Greers Ferry April Forecast

[Cody Smith]

Greers Ferry Lake at the time of this forecast is 463.4 ft and falling even with the recent rains. Water temps are currently 54 - 61 degrees depending on time of day and location on the reservoir with an average surface temp of 56 degrees. Fishing is getting better everyday here. It's definitely the time to be on the water. Now through the first couple of weeks of June will be phenomenal fishing on all species. A lot will be going on here during the month of April. Walleye will be feeding more aggressively and will be caught on x-raps, rogues and original floating rapala’s to name a few. Live bait fisherman will also be breaking out the crawlers as water temps have edged above the 56 degree mark. Crappie fishing is going extremely well and should continue through April. The best bite of late has come in 18 feet of water on secondary points and channel swings with standing timber and a hard bottom. 1/8 oz. Lead Heads with 2" tubes are number one. These fish are staging and getting ready for there spawn which will take place around the next full moon which occurs on April 9th. Look for the crappies to migrate off these present locations and push up to 2 - 6 feet of water to spawn next to bushes and stumps. Once they have done there business they will then retreat back to there present location’s and be on the feed big time. The White Bass are pushing up major and select minor arms with current to start there spawning activities. Some fish are already on the shallow shoals with many more to come. The first 3 weeks of April will be prime time when pursuing these sandy’s. 3" Action Bait Grubs (www.actionbait.com be sure and tell them Cody Smith sent you), will by far out produce any other lure during the peak of the spawn. Chartreuse, Pearl, Electric Blue Grape, and White are tops. Present them on a 1/16, 1/8 or 1/4 oz. Lead head depending on wind and current inflow condition’s. Fish them on a moderately slow retrieve, just fast enough to keep the tail going and hold on once the fish strikes. Towards the end of the big white bass run the hybrids will be pushing in. Presently the hybrids are still deep and holding ½ way back in the creeks in the 32 - 40 foot range. Once they push they will be tearing the shad to pieces that are in the backs of these arms. 4" Action Bait Grubs, Large Custom In-Line spinners = www.goldenoutdoors.net , Swim Baits and jerkbaits will produce. Now for the Bronze Backs, 58 degrees marks the beginning of there spawn. Locate transition zones along pea gravel banks with some type of Boulder Rock, wood, or both for bedding fish. Secondary points are holding a lot of the smallies right now and we are seeing schooling fish most everyday. These fish are presently feeding up for the spawn and once it’s over they will be back at it again. Look in the 4 - 10 foot range for your beds on southward facing shorelines to hold the most fish. Strike King Bitsy Bugs, Senko’s, Tubes and Finesse worms will all work to entice a bite. Light (fluorocarbon) line is a must with our clear water reservoir, 10lb. BPS Fluoro seems to be best. The Kentuckies (Spots) are feeding heavy near the same secondary points and small rock piles located on ledges and in the backs of our creeks and tributaries. There are a plethora of these feisty little fish, please keep a few when your out for a meal (10 - 12 inch fish). This will help all of our other game fishstay healthy and well. Senko’s, Shakey heads and small cranks will be the winning ticket. Look at location’s of 8 - 14 feet to produce schools of these fish. If you catch one, guaranteed there are many more down there awaiting your next cast, slow down and fish the area thoroughly to maximize your catch rate. The largemouth are holding on channel swings that come right up next to the bank. The best location’s have standing timber, a lot of sun exposure and small chunk rock. We have been catching them on everything in the tackle box. Fishing is extremely good right now. Just to note on a recent trip last month two clients of mine went through 106 crawlers and 7 Dozen minnows. Even if you account 25% for rocks and snags that’s still over 130 bites in a full day trip. Just in the last couple of weeks we have caught everything in the lake: LM, Smallies, Spots, Catfish, Crappie, Blue Gill, White’s, Hybrids, Walleyes, Suckers, Carp, and even some very large Drum! There is truly no better time to be on the water! Cody S. Smith / Trout Troller Guide Service / smittyc888@hotmail.com / 501 362-9958

[roy_eros]

Awesome report! Thanks!