Greers Ferry Forecast June 08

[Cody Smith]

Greers Ferry Lake is still on the high side with the lake levels currently at 484 feet above msl. Normal pool for our reservoir is 461.4 feet. Fishing has been fantastic throughout the spring and I foresee this trend to continue through the month of June. With the high water situation we have had, the spawn for all species with the exception of walleye, has been awesome. All the new water has given the fry plenty of cover to hide and escape harms way. During the next few years we should really see a boost in population’s of all major game fish and with the lack of walleye spawn the AGFC will be stocking them which will give the river strain a boost as well. All the high water is exactly what this infertile reservoir needed to insure great fishing into the future.

I have received numerous e-mails regarding which ramps are available for use, HWY 25 S has lot’s of room and is in great shape, Hill Creek is also available as well as the Narrows to name a few. Also to note the town of Greers Ferry will be offering a shuttle service for overflow parking of boat trailers, etc. From Narrows Park. Our newest member, Greers Ferry Tours will be taking people from parking to the lake and back for $5 round trip. Boaters can put their boat into the lake at the Narrows Park, then drive their trailers to West Side School or if they are staying at the local motels, Narrows Inn, Sportsman's Lodge and Sugar Maple Inn they can return their trailers to their motel and the bus will pick them up from the motels and take them back to the lake. When they are done on the lake, the bus will be at the park and take them back to either their motel or West Side School's parking to get their trailers. The Shuttle will run every hour from 9 a.m. To 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The shuttle can hold 13 people at a time and will make as many trips as necessary to get the people back and forth. So, spread the word, the lake is open and ready for the vacationers!

On with the forecast...... Water temps are slightly cooler than normal for this time of year but it won’t be long before they catch up to the yearly averages. In the month of June, one can expect to see water temps from the upper 60's in the beginning to mid to upper by the latter part of the month. Water clarity; depending on location throughout the reservoir it will vary, with all parts of the lake clearing as more stable and dryer weather patterns move in. At present, the lower basin has visibility levels up to 10 feet and the 5 fingers portion to the north is still stained and visibility is holding around 3 - 5 feet.

We will be experiencing post spawn patterns for Largemouth and Spotted Bass. After recuperating from the spawn that took place the last 2 weeks of May, these fish will be aggressively feeding this month while water temps are still in the ideal range of 65 - 75 degree mark. The spot’s will be schooling and cruising medium to deeper depths compared to earlier this year. They will stay with the bait fish, lures to keep in mind when pursuing them will be rat-l-traps, soft plastic jerk baits and any minnow imitation fished in and around creek channels and drops into deeper water. Of course, there will still be a few scattered throughout the shallows that can be taken with a variety of methods. Now the largemouth should pull out from the flooded shorelines and position themselves in 10 - 18 feet of water on long, slow tapering points on creek channels and main shorelines on the main lakes and throughout our feeder creeks and rivers. Action Bait 4" little teaser finesse worms (www.actionbait.com) fished on Strike King Shakey Head’s will be a great way to catch some pig’s. 1/8 oz. - ½ oz. Football Jigs with the Net Bait Small Paca chunk trailers or the Rage series from Strike King fished in natural colors will get bit by the most finicky of Larry’s. Jigging spoons and Carolina Rigs will also be a staple during the month of June. Now, for the bronze backs look for isolated small rock piles next to the flooded shorelines adjacent to smaller and secondary points on channels. Tubes and smaller swimbaits fished thoroughly around and in this cover will produce. Also look for the smallies to be foraging on Mayfly hatches and other insects hitting the waters surface. This fish will position themselves in areas where they can escape to deeper water during High light penetration periods. Of course, cloudy overcast days and periods of rain will fish best.

The Hybrids and White Bass, are moving out of the rivers and creeks back towards the deeper water with some stragglers still being caught regularly in the flooded timber up the arms. These fish will follow the bait, as long as it hangs around look for them to be close by. Later in the month after the water temp reaches the mid to upper 70's consistently the bait fish will retreat and you should use your electronics to locate large schools and these highly predacious fish will be close by. Jigging spoons, Large in-line spinners, Big Rat-L-Traps and live bait methods with large shiners will do best when presented to actively feeding fish.

Our walleye made a big surge in feeding this last month and it should continue until the water temps reach the upper 70's. Most of the eyes are using "new"cover to forage in and around. Wally diver’s and deep running crank’s along with 4" Action grubs fished over flooded tops have really produced well at low light periods. Look for roadbeds, creek channels and any new highways for these fish to set up on. As the water warms and the falls out the fish will get back on there main lake flats and be a little more predictable at depths of 25 - 40 feet deep around standing timber and small rock piles. At this time crawler harness and bottom bouncers trolled at very slow speeds will be the golden ticket when coupled with live bait, crawlers being best.

The Crappies are finishing up there spawn and will be back on the flats in the pole timber by the middle of this month. Small Cranks and Jig and Minnow combos will produce best at this time. Look for them to be in 30 feet of water holding in the 10 - 15 foot part of the column.

Bream and Catfish are spawning heavily this month. Look at areas with shallow flats adjacent to deeper water and forage. Of course the cat’s will be stuffing themselves on sunfish and can be caught tight lining but the best method on this reservoir will be from trotlines.

Well, as always have a safe trip while you’re here and the lake is definately open for business. If you have any question’s regarding this reservoirs or The Little Red River, please shoot me an e-mail and I will get back with you. Take a kid fishing and share the passion for our great sport.

Free Fishing Weekend in Arkansas is June 6th - 8th, so there is no excuse not to get a hook wet, No lic. Or Trout Stamp is needed to fish our waters from noon on Friday until midnight Sunday.

Trout Troller Guide Service, Greers Ferry Lake and The Little Red River, Cody S. Smith smittyc888@hotmail.com