Greers Ferry November Forecast

[Cody Smith]

Hello all, Greers Ferry is currently at 476 ft msl and rising at the time of this forecast. Current water temperatures are ranging from the mid to lower 60's on all portions of the lake. During October we saw several strong fronts and lot's of heavy rain which brought lake levels well above normal pool. Do not let this hinder you in getting on the water. Once the lake comes to a rest and starts falling this will really position the fish to the outside edges of there new found cover making the more susceptible to catching. During November we will see low 50 degree water temperatures with fish still on the feed. Moderate feeding will continue until we reach the upper 40 degree range. Once this happens look for the bite to fall off a bit as the fish seek out there winter haunts in deeper more stable water. One key token to note during this month will definitely be to find the bait as this will lead you to the fish. Again, once they have settled and start to clear back up look to our main tributaries to the north as well as our feeder creeks to harbor the vast majority of the shad. The shad will be and are currently spawning up these arms and tributaries as they spawn multiple times in a year. Concentrate your efforts in these areas and you are sure to put some fish in the boat. With the new water that has entered the lake look at old bushy bank lines for the shad to use as cover. The game fish will be relating to this form of cover as well.

Our Kentucky bass are definitely going to provide some really good action during this month. They will be found in moderate size schools way up feeder arms and tributaries along with some of the steeper main lake points and drop-offs. Secondary points and ledges both on the main lake and within these tributaries will hold really good numbers during the month. Jackall Jointed Crank baits, Fish Dinner spoons, Drop Shot rigs and 3" Grubs will be a good bet for landing these fish.

Our Black Bass have made a big push shallow and will continue to be in water less than 16 feet until we see low 50 degree water temps. 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. Decent numbers of smaller Large mouth's will congregate around the new cover in the flooded areas. Look for the larger fish to be holding on isolated cover really close to the channel or old bank line in deeper water.

As for the small mouth the majority we have found have been out on main lake points, both steep and slow to run out. The best location's to find these fish will be in 14 - 22 feet of water holding tight to the newly flooded bush's and cover that is normally out of the water. Another prime location for these bronze backs will be bluff ends and big chunk rock main lake points with current as they draw the lake down. The amount of current we have will dictate where these fish will hold on any given structure. When the corp is able to drop the lake levels I look for there to be a really strong small mouth surge.

Ol' Mr. Walleye will be much more susceptible to patterning this month with the higher water. Over the course of the next month focus on the old brushy bank line that exsist on longer points, Gravel roll offs and Chunk rock Bluff Ends and Main lake Ledges with more than one lip or drop. I am still expecting a big surge within the bite among this species. This is definitely the time to be pursuing this tasty and toothy fish. We absolutely hammered these fish during May and June with the same water condition's. Taking into consideration the water temps and time of year I am going to be relying heavily on this same areas to produce good numbers of these fish until water temperatures reach the low 50's. Live Night Crawlers, Minnows, jerk baits and small cranks will put some fish in the boat.

Our whites and hybrids are spread out and have been tuff to come by in any great numbers. I look for this to change over the first week of this month with the promise of Sunshine and more stable temperatures in the 60's. Once again, when the water levels start to level off this fish will school back up in tighter more aggressive groups. This will enable them to be caught on a more predictable basis. I will be keeping an eye out up the tributaries and main feeder creeks as well as some of the flats and big long points on the main lake to harbor these fish. One thing about the temperate bass is they have to have Shad and a lot of them! Fish Dinner Spoons, Spinners and a fair amount of top waters will produce once they get settled down.

Well, the lake is up 15 feet and will likely gain another 6"'s to a foot before it starts to fall. Don't let this hamper your efforts, use the time you have spent on the lake to your advantage. Put together the pieces one at a time and you will definitely put some fish in the boat. Remember that cool old tree just on the waters edge a couple of weeks ago, that sheer bluff face that was only a foot or two out of the water, what about that isolated rock on a gravel bank? I be there are fishing using those location's right now! Use the information you have gathered in the past and make the new water work for you. 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. Good Luck and Good Fishin`