Cody Smith

Fishing is really heating up, cmon and catch the good life!

here are a few pics from the previous weekend. got an extremely busy scheldule ahead so please call or email me for updated reports or to book a date. Good Fishin`

Hello All! It's April and fishing here on the reservoir is simply going to sky rocket this month. By far one of the very best month's to hit the water pursuing any or all of the fish we have to offer here on Greers Ferry. March of 2010 started like a lamb and has ended like a lion when pertaining to the overall bite among all species. During the first couple weeks of March a consistent bite was very difficult to come by, however, by the final two and a half weeks of the month we got too see the bite really improve on Large mouths, Kentucky's and our beloved Walleyes. Crawlers by far out produced walleyes in my boat this past month, which was a very strange occurrence. Normally shiners will out produce crawlers time and time again until we see water temperatures in the middle 50's, not the case this year. During April we will see a constant climb in overall water temperatures from the 50's to the lower and middle 60's by the end of this month. As these water temperatures rise so will our game fish's metabolism, this will spur a huge feeding period as the fish that have migrated up the river arms will make their way back out to the main lake following their forage and feeding heavily. April will provide a good overall bite when looking into our walleye population. These fish will be completing their spawn and becoming more aggressive as the days get longer and water temperatures warm to their ideal foraging range. During this month look into the very backs of creeks as well as main and minor feeder arms that are harboring shad forage to hold the best numbers of these toothy fish. As the month rolls on our walleyes will be making their way back to our main lake locations. As these fish make their way back down stream from the spawning grounds look for the best bite to come early and late in the day with clear water conditions. If the stained or murky water holds on throughout the rainy season, these fish are apt to feed throughout the day instead of their traditional early, late and nightly feeding times. Stick baits, Grubs, In-line Spinners and spoons should be utilized in catching these fish along with live bait methods utilizing light jig heads tipped with crawlers or minnows. Drasco Country Store at the intersection of Hwy 92 and 25 has got some of the best minnows in all sizes, be sure to stop by when your on your way to the lake. Our Whites and Hybrids are going to be spawning this month and providing boat loads of action for the folks who pursue them. Days of 30 - 100 fish will not be uncommon. If you want plain old action and lot's of it, give these fish a try. The white bass will move into the spawning areas just after the thread fin shad. Typically we will see this happen in mid to late March when water temperatures up the creeks and tributaries reach the 55 degree range. This year, being cooler than others on record, it's going to put them in their spawning locations a little later than in years past. Hopefully by the first week of April we should have large concentrations pushed up. Look for a huge surge in the bite after these fish get settled for three or four days. Once the fish have gotten established in their spawning location's and the females start dropping their eggs we will then see a pre and post spawn bite take place within the same locations. You will know spawning is taking place by the large disturbance made when a school of 6 - 15 males are literally pushing the females out of the water. It sounds as if there is a school of piranha on the feed, quite a sight to say the least. Cindy K Spinners ( www.fishdinnerlures.com ), 3" Action Bait Grubs and small crank baits will flat out put the fish in the boat, all of these lures can be found at Golden Outdoors in Heber Springs. When pursuing these fish, artificial lures and flies will out produce Live Bait no doubt about it. Our Bronze Backs are another fish who got pushed back because of the very cool temperatures we have seen this year. The big-pre spawn feeding surge out on the main lake just did not happen. We did however see a really good bite start to pick up in some of the creeks and main feeder arms as our crawfish population started appearing in larger numbers. Keep our crawfish in mind when your out looking for a true trophy of a small mouth. Transition banks on forty five degree slopes, bluff banks with nice ledges in the 8 - 14 feet range and boulder rock mixed with gravel in the creeks and feeder arms are all very likely location's to find these fish this month. Carolina Rigged Brush Hogs and lizards, medium running crank baits and tubes will all provide you some action this month. Our Smallies will be spawning over the coming weeks, Please be mindful of this while your out on the water. I really can't emphasize enough how important catch and release is within this species, please take some pictures and throw them back to be caught another day! Our Kentucky's are all full of eggs and fed really good throughout March and the shallow bite should continue with this species through April. Basically if you find the shad you will find these fish and they will bite. They provide really good action and can be caught with a variety of methods, Small Jigs, Live Crawlers or Minnows, Spoons, Shakey heads and Drop Shotted Worms as well as 3 " Grubs will all provide really good action this month within this species. Look for the majority of the Kentucky's to be mixed in with the whites as they will stay up stream in the feeder arms in really heavy current taking advantage of all the forage. Towards the end of the month you will see them starting to school back up on main lake points and deeper ledges as the bait fish return to these locations. Something else to consider is Crayfish will be another staple in their diet this month as well, keep this in mind as your pursuing these fish. Our Largemouth Population will be found in there pre-spawn stage and depths will range from 4 - 12 feet depending on time of day and amount of light penetration. As the month rolls on and the days get longer look for a big push in the females from the little ditches and depressions that Leeds into main lake pockets and flats off of feeder arms that are exposed to full sun for an extended amount of time. Finally our Crappie's will really turn on this month. Look at 15 - 22 feet of water on channel swings that come into pockets and flats for the first week or so. Later in the month they should be pushing up on the flats to start spawning as we get later on in the month. Small jigs, live minnows and smaller spinner baits will all work when presented in the right locations. The very best part about April is the opportunity you have to catch all different types of species within the same area. April is definitely one of the best month's here on Greers Ferry and I hope to have a chance to fish with each and every one of you this spring. If you have any question's or would like to set a date on the water please give me a ring or drop me a line! Good Fishin

Electric Blue Grape (306 CG) Action Bait Grubs have been the best in the off colored water. You can purchase them through Golden Outdoors in Heber Springs or through Action Bait Company directly.

Greers Ferry Lake is slightly below normal pool of 461 feet and falling do to daily releases from our dam. Surface temperatures are ranging from the upper 40's on the southern and main basin to the mid 50's throughout the northern portion and half way back. In the tributaries surface temperatures start falling back off to the 50 degree range where water from last weeks rain is entering the reservoir. Water clarity is the main issue on the north end with zero to six inches of visibility throughout most of the feeder creeks and arms, while the further you travel up stream the tributaries tend to start flushing out with up to two and a half feet of visibility at the headwaters. This flushing out is very good news for fish and fisherman. March has many anglers, including myself, hitting the water in pursuit of our walleye population. There has been quite a bit of boat traffic most everyday throughout most of the upper ends of all three major feeder arms with limited results. However, Fishing for these fish is definitely on the rise as we were finally able to boat some "eyes" in their spawning grounds this week! Best I can tell we are about two weeks behind normal schedule for these fish inhabiting these locations. With water temperatures at the 50 degree mark we are looking at the next two weeks to be peak spawning time with some fish having gone undetected and spawning over the last week, as well as, some fish pushing in later and spawning into the first week of April. We will see a huge increase in feeding activity once the spawn has taken place. Mature females and males alike will feed aggressively once their spawn is complete making up for lost time during the actual process. Now through the first week of April look for our walleyes in shallower water of 10 feet or less relating to some form of current, be it wind or watershed inflow. Hard Plastic Jerk Baits, Crank Baits, Swim Baits, Grubs, Spoons and live bait offerings will all have there place and time to shine. Our White Bass are staging 1/3 to 1/2 way up our main tributaries on large flats. I have had my best luck in 4 - 12 feet of water swimming a 3" Action Bait Grub on an 1/8 ounce lead head jig. Most all of the whites we have seen so far in my boat have been males in the 12 inch range. As the water temperatures rise and begin to warm at the headwaters we will see a big push up stream and there spawning process will begin to coincide with the walleyes and the shad. I look for the last week of March to really kick off a strong and dependent white bass bite. While I have been spending most of my time chasing whites and walleyes I have contacted several nice Large mouths and Kentucky's within these river arms. Transition banks, ie. Large boulder rock to smaller chunk rock, sand to gravel and mud to rock have been where most of the large mouths have been hanging. These same locations that come together on secondary points are holding the larger fish. The Kentucky's are spread out from one end to the other, meaning I have found them in channel swing location's at 32 feet deep to the head waters in as little as 6 inches of water. The Kentucky's are feeding heavily and are susceptible to most any offering when presented in a natural manor. Please let me know if any of you would like to set a guide trip or have any question's regarding our fine reservoir. Good Luck and I hope to see ya on the water!

Hello everyone! The weather is warming up and fisherman a plenty have been out enjoying the nice weather here on the reservoir. Water surface temperatures are ranging from 43 - 48 degrees depending on time of day and location on the lake. This is good news as the water warms to the 50 degree range lake wide we will see a huge improvement in the amount of feeding activity on all species. Over the last week I have fished The Dam area, Peter Creek, Little Peter Creek, The Narrows, Hurricane Bay, The Five Fingers, Middle Fork, Sugar Creek, and all throughout the Devil's Fork Arm. The middle half of the Devil's Fork arm of the Reservoir has by far produced the best bite. One common pattern that has shown itself in this early fishing season is the fish are confined in really small areas and holding extremely tight to warming cover be it wood or rock. We are seriously weeks behind with water temperature taken into consideration and most all species of fish are suspended in the deeper holds and channel bends just waiting for the water to warm a few degrees to spur some serious feeding action, as well as, pushing up the arms and in the water column. Although our game fish seem to be confined to really small areas our Bait Fish seem to be spread out from 2 feet deep to 45 feet deep, from the backs of the creeks all the way out to the main lake flats and deeper open water areas. I really look for this to change over the next week with warming rains promised and nightly low temperatures in the mid to upper 40's. This change in temperatures will have an extremely positive effect on how our game fish are feeding and relating to seasonal behavioral habits and patterns. Look for the shad to really start to push up all feeder arms and creeks as the water warms and the light switch is turned on! What I mean by this is we will have warmer water entering the lake and our shad will migrate to the current and warming water to prep for their spawn. When this takes place the game fish will follow them up the arms and will be more susceptible to your offering. With the lack luster fishing report there is good news to be had, the reservoir is going to get really good in a hurry as long as we see this gradual warming trend continue. I'll be on the water checking prime areas for all of our game fish species and report what I find. Good Luck out there and If any of you have any question's about our reservoir or would like to set a date for a guided fishing adventure please call or email me and I'll get back with you as soon as I'm off the water. Cody S. Smith smittyc888@hotmail.com or (501)691-5701

Hello All! Spring time is right around the corner and I for one could not be happier! March is a prime time conditioner for great fishing to come over the next several months. During March we will see sprouting vegetation, pleasant temperatures and longer days with cool nights. This is one of my very favorite months to be on the water here on Greers Ferry. It's light switch time, what I mean is a lot of changes will take place over a very short amount of time this month. We will go from cold days of inconsistent fishing and then bingo, over night the bite will surge amongst all species, the sun will shine and your graph will be lit up like fireworks on the fourth of July. During the first week or so of March we will see a slow climb of warming water temperatures on the Main Lake portions of Greers. For the first couple of weeks we will see much warmer water in the lower portion's of the creeks and tributaries then the far reaches. There will be a cutoff line that forms and the vast majority of our game fish and bait fish will not migrate past this line of separation between the cooler inflow water and the still cold but warmer water in the rest of the reservoir. Once the water entering the lake becomes warmer than the main lake our fish will respond in a highly positive way and an aggressive feeding trend will be upon us. During this month we will have all three stages of the walleye spawn taking place, pre, active and post spawn fish will be pushed up our tributaries, as well as, on mid lake humps and points with a hard bottom and current be it wind or inflow. A variety of methods will be used in locating and catching these tasty fish. Some of the more prominent means in taking these fish will with be Fish Dinner Spoons dropped to deeper staging fish in the creeks. Look for highest concentrations of these fish to be on the last major structure/current break within the feeder arms or on the primary ledge leading into the main lake hump or points. Live bait will be number one when presented to fish shallower in the column, as well as the fish that have pushed all the way to the spawning grounds. Fish large shiners on a sixteenth or eighth ounce lead head jig in the current or just off the break line around obvious structure. Let the amount of current dictate the proper weight, ideally you want your minnow and jig to be swept slightly slower than the current your fishing in. By casting up stream and letting your offering drift by these fish they simply cannot resist an easy meal when presented correctly. Our Largemouth are growing more and more aggressive by the day during this month in anticipation for the spawn that will happen in the next 6 weeks or when water temps start to get in the mid to lower 60's and the amount of daylight is sufficient for spawning. Right now the majority of the fish are staging on secondary points within the feeder and main creeks and inlets of the reservoir. Depths of 8 - 16 feet of water will hold the largest numbers of fish when coupled with deeper water very close by. Finesse Worms, Jig and Chunk Combos and slower moving baits on brighter days will produce best. If we have some wind, clouds or both you can definitely capitalize by fishing a jerk bait or crank bait in these same locations. The Kentucky's and the Smallies are really going to be on the feed this month. Main lake points and ledges are going to hold a vast number of the spots and smallies for the first couple of weeks. As we get towards the end of March our Smallies will have a big urge to start spawning once water temperatures reach the upper 50's. 58 degrees seems to be the magic number here on Greers. Fourty-Five degree banks with pea gravel and scattered wood will hold pre spawn fish. Depth will be very much dictated by the clarity of the water and light penetration. Typically on the lower end of the lake look at 9 - 16 feet of water with the upper reaches of the lake being much shallower. C-Rigs with creature baits, Drop Shot rigs, Shakey heads and 3 - 5 inch grubs will be key in finding and catching these fish. Smaller Cranks, Tubes and Jigs should also be considered when pursuing these fish. March is a great time for our White's and Hybrid striped bass. During the first couple of weeks of the month look for the fish to be staging 1/2 way up the creeks and arms in large concentrations. These fish will be tailing the thread fin shad we have in the reservoir. Both the Shad and temperate bass we have will be spawning at relatively the same time. 55 - 58 degrees marks the beginning for the temperate bass as well as the shad. The whites and hybrids will move up the arms as the water warms. Once they reach their spawning grounds towards the last week of this month they will stay put for two to three weeks with a 3 - 5 day stretch being the peek time to catch extremely high numbers of 100 fish or more as they are very acceptable to many different artificial and live bait offerings during this time. I prefer 3 inch Action Bait Grubs, www.actionbait.com, on an 1/8 oz. lead head jig as well as the Cindy K Spinner which can be found at www.fishdinnerlures.com . I am often asked about our Crappie population here on Greers Ferry and this is one of the few months I feel competent enough to answer and predict where the bite will be best, as I do not pursue these fish on any other regular basis other then March and April. Towards the end of this month look to channel swing locations on the main lake as well as major and minor feeder arms. Depths of 16 - 32 feet with standing timber adjacent to spawning flats within these locations will produce. I use a very light weight set up with traditionally an 1/8 ounce lead head and a 2" tube or Slider style soft plastic on a basic cast and retrieve presentation. I typically count the bait down to the depth the fish are holding, generally 6 - 12 feet deep just over the tops of the timber. Typically it is a very light bite and there is little need to set the hook with aggression, simply lift the rod tip and keep reeling. March is an awesome time to be on the water here on Greers Ferry Lake. Great days of fishing and Catching are right around the corner. Give me a call or shoot me an email when your ready for some drag pulling action here on our beautiful reservoir located in the foothills of the Ozarks. Good Fishing!

Hello all, we have been on a roller coaster ride of such with the drastic temperature changes we have seen so far for 2010. Record recorded lows in the single digits during the month of January as well as very mild temperatures in the 60's where experienced with the latter being very much enjoyed. We had some great days on the water with good numbers of Hybrids and White Bass showing up on certain days providing some good action during the month. February is a much anticipated month here on the reservoir with myself and most of our locals looking to the walleyes for some spawning action. Water levels here on the reservoir are running slightly above normal pool with the corp of engineers lowering water when they can. The current lake level here on Greers is 465 feet and falling. Surface water temperatures are ranging from the lower 40 degree mark to the upper 40's near the dam and Peter Creek area, which is the warmest on the lake. Our Hybrid Striped and White Bass will produce the most consistent action this month when looking to higher catch rates. Days of 20 - 30 fish will be had with some days seeing catches of twice this number. Look at depths of 40 - 65 feet to be key in locating these schools of fish along with the bait they are chasing. Towards the end of the month these fish will abandon their open water haunts and start pushing into our creeks and the main tributaries with their spawning urge increasing. They will begin to stage from the mouths to mid way back in the arms during the end of this month, look for the deeper channel portions of these arms to harbor the most active fish. Large minnows on jig heads along with spoons will produce the most bites when fished properly. The walleye will definitely be on the move this month with water temperatures really dictating on how much spawning activity is completed. From my experience 52 degree water temperatures marks the height of the spawn with some going sooner and others shortly there after. For the most part we will still be experiencing a pre-spawn bite this month, however, towards the end of February there will be some active spawning occurring. Lead Head Jigs with minnows or sunfish, jerk baits and minnow style cranks and spoons should all be considered depending on time of day and fish activity once your on the water. All three species of Bass will be transitioning from their deep water winter habitats to the shallower secondary column during this month with average temperatures occurring. Towards the end of this month look for the majority of our bass population to start pushing up creeks and the main tributaries staging into their pre-spawn post winter pattern. During the last couple of weeks of this month I look for a big surge in feeding activity among all three species of bass. Thin profiled crank baits, stick baits, jig and chunk combo's and finesse style set-ups like the drop shot and shakey head presentations should be utilized when considering artificial lures. February can be a feast or famine month here on Greers depending on the weather, rainfall and amount of sunlight we see for any extended period of time. I can assure you this month we will see some very good days here on the reservoir with catches on all species to be above and beyond the previous month. February will offer some nice days of 70 degree temperatures along with snow and blustery cold. After all it's Arkansas so these extreme temperature and weather changes just might occur all in a 72 hour period. Take advantage of any day you might spend on our beautiful reservoir as winter starts to wind up and Spring time temperatures move in.

Hello All and Happy New year, Out with the old and in with the COLD! Throughout the first half of December we saw falling lake levels with very moderate water temperatures in the mid to low 50 degree mark. This in turn kept the bite consistent on most all species with our walleyes making a good showing throughout the first half of the month. Over the Christmas Holiday we saw upwards of 7 or more inches of rain which brought lake levels upwards once again. 2009 is now officially the wettest year on record, toppling the old record by more than 5 inches! Look for January to harbor some of the coldest water temperatures we will see here all year on Greers. Surface temperatures will range from the Upper to mid 40's on the main lake with some of the tributaries and feeder arms showing surface temperatures in the upper 30 degree range with below average temperatures predicted. January will mark the beginning of the pre-spawn stage for our walleyes. Our toothy friends already have eggs developing and they will further this development throughout the month. All of the female eyes that where boated and dressed in December had eggs and where feeding up for this highly anticipated event which will occur in February and be finishing up by the first week of March. When pursuing our eyes during this month look to main lake points and secondary points up feeder arms as prime locations for the staging eyes to be holding. The Narrows will have a big push this month with our migratory population passing through this gateway before heading up the feeder arms to the spawning grounds. Depths from 16 - 44 feet will hold these fish with the primary depth on any given day being dictated by light penetration, wind, and forage. During January Large Minnows, Crawlers and hard plastics should be your primary baits with the minnows coming in number one. Drop Shot rig's, Lead head jigs and modified split shot set-ups will be the ticket in presenting your live bait offering slow and steady. Our Hybrids and White Bass will be on the move as usual during this month feeding at opportune times during the day. They will be hanging at depths of 35 - 65 feet deep and feeding as they go. There will not be much consistency with these fish during this month but good days of 20 or more will be had to those who stay after them. Knowing how to read your electronics will pay Huge dividends as there will only be very limited surfacing during this period. If we get a string of warmer days put together to wards the end of the month expect the action and peak feeding times to increase. Mid day time periods will be key and will produce the most aggressive bite. As I have stated in previous articles, my go too number one bait for catching these fish at deeper haunts is the Fish Dinner line up of spoons. I prefer the 1/2 and 3/4 ounce white scale with the blue back version. These are NOW AVAILABLE on-line at http://www.fishdinnerlures.com, as well as, Golden Outdoors in Heber Springs. One of the most dependent bites on this reservoir is within our Kentucky/Spotted Bass population. These fish are fun to catch, school in large concentration's and feed aggressively when presented with live bait offerings or artificial. Look at our rock bluffs at mid range depths for these fish to be hanging in larger concentrations this month. Secondary Ledges adjacent to channel swings on the main lake and feeder creeks will also hold these fish in high numbers as well as the old faithful Bridge Pilings. By far my most successful way to boat a handful of these fish is by utilizing a drop shot rig with live bait or soft plastics. This is a very versatile rig; you can cast and retrieve, drop it vertical to suspended fish or simply drag the rig when drifting over flats or humps. Look for these fish to be suspended just off the bottom to mid column depth with there primary forage. Our small mouth population is already setting up on chunk and boulder rock piles in depths of 28 - 40 feet. During December at these very locations we saw them schooled and pretty active for short periods of time. During these windows we boated good numbers of these fish off of single locations within a very small area. I expect them to hold there locations over the next month with the windows of feeding time to decrease making them more difficult into taking your offering. Jig and Chunk combos, Jigging Spoons and finesse techniques with live or artificial bait should be your focus. January can offer some really great days of fishing on the water as long as you pick and choose your days wisely. When on the water during our cold water months choose your location's according to the wind, light, time of day and let your electronics play the key factor in locating fish. Once you have marked and located fish, drop your lines and wait them out. Remember that our fish's metabolism have slowed but they still have to eat. They will prefer one large meal over several smaller ones during this period. They simply will not exert more energy to catch their prey than the energy they receive by consuming it. As always, any day spent on the water is a great one! If you have any question's regarding our lake area or would like more information on setting a trip to fish with me please call (501) 691 - 5701 for the best available dates this Spring! It's going to be a Great year to fish Greers Ferry, I wish you a Happy New Year and hope to see you all soon! Good Fishin`

James, Sorry for the delay in getting back with you, I've been chasing down those Green Heads since the re-opener. GFL pre-spawn bite starts in Late January and really gets going come Feb. All 3 main feeder arms of the reservoir hold pre spawn fish along with select minor arms and tributaries. Look for contour changes with some type of cover, ie. rocks, boulders, wood, etc. Humps and structure changes in these location's are also another good spot to graph and check out. There are several major and minor launch location's you can use; Stewart Access, Devil's Fork, Hill Creek and Frontier Canyon just to name a few. The eyes run as far as they can with some of the last major deep water areas holding the vast majority of the fish. Shallow hard bottom areas with deeper water access are prime time areas to locate spawning fish. Fishing without a boat is not ideal or even close to being consistant however there are a hanfull of areas where the locals fish. One thing to remember about our eyes, we have both native fish (river fish) and the stocker fish. The natives will all use the rivers and tribs to spawn while the stockers will spawn on main lake points, 45 degree banks and main lake humps. Good Luck and call me when your ready to feel the pull~

HO, HO, HO, Merry Christmas All! It's really hard for me to believe it's already that time of year again. Seems like just yesterday we where catching spawning walleyes and whites! Well, not to long from now it will be that wonderful time of year again. Ok, don't let me get ahead of myself. First things first, Ducks are bombing into decoy spreads, Deer are feeding back up after there rut and you know what? There are some of us out here on the water taking advantage of the solitude and the tell tell tap tap of Ol`Mr. Walleye fixing to have a meal. This month here on Greers look for the action to slow a bit with the overall quality of bites to rise. As water temperatures approach the low 50's and upper 40's this month metabolism's will slow and feeding times will tighten up a bit, however there will still be a very good opportunity to land some fish. Look for the Corp. of Engineers to increase the water releases and put the reservoir back on a consistent falling pattern. This pattern will definitely help position the fish where they are more susceptible to the angler. To wards the end of this month look for a deeper water pattern on both Main lake points, Ledges and Bluff banks. Fish will start to suspend in the more stable water and feed only at opportune times, the deal is you need to be their when this time presents itself. Mid-Day will be an excellent time to take advantage of this bite. Our walleye's will be holding on long tapering points with wood and a hard bottom, deeper ledges with a second steep drop into the main river channel as well as suspending with the shad that are harboring the depths of the reservoir. The key this month will be to pick these first two areas apart, the latter of the three areas listed above will all be bait dependent and can change from day to day. As the water temperatures get below the mid 50's range large shiners will out produce any other form of bait or lure. When I say large I mean 20 grade shiners in the 4 - 6 inch range not your traditional bass size minnows you find in the bait shops. Reason being for this change is you want to offer a large meal, when the water cools these fish and other fish alike want to eat one meal rather than several meals throughout the day. You need to be able to offer this one meal and capitalize on this occurrence. Look at depths of 30 - 45 feet deep when pursuing our world record species. The whites and hybrids will have there days during this month. Meaning select days during this month they will be corralling shad from the depths and pushing them to the surface. These are the best times to take advantage of them, a good run of some stable warmer weather will get them going. Mid day will be a great time to see these fish feeding. The rest of the time look in larger flats off the main basin as well as the main channel runs that swing in really close to shallower depths. Knowing how to ready your electronics will definitely pay big dividends this month if this species is what you are after. When the fish are in depths of 50 feet or more I like a 1oz. Fish Dinner spoon in White with the Blue Back. When you have located the fish in shallower depths I really like using the 1/2 oz. version with the 3/4 oz. having it's place as well. If the fish are up and churning I fish the 5/8 oz. Glitter Spinner exclusively. In my opinion there is no other tool that gets the job done like the Glitter Spinner (Fish Dinner Lure Company). The Kentucky's and the small mouth will be locating themselves on Main lake Points, ledges and our bluffs both in the main lake and tributaries. Look for the steeper and deeper location's. When considering the spot's there is almost no cutoff line to being to deep, depths of up to 70 feet deep will hold numbers of these fish with the larges concentration's being in the 32 - 45 foot zone. You can also bet there will be some type of cover adjacent to these location's for the fish to hold too. It may be as simple as a small rock pile or even standing timber or a brush pile but there will be something for them to relate to during there inactive feeding times. The shaky head will definitely be coming back out of the box until spring, 3/16 oz. will be the best overall size when paired with a 4 - 7 inch finesse worm. Well, I surely hope all of you have had a very productive 2009 fishing year and I am looking to 2010 to be even better. We have certainly seen extreme condition's on this reservoir and all have there place in mother natures handbook of preserving what is hers. Over the last couple of years we have had extremely good shad spawns of which we are already seeing signs of this impressive reservoir getting even better. I hope I get to see each and every one of you on the water sometime over 2010. As always if you have any question's regarding our area or reservoir please call or shoot me an email and I will get back with you in a timely manner. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Good Luck and Good Fishin`

Hello all! Greers Ferry is currently at 475 ft above msl and holding steady with recent rains and fore casted precipitation over the next few days. Water surface temperatures are still holding in the low 60's. Fishing has been on again off again throughout the past couple of weeks. We have seen great days of 40 fish or more as well as slower days of low double digit catches. Although fishing has been a little on the difficult side overall, we are catching most all species every trip out with walleyes coming in on all of the recent outings. Overall fishing has been the most consistent at greater depths. However there are bait fish from a foot deep out to depths as great as 90 feet. The shallow bite on most species has been hit or miss with these game fish moving a lot to keep up with the shallow schools of thread fin shad that have spawned this fall. Our walleye bite has been the most predictable at depths of 24 - 32 feet deep, although we have caught them as shallow as 12 feet and as deep as 46 feet. The drop shot rig with an 1/8 oz. lead and a whole night crawler has accounted for most of the eyes we have been seeing. However, the larger of the fish have come on the Fish Dinner spoon in a 3/4 oz. size, white with the blue back. Over the last week we have landed several fish in the 22 - 25 inch range along with a handful of 14 - 18 inch eating size fish. On one occasion last Sunday we lost a monster size eye right at boat side. This fish was in the 8 - 10 lb. class and did not want anything to do with the net! Needless to say it was exciting for my client and just as exciting or even more for yours truly even though she came unbuttoned before we could get the camera lens on her. Look for the walleyes to be hanging tight to break lines in deeper water and the shallower fish are really relating to the flooded bush's along pea gravel banks and points. The hybrids and whites are just not doing anything consistent. Here one day and gone the next! Most of the fish we have put in the boat have been located with bait fish in the immediate area. One location to check out is in the Mill Creek and Higdon Bay area. These fish have not been huge but are feeding at select times. Spoons and Spinners have been the only two baits we have contacted any on over the past few trips. Ol` Mr. Bronze Back (small mouth bass) have kept my guide trips going with action. These fish are reluctant to get going it seems but once you get a fish landed it seems to really get the rest of them in a feeding mood. Myself and clients alike have had to just simply wait the bite out, sitting on one location for up to 45 min. without a bite and then it's like a light switch turns on with several fish loaded to the boat over the next same time period. Several fish in the 2 - 3 lb. range have been boated over the last couple of weeks. Main Lake points, Humps and gravel with wood present have been the best location's. The very sparse grass we have here on Greers has come to an end and the fish that where relating to it have moved on. We are catching quite a few spotted bass (Kentucky's) throughout the day but location of bait seems to be key. If you do not have the bait these fish are not going to show up to the dance. I have seen them come from 50 foot deep and as shallow as 16, it is all bait dependant. Spoons and the Drop shot have been the deal in my boat. The better fish have been coming on the drop shot with a whole night crawler fished extremely thorough and slow throughout an area. Once you pick up a fish, slow down and stick with that area for as long as you can stand it. The main thing to consider right now is Location, Location, Location. Once in an area where you have located fish, stick with it, it's all about TIMING. Those fish will turn on and feed and they will turn off the same way. Over a 7 hour day we are only fishing 3 - 6 location's within this time slot. Fishing thorough right now will definitely pay off in a big way. You simply have to be in the right place at the right time to catch numbers of fish. The fact of the matter is it's not always going to work out in your favor but running and gunning is out of the question. If any of you have any question's regarding this report or our reservoir please contact me and I'll get back with you as soon as I can. Good Luck and Good Fishin`

Hello all, Greers Ferry is currently at 476 ft msl and rising at the time of this forecast. Current water temperatures are ranging from the mid to lower 60's on all portions of the lake. During October we saw several strong fronts and lot's of heavy rain which brought lake levels well above normal pool. Do not let this hinder you in getting on the water. Once the lake comes to a rest and starts falling this will really position the fish to the outside edges of there new found cover making the more susceptible to catching. During November we will see low 50 degree water temperatures with fish still on the feed. Moderate feeding will continue until we reach the upper 40 degree range. Once this happens look for the bite to fall off a bit as the fish seek out there winter haunts in deeper more stable water. One key token to note during this month will definitely be to find the bait as this will lead you to the fish. Again, once they have settled and start to clear back up look to our main tributaries to the north as well as our feeder creeks to harbor the vast majority of the shad. The shad will be and are currently spawning up these arms and tributaries as they spawn multiple times in a year. Concentrate your efforts in these areas and you are sure to put some fish in the boat. With the new water that has entered the lake look at old bushy bank lines for the shad to use as cover. The game fish will be relating to this form of cover as well. Our Kentucky bass are definitely going to provide some really good action during this month. They will be found in moderate size schools way up feeder arms and tributaries along with some of the steeper main lake points and drop-offs. Secondary points and ledges both on the main lake and within these tributaries will hold really good numbers during the month. Jackall Jointed Crank baits, Fish Dinner spoons, Drop Shot rigs and 3" Grubs will be a good bet for landing these fish. Our Black Bass have made a big push shallow and will continue to be in water less than 16 feet until we see low 50 degree water temps. Flukes, Swim Baits and small crank baits are catching a fair amount of these fish that are staged during the day in and around the cover. Decent numbers of smaller Large mouth's will congregate around the new cover in the flooded areas. Look for the larger fish to be holding on isolated cover really close to the channel or old bank line in deeper water. As for the small mouth the majority we have found have been out on main lake points, both steep and slow to run out. The best location's to find these fish will be in 14 - 22 feet of water holding tight to the newly flooded bush's and cover that is normally out of the water. Another prime location for these bronze backs will be bluff ends and big chunk rock main lake points with current as they draw the lake down. The amount of current we have will dictate where these fish will hold on any given structure. When the corp is able to drop the lake levels I look for there to be a really strong small mouth surge. Ol' Mr. Walleye will be much more susceptible to patterning this month with the higher water. Over the course of the next month focus on the old brushy bank line that exsist on longer points, Gravel roll offs and Chunk rock Bluff Ends and Main lake Ledges with more than one lip or drop. I am still expecting a big surge within the bite among this species. This is definitely the time to be pursuing this tasty and toothy fish. We absolutely hammered these fish during May and June with the same water condition's. Taking into consideration the water temps and time of year I am going to be relying heavily on this same areas to produce good numbers of these fish until water temperatures reach the low 50's. Live Night Crawlers, Minnows, jerk baits and small cranks will put some fish in the boat. Our whites and hybrids are spread out and have been tuff to come by in any great numbers. I look for this to change over the first week of this month with the promise of Sunshine and more stable temperatures in the 60's. Once again, when the water levels start to level off this fish will school back up in tighter more aggressive groups. This will enable them to be caught on a more predictable basis. I will be keeping an eye out up the tributaries and main feeder creeks as well as some of the flats and big long points on the main lake to harbor these fish. One thing about the temperate bass is they have to have Shad and a lot of them! Fish Dinner Spoons, Spinners and a fair amount of top waters will produce once they get settled down. Well, the lake is up 15 feet and will likely gain another 6"'s to a foot before it starts to fall. Don't let this hamper your efforts, use the time you have spent on the lake to your advantage. Put together the pieces one at a time and you will definitely put some fish in the boat. Remember that cool old tree just on the waters edge a couple of weeks ago, that sheer bluff face that was only a foot or two out of the water, what about that isolated rock on a gravel bank? I be there are fishing using those location's right now! Use the information you have gathered in the past and make the new water work for you. If any of you have any question's or would like information regarding our fine reservoir or river please give me a call or shoot me an email and I will get back to you as soon as I'm off the water. Good Luck and Good Fishin`

475 and still rising.....

Hello all, Greers Ferry is currently at 465.5 ft msl and falling slightly at the time of this report. Boy, has it gotten down right chilly outside or what? Water temperatures and the whitetail deer population is falling quickly! In turn this has provided some down right secluded days on the lake and river, which is always nice. Current water temperatures are ranging from the mid 60's to upper 60's on all portions of the lake. I have not seen the 70 degree mark over the last week anywhere. Bait fish (thread fin shad) are the main deal right now for all species. Find the bait and you will most definitely find the fish. This is much easier said than done however. Look to our main tributaries to the north as well as our feeder creeks to harbor the vast majority of the shad right now. Only a handful of pockets in the main lake are harboring any type of bait fish and game fish right now. Best I can tell the majority of fish are really relating to the fresh water entering the reservoir in some form or fashion. Over the last couple of weeks the water levels have come up over 4 feet assisting in the dispersal of bait and game fish. This has made for some really great days as well as some really tuff days on the water. As cold front after cold front swept through the state over the last week it really affected the positive bite we had going on here. Days of 40 and 60 fish where cut down to 15 - 20 fish days on average, that's quite a drop in activity among all species. I look for the hot bite to return over the next week with southerly winds and steady temperatures moving back in. As of right now the Kentucky bass staging on drops in the backs of the creeks are saving my days right now as they have been the most consistent species by a long shot. These fish are really cruising and tearing up the shad that are available. Depths of 18 - 30 feet are holding the largest majority of these fish while they are holding and waiting on there next meal. During peak feeding times they are pushing shallower in the column as well as up the creeks to ambush the shad. While they are suspended in deeper water my clients have had there best luck with a crawler and drop shot rig fished on light lb. line with a #2 Gamakatsu Offset EWG worm hook anchored by a 3/16 oz. finesse weight. 1/2 oz. Fish Dinner Spoons are also picking up a fair amount of fish in greater depths, The Blue Back with the reflective sides has been our best color. These are available at Golden Outdoors in Heber Springs at a very fair price! Our Black Bass (large mouth's) have made a big push shallow to the backs of most creeks and tributaries with current and brush. Flukes, Swim Baits and small crank baits are catching a fair amount of these fish that are staged during the day in and around the cover. Early mornings and late evenings the bucket mouth's that where in the bush's are roaming the flats in between and really keying in on shad. High numbers of these 12" - 15" fish can be caught on a variety of lures and live bait. Remember that any of these Largemouth less than 15" must be returned immediately. As for the small mouth bass I've seen them really dispersed throughout the water column. We have set up on fish as deep as 32 feet and done well along with scattered fish in less than 5 feet of water. We have been picking them up on a Lucky Strike 3 3/4" swim bait with a 1/Oz. weighted hook. The jig bite is on one day and off the next. When it's been on the Strike King Bitsy Bug paired with a Net Bait Tiny PAC Chunk is #1 in my boat. Ol' Mr. Walleye has been tuff with the condition's we have been dealing with here lately. I am still looking for a big surge in feeding activity to occur most any day. Look at longer points, Gravel roll offs and Chunk rock Bluff Ends to hold some fish over the coming days and weeks. Until water temperatures reach the mid 50's I will still be holding strong on Live Night Crawlers over Minnows. Fish the crawlers on an 1/8 oz. lead head jig in these location's for best results. Target depths from 12 - 30 feet. Now on to the beloved Hybrids and Whites. Since my last report things have not changed all that drastically with these temperate bass. They are definitely living up to there name! We have had great days of 60 fish or more with our days of 0 - 10 when looking at this species specifically. Most of the fish are spread out with the bait. When we get this reservoir back on a good falling water trend I look for the action to really explode. Our best days came right before the next cold front pushed through and a day or so after the previous. Post front and heavy rain really put these fish in a negative mood, even the fish deeper in the column seem to get lock jaw. The best bite has come on Fish Dinner Spinners while they are surfacing and again the 1/2 oz. Blue and Scale spoon to the deeper fish that are sounding. Keep an eye on your graph as well as the other boats for fish that are cooperating. If any of you have any question's or would like information regarding our fine reservoir or river please give me a call or shoot me an email and I will get back to you as soon as I'm off the water. Please bare with me on responses as this a very busy time of year, Oh Yeah the Brown Trout Spawn will be in full swing in a couple of weeks, book now for the best availability! Good Luck and Good Fishin`

Hello all! At the time of this forecast Greers Ferry water levels are slightly above normal pool and holding with all the fresh rain from September entering the reservoir. Surface temperatures are ranging from 71 - 78 degrees depending on location. During this month expect a fall in water temperatures down to the low to mid 60's with average temperatures and rain expected for October. Fishing during the month of September has been all out FANTASTIC! I look for this to continue throughout the month of October and on into November. Schools of 3 and 4 inch shad are getting hammered by all game fish. Most species have pushed into main lake pockets, tributaries and creek arms following the bait. This has made for some awesome fishing, days of 50 - 100 fish have been the norm. Walleyes, Kentucky's, Large mouth, Small mouth, Hybrids and White Bass are showing themselves everyday. This keeps everyone happy and enjoying their time spent on the water. With the falling water temperatures look for the walleye bite to really come back alive during this month on into November. Long main lake points, Bluff lines that run on the edge of flats and secondary points back in the creeks will be holding good concentrations of these fish as long as you have bait present. Stick with an 1/8 oz. Lead Head Jig and Crawler set up until we get water temperatures down into the upper 50's. Another location to run down a few walleyes this month will be under the schools of hybrids and white bass. Use a 1/2 oz. too 1oz. jigging spoon to drop below the bait fish and frenzied hybrids to pick up a few eyes gathering up the dead or dying minnows. White/Blue, Prism/Blue, and Chrome colors should be considered depending on amount of Light penetration you have on that given day. Our Hybrids and White Bass made a big feeding surge during September but are still unpredictable from day to day. Look for this month to really shine with consistent action on these two species. Cloudy and Rainy days will be best for all day surface action. Big in-line spinners, Flukes, Pop-R type baits and swimming grubs will all catch these surfacing fish. Once the surfacing subsides drop those spoons to the suspended fish and hang on, look for big numbers and lot's of action over really small areas. There will be a lot of fish spread over different areas of the lake start your search for surfacing fish in main lake pockets and bays. To wards the end of this month start looking up main tributary arms like Middle Fork and South Fork. There will be a huge push of bait up these arms and these two species will follow them the whole way. The Kentucky's and Smallies are packed in and around secondary points and key drops to wards the backs of creeks and pockets. These fish are feeding heavy and are really feeding heavy on the bait right now. Most are suspended with in 22 - 40 feet of water and are willing to bite the right presentation. Jerk Baits, Drop Shot rigs and Spoons will take the majority of these fish. Boat Control and positioning are crucial right now if you want to catch more than just a handful out of one school. Stay off the trolling motor as much as possible while making long cast to the school once located. I can't emphasize enough on keeping your distance to boat multiple fish in one location. Schools of Big Largemouth are cruising the newly flooded bush's around the shore of the lake right now. This makes it tuff to get a dependable bite to go back on in the same areas multiple days in a row. Keep moving and you will locate the fish in short order. Look at the back of main lake pockets and a few of the longer creeks that have fresh water entering from the rain. Keep your eyes open for schools of bait and our Large mouths will be close by. Swim Baits, Flukes, Texas Rigged Plastics, Senkos and small cranks will get the job done. Of course look for low light periods to be the best bite, once the sun gets high the bite tempers back a bit. During periods of High sun and bright condition's slow down and pitch 1/8 to 3/16 oz. Strike King Bitsy Bugs in Olive or pumpkin to the outside of the brush line for a consistent bite. When water levels start to fall consistently this bite will really turn on in a big way! Well, this is definitely the month to be on the water here in the Ozarks. Changing leaves, Shorter Days and falling temperatures make for great days to be on the water. There is little or no recreational traffic on the water right now so come on over and create some memories that will not be forgotten! If you have any question's regarding this report or would like details on a guide trip please email or call me and I will get back with you as soon as I'm off the water~

Just a quick note here, Fishing is ON FIRE ! If you can you need to be on the water right NOW!

Hello All! The current lake level here at Greers Ferry is 462.4 feet and on the fall. Water surface temperatures are ranging from 71 degrees in the backs of feeder creeks and main tributary arms up to 78 degrees on the main lake. Overall fishing has been simply fantastic! All species are feeding heavily on bait fish of all size from 1 1/2" - 4" long. The game fish are keying in on these tasty little morsels at opportune times of the day, timing is everything right now here on the reservoir. With all the heavy rains as of late the water level came up two feet within a 48 hour period which put the fish that had already pushed to the backs of the creeks and pockets on standby for a short time. They have now turned back on and are feeding well. Spotted bass (Kentucky's) are simply out of control right now, the fall bite is definitely on in a very big way when considering this species. These fish are in small to medium size schools and devouring anything that crosses there path. Start your search in the back of major and minor creek arms just off of the secondary points located half way too two thirds of the way back. When you pull up on a location and you have bait activity running in the flats, go WITH the BAIT! Once the action slows return to the primary drop in the back of the creek or these secondary point locations and you will continue to have success. Our smallies are also getting in the mix on these secondary points along with our deeper main lake points and bluffs in the 15 - 22 foot zone. Some of the really big smallies in the 4 - 5 lb. class have been boated over the last couple of weeks. Again, if there is bait activity running... go with the bait. Spoons, Drop Shot rigs, blade baits, grubs and pop-r style baits should be considered when pursuing these fish when live bait is not an option. However, A whole night crawler rigged on a drop shot or 1/8 oz. lead head jig will get you on multi-species action in a hurry. The Largemouth Bass are the one species that seems to really be spread out more than any other. I have located these fish in the newly flooded bush's at a foot deep as well as depths of 20 feet or more on big chunk rock with timber. Over the next week or so the deeper fish should be pushing shallower and if we hold some of this good water look at those bushes to become primary targets with top waters early then jigs, Texas rigged plastics and swim baits. Ol` Mr. Walleye is starting show up more frequently with the drop in temperatures. Some of these eyes are holding on the ends of bluffy points with the largest concentration's being mixed with the hybrids and schools of other game fish that are feeding on the bait. Depths of 22 - 36 feet should be concentrated on when pursuing these fish. We have had some good luck as of late catching them on jigging spoons as well as the old trusty night crawler and lead head rig in these target depths either suspended or just off the bottom. The hybrids and white bass have had better days than others. Cove Creek has been a hot spot for LOTS of anglers as well as fish. When the rains brought the reservoir up to current levels it moved the bait around and scattered the fish out as well. Now that we are on a slow fall these fish are going to be more predictable as the days go on. There is definately a good bite going at different location's around the lake every day, you simply have to be at the right place at the right time. The deeper spoon bite has been best, while there is some surfacing occuring in the mornings and evenings to capitlize on I've found the deeper fish are more dependable. From now until the first couple of weeks of November is definitely the time to get out and enjoy our fine reservoir. There is very little recreational traffic on the water and days of high numbers and lots of action are upon us! Dates are filling fast for what is to be one of the best fall fishing seasons on record, contact me for rates and to set your guide trip up. If any of you have any questions regarding this report or our area please feel free to contact me and I'll get back with you as soon as I'm off the water.

They have started however like cat said the water levels rising scattered them out a bit. There is still a TON of bait on the main lake and in select creeks. Just yesterday we saw fantastic action on all species. Walleye, Hybrids, Whites, Kentuckies, LM and some smallies where boated and schooling with these bait fish. We caught them in the main basin as well as back in some of the creeks. Now is a great time to be on the water. I will be posting a more detailed report here shortly that will go into much more detail on our current lake conditions~

Not trying to be confrontational here just informative, If you are using the palomar knot with Fluoro it IS going to BREAK. I don't care how wet you get it or how gingerly you slide it down. It is the wrong knot for Fluoro. I use the palomar knot for almost every other instance and it's an incredible knot for mono, just not fluorocarbon.

Thanks for the tidbit Wayne....I've never tried the Miller knot, since i have been tying the EB knot I have yet to have a single knot failure. I only use this knot with Fluoro and the ease of tying along with the experience I've had while using it does not justify me changing to any other knot when looking at Fluoro. If you don't mind me asking, would u forward me a copy of the link where you got that article that compared the two? Many Thanks~

Hey Guys, I don't normally chime in here on the Trock threads but if you are fishing Fluoro and not tying the Eugene Bend not you are in trouble. This is the ONLY not that will not break by cutting into itself on a hard or pull hook set. U HAVE TO USE THE EUGENE BEND KNOT with Fluoro~

Just to add a note here, I just got back from another trip today and my clients landed over 40+ lm, sm, and kentuckies all on aritficials....The water has come up a foot and a quater since yesterday but the bass are still cooperating in a good way.

generation has been light to say the least. Usually running 3k cfs for an hour or two a day from 2 - 4 pm. You will have extra water the further down stream you go to assist in the float. Now, we have gotten around 4"'s of rain over the last few days and the lake level is rising a bit, that may change how they are releasing but I doubt it~

Hello! Glad to hear you follow the reports and are getting a chance to get out and do some fishing yourself! The whites and hybrids are not giving it up everyday all day yet. I've had several calls and emails as of late stating they heard they are going crazy and are fishing really good all day right now....well, I'm here to tell you that's just not the case. However, some days have been awesome and others not so much in regards to these fish. We have had days in the last couple of weeks where we have seen well over 100 hybrids and whites but not every day. The kentuckies, LM, and Smallies are starting to really cook and they are getting a lot of my attention as well. Overall it's a VERY good time to be on the water here at Greers. I had a trip yesterday on the river and we boated around 40 fish in a few hours, pretty typical stuff for the river. Good Luck,