappie fishing on three premier Mississippi lakes
