Greers Ferry November Forecast

[Cody Smith]

Hello All, November already? This year has really gotten the move on and before you know it we will be ready for another great spawning season here on Greers Ferry, but don’t let me get ahead of myself! Lake levels are currently resting at 455 ft above msl. and holding steady due to the simple lack of rain and the corp holding lake levels even in order for our other white river chain lakes to drop to comparable levels. These lower water levels and inflow rates really affected the shad spawn this fall. Most of the time the majority of our shad population will push up the main feeder arms and tributaries of the lake, this year our shad where very spread out due to the lack of current within these arms. Most of our shad spawned on main lake flats and pockets with wind current, the bait fish that decided to push in the arms held up ½ to 2/3 of the way back where stable water conditions where found, this in turn held most of the game fish up with them at these marks. During November I look for the bite on all species to remain good to excellent with location of our bait fish being key to having a successful day on the water.

October provided us with a fair bite within our temperate bass species and I look for November to be even better. With the mild temperatures and little rain fall we experienced the previous month I look for November to really shine when looking into our Whites and Hybrids. In line spinners, spoons, spooks, stick baits and all the typical stuff will put good numbers of fish in the boat when presented in the correct manner and more importantly in the right location’s.

Our Walleye’s will be making a big surge this month feeding up for the winter. Look at main lake points and ledges with deep water access to hold good numbers of keeper size fish. There will also be good numbers of our walleye population following the large schools of shad that are inhabiting our pockets, creeks and flats. Spoons, drop shot rigged crawlers and lead heads tipped with live bait will produce this month when presented in 12 - 32 feet of water.

Windblown points, pockets and creek channel turns with forage will provide the best location’s for all three species of our bass populations. Let each days current condition’s dictate on where and how you will fish for this species. Minnow imitation’s like crankbaits, swimbaits and blade baits will be assets in locating large concentration’s of fish in short order by covering lot’s of water fast. Once you get bit slow down and cover that area thoroughly with the same bait and even different baits to get more bites within the same location’s.

November can be a feast or famine month depending on current condition’s and weather patterns. During this month you can bet that our fish will be feeding up for what is to come. With surface temperatures starting off the month in the lower 70's and ending up the month in the mid 50's there will be drastic changes to be made in both your approach and methods used to locate and catch fish on any given day here on the reservoir. With warmer water surface temperatures at the beginning of the month run and gun tactics will work well and should be utilized to up your overall catch rate, as the water cools and metabolism begin to slow during the end of the month I can’t emphasize enough on how important it will be to slow down and really spend some time fishing thorough and waiting the fish out once located. Good Luck and I wish you a great fall of fishing! Good Fishin`