Greers Ferry Fishing Report 09/21/09

[Cody Smith]

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.

[Cody Smith]

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

[jkilroy]

Is the hybrid fishing picking up yet?