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Sardis Lake

Sardis Lake is a reservoir located along the Little Tallahatchie River in northern Mississippi. Located near Sardis and an hour southeast of Memphis, Tennessee, this lake was the first of four reservoirs developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Yazoo Headwaters Project, which includes Grenada Lake, Enid Lake, and Arkabutla Lake. Sardis lake is notable for its successful flood control capacity, which means the lake is drawn down to approximately 9,800 acres during the fall and winter to allow room for spring rains. Normal capacity is 32,400 acres, which residents and visitors use for water skiing, boating, swimming, and fishing.

The lake and its surrounding recreation areas extend over 98,000 acres. Sardis Lake is divided into "upper" and "lower" lake areas. The lower lake is approximately 425 acres, which is not included in the 32,400 upper lake summer pool acreage.

Fishing

Anglers can find a lot of large fish in this lake, including blue catfish and white river catfish. Most of the crappie here are over the twelve-inch legal limit. This lake also offers great largemouth bass and white bass fishing. Sardis Lake is known for its record 67-pound, 12-ounce bighead carp that Ron Maxwell caught in Sardis Lower Lake in 2007. This carp beat out the 66-pound, 12-ounce bighead carp that Al Reed hooked in this lake in 1999. Bryan Christian caught a 29.85-pound state record drum in the spillway here in 2011, and Robert Fulce snagged a 17.77-pound striped bass hybrid in the lower lake in 1991.

       

  Search Sardis Lake Resources
    Sardis Lake Mississippi Coordinates:
34.6583N -95.3789W
Map It:
Lake Type:
Reservoir
Surface Area:
32,500 acres
Maximum Depth:
76 ft
Elevation:
596 ft
Normal Water Clarity:
3 ft
Major City:
Memphis, TN
Airport:
Memphis, TN
Boating

Boat ramps are located at twelve of the sixteen available recreation areas, and Clear Creek offers a fish cleaning station. One ramp is located near the dam at the lower lake, and all other ramps are located around the upper lake. A new full-service marina with slips is available on Blackjack Road near John W. Kyle State Park. Expect limited ramp access during winter months as the lake is drawn down in expectation of spring rains.

       
Lodging

Campers can enjoy cabins and RV and tent camping at John W. Kyle State Park, located on the lake's northwestern shore via I-55 at exit 22 on Highway 315. If you don't mind an hour's drive to Holly Springs National Forest, you'll find a seasonal campground at the 260-acre Chewalla Lake in the north end of that forest. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also provides electric and non-electric camp sites at Beach Point, Clear Creek, Graham Lake, Hays Crossing, Hurricane Landing, Lespedeza Point, Lower Lake, Pats Bluff, Teckville, and Wyatt Crossing.

Affordable hotels are available at both Sardis on I-55 and in Oxford, located just miles from the lake's south shores via Highways 6 or 7. Visitors also can find plenty of lodging opportunities in Memphis, Tennessee, located just an hour from the lake.

Review the Lake Resource Guide for additional lodging.



Communities

Sardis Lake extends across Lafayette, Panola, and Marshall Counties in northern Mississippi. Located about ten miles from Sardis, this lake also is popular with University of Mississippi students from nearby Oxford. The closest major airport is located in Memphis, Tennessee, about 50 miles from Sardis.

Fun times at Sardis Lake  Sardis Lake

Sardis Lake  Sardis Lake



 
Average Temperatures Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Avg. High  51 Avg. High  56 Avg. High  65 Avg. High  74 Avg. High  81 Avg. High  88 Avg. High  91 Avg. High  91 Avg. High  85 Avg. High  75 Avg. High  65 Avg. High  54
Avg. Low  30 Avg. Low  33 Avg. Low  40 Avg. Low  48 Avg. Low  59 Avg. Low  67 Avg. Low  70 Avg. Low  69 Avg. Low  61 Avg. Low  49 Avg. Low  41 Avg. Low  32