Greers Ferry Fishing Report 10/19/09

[Cody Smith]

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`