Greers Ferry November 08 Forecast

[Cody Smith]

Greers Ferry is currently at 461.89 feet above MSL. Lake levels have been sucessfully drawn down to normal power pool after heavy rains in the months of September and October. Look for the power house to continue dropping lake levels down to the upper 450 range. This will be the preferred maximum through our winter months. Water temps where actually above average for the month of October. Ranging from 70 - 76 degrees, this in turn pushed the major feeding activity back a few weeks for most all species. During the month of November look for water temps to fall into the mid to upper 50's by the end of the month. Forecasters are calling for a much cooler than normal year this fall and it's going to have to come quick to get these water temps down. Once water temps reach the mid 60's there will be a tremendous bite going on most all major game fish species. The bite should continue unabated until water temps get down in the 50's. Large schools of shad are currently up main feeder arms of the lake on the north basin. Wads of bait that contain numbers upwards of 1000 minnows in each school. Most of the bait is in the 3 - 4 inch range and this should be taken into consideration when pursuing your quarry. With this being said, most of the smaller bait fish in the 1 - 2 inch range are still staging out off of main lake flats and points. The hybrids and white bass are rounding them up and feeding heavily. Although the bite is really just beginning there has not been as much activity as in years past. I really feel there is so many bait fish present that the hybrids and whites truely are not having to work as hard as in years past to feed. This trend may or may not continue into late fall. Some days the fish are really pushing to the top and others they seem very scattered and difficult to target. One thing is certain, you have to be on the water to keep a hook wet and have any chance at all. Through the month of November target areas in 25 - 60 feet of water and keep an eye out for surfacing. Three and four inch grubs fished on a 1/4 oz. head will produce. Swimbait's, Rat-L-Traps and Spoons will also produce fish, although not as consistantly as the Action Bait Grubs. Spotted and Smallmouth bass fishing has been excellent. These fish are schooling most everyday and are holding around Road Beds, Points and mid to shallow flats where bait fish are present. A variety of mehtods are producing fish; 3 and 4 inch Grubs, Flukes, Small Crankbaits, Shakey Head's with Zoom 6 inch finesse worms, Strike King Bitsy bugs with Net Bait Trailers and carolina rigs to name a few. I would expect the bite to get even better with current and water temps falling. My clients and myself have caught them from 3 feet of water down to 26 feet depending on the weather and sunlight. Once the water temps really back off towards the end of the month start looking deeper and resort back to your main lake points and ledges. Largemouth are following the receeding water and are staging in most of the creeks right on the breaks and just outside of the once flooded cover. Secondary points should not be overlooked as well. The walleye are scattered and continue to be tuff. The water levels coming down will help position them on rocky points and gravel banks with wood around 16 - 24 feet deep. Crawlers and Minnows fished on a 1/16 oz or 1/8 oz. jig head always produce best. Also keep an eye out for them below the schools of bait heared by the whites and hybrids. There are always a few to be caught beneath these schools but you have to get down below the other gamefish. The walleye are pretty much playing cleanup eating injured or dying bait from the other fish. Catfishing should continue to be good on trotlines and jugs in 7 - 18 feet of water on creek and channel bends with deep water near by. Live Sunfish and Liver are best when pursuing our whiskered friends. If you have any question's regarding our fine reservoir or the Little Red River please contact me and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Fall is one of the best time's to be on the water, If you would like to set a date please contact me and I will get you on fish!