What are the deepest lakes in Mississippi? Here's how they stack up

Brian Broom, Mississippi Clarion-Ledger
·3 min read

A recent article in the Detroit Free Press compared the depths of the Great Lakes, and the numbers were fascinating. Lake Eerie came in at 210 feet and Lake Huron at 750 feet deep. Next were Lake Ontario at 802 feet and Lake Michigan at 925 feet deep. Lake Superior lives up to its name at an amazing 1,302 feet deep.

Mississippi is another story. Lake depths here pale in comparison to the massive Great Lakes. But just for fun, let's look at what are likely the five deepest lakes in the state.

Comparing lake depths is a little tricky because some are built for flood control and levels can vary. Those along the Mississippi River can fluctuate due to changing river levels. Even so, data from Navionics Marine and Lake Charts gives us an idea of which lakes have the deepest spots.

Arkabutla and Enid lakes

Arkabutla and Enid lakes come in at No. 5. Located in Yalobusha County, Enid Lake covers approximately 21,000 acres, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers. Arkabutla Lake is located in Tate and Desoto counties and covers approximately 12,000 acres. While Arkabutla is generally considered shallower than Enid, the deepest point in both is 54 feet according to Navionics Marine and Lake Charts.

Both are popular crappie fisheries and Enid Lake produced the world record white crappie weighing 5 pounds, 3 ounces in 1957. Arkabutla Lake produced the state record black crappie weighing 4 pounds, 4 ounces in 1991.

Grenada Lake

Grenada Lake is a flood-control lake located in Grenada County near Grenada. According to the US Army Corps of engineers, the lake is 36,000 acres. The lake, which is also a popular crappie fishery, is 58 feet deep at its deepest point according to Navionics and comes in at No. 4.

Sardis Lake

Sardis Lake comes in at No. 3 on the list. It is located in Lafayette, Marshall and Panola counties and according to USACE is 32,000 acres. Although it's a flood-control lake like the previous lakes and subject to fluctuation, Navionics has the deepest point at 61 feet.

Also, just as the previous two lakes, it is a popular fishery for crappie.

Bay Springs Lake

Located in in Prentiss and Tishomingo counties along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, Bay Springs lake comes in a solid No. 2. The lake is 8 miles long and covers 6,700 acres. According to Navionics, it's deepest point is 72 feet.

It's a popular lake for bass fishing and has produced two state record fish. The state record walleye-sauger hybrid, or saugeye, weighing 4.66 pounds was caught there in 2000, and the state record chain pickerel weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces was caught there in 1986.

Drum roll ... Okhissa Lake

Okhissa Lake covers 1,075 acres and is located in Franklin County near Meadville and is our deepest lake. According to Navionics, its maximum depth is 75 feet.

The lake is a destination for bass anglers. World-renowned bass fisherman Bill Dance was involved it its design and it is his first signature lake.

Note: This story replaces an earlier version that included incorrect published data.

Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: These are the 5 deepest lakes in Mississippi