Greer's Ferry, Arkansas, Fishing Reports and Conditions

FISHING REPORTS: (for even more information, check out the FORUM page)

5/2/08 The lake has dropped almost a foot since my last report. Current lake levels are 484.88 Water temps in the Lower basin are in the mid 60's with 65 degrees being the warmest I located. Water Clarity is Stained in the North Basin and Moderately clear to stained in the South Basin. Fishing is still going well with lot's of catches to be had. The white bass have backed off and are recoperating from there great spawn, you can still catch a few fishing around the mouths of the feeder creeks and main creek channels. The hybrids are working it over pretty well, with Early Morning and Late afternoon being the most productive. You can catch these fish mid to all the way up the arms. They have been schooling and feeding very aggresively. I would count on at least another week of this activity. Best lures are in-line spinners in 1/2 oz., Lead Head Jigs with Action Bait 3" Grubs in Chart. Pepper, June Bug, and Electric Blue Grape. Walleye's are showing up in better numbers than they have all year. They are also doing better right at dawn and dusk with the latter being better. There moving around pretty good so you have to really stay with them for consistant action, but the best bite's have been on the 3 and 4 inch Action bait grubs and deep diving crankbaits. The Smallmouth bass are coming out of recovery after there spawn. Expect action on this species to really be picking up. Look for Brush edges around 45 degree banks with gravel and small rock in 12 - 20 feet of water for the best bite. Largemouths and Spots made a hug push about 2 weeks ago beginning to stage in the shallower depths of the water column. These fish are still active with the big females spawning in different location around the lake. Soft plastic jerkbait's, wacky rigged worms and small crankbait's are cat
Tommy Zinda <tadpole@g2a.net>
- Saturday, May 03, 2008 at 19:58:56 (CDT)

4/30/08 As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 485.12 feet MSL. Shiloh Marina said the water is stained and 25 feet high. Walleye are biting well around the trees on minnows. Hybrids are biting early in the morning on spinnerbaits and Rogues. Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level fell off a bit and is down to 485.88 this morning and falling slow. White bass and hybrid fishing is good now that the water has cleared; try grubs and in-line spinners. Bass fishing is picking back up after some cold nights. Weightless Rite Bite Cinkos and other Senko-type lures are working well in the shallows, as are Chatterbaits, Shakey Hookers and spinnerbaits. A few walleye have been caught dragging nightcrawlers across flats in 17 feet of water. Crappie are biting well on Road Runners and minnows. Bream are moving to the shallows. Catfishing is good all over the lake on live and prepared baits. Good Fishin'
Tommy Zinda <tadpole@g2a.net>
- Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 18:04:38 (CDT)

May 08 Forecast: Greers Ferry is currently 485.5 feet and holding steady. By the Middle of May, with no more major rain events, we should be down to the upper 470's. Remember normal summer pool is 461.4 feet. Folks, it's going to take some time to get all this extra water out. Marina's are having a tuff time, to say the least managing there slips. Most of the Parks that surround the lake should be reopening with the lower water allowing more access points. It's been a record breaking year with the rain, however the fishing through out the entire month of April was Fantastic! We had several days of 60+ fish and a few that pushed 100. White's proved to provide the most dependable action early on in the month, with Hybrids a close second. We caught 95% of all our fish up the main and minor creek arms with moderate to slow current, while fishing 3 and 4 inch curly tail grubs by Action Bait Company out of Florence, AL. With all the new water entering the lake Clarity was a factor. Paying close attention to color and presentation was a HUGE factor in catch rates. Electric Blue Grape and Yellow where by far the best colors. With the water clearing and visibility reaching 4 - 7 feet in the lower basin the Electric Blue Grape is still out producing any other combo's and colors. I will say that the 1/8 oz Jig and 3" grub has been the most effective weapon with all the high water. You can fish in and around all the new cover, there is a ton of it, and that's where the fish are locating themselves. Look for this trend to continue through the month of May. Water temps are currently 58 - 62 degrees and by the middle of May they will be in the mid to upper 60's with average annual temperatures. Walleyes are locating themselves in 10 - 25 feet of water on brush lines close to minor creek channels that feed into major drops. These fish have been and will continue to be active during low light hours. Key in on balls of bait up major and minor arms, once you find the bait your eye's are going to be close. Same rule of thumb goes for the Hybrids. I've found the majority of these game fish to be at the mouth's of intersecting creek channels close to structure and feeding heavily at low light periods and times of overcast. Large bucktail in-line spinners, along with the 4" grubs have and will produce best fished on a moderate retrieve near the mouth's. Smallmouth Bass are finishing up there spawn and are staging in current up major and minor creek arms. If you find current along with rock piles in as little as 5 feet of water there will be some bronze backs to be caught and released. The kentuckies and largemouth are in Pre-spawn mode. During the month of April these fish where spread out pretty good, but patterning and locating larger concentration's of them is getting better day by day. Once the water temp consistantly reaches 64 degrees look for them to be on shallow flats in the flooded timber spawning heavily and then pulling back out to the edges of the minor channels. Some Bream are up shallow trying to spawn with the full moon of last month. Look for these fish to spawn in greater numbers this month around the 20th. Slip bobbers with crickets are wigglers will be your number one option to bring a mess home. Crappies have been the ONLY species I have not seen to many of during the month of April. Look for the spawn to be in full swing by the first 2 weeks of May, It's seems like it's rather late this year, however the fish continue to be on the 2 - 3 week delay. They are going to be tuff on you, again with all the high water there is alot of places for them to retreat. If you pick up one, stick with the area to locate the larger numbers. 1/16 oz. jig heads with small tubes in Pink,White, Chartreuse, tipped with a small minnow are #1 lure choices. A number of presentation's will work, casting and counting down, float and fly, along with the long pole and "bumpin" trees will fair best. I have not personally attempted to catch any of our whiskered friends but have heard mediocore reports on trot lines and jugs baited with live sunfish or cut bait. June will be the time for the cat's along with the full moon of this month. Let me close by saying with all the new water the fish are slightly more spread out than usual and in very different location's. However, they can be located and caught with great success. Have patience and venture into new areas when your on the reservoir to locate a good days catch. Lake Levels should be nearing normal by July with the corp. releasing water daily. This spring has continued to amaze with changes and really goes to show you who's in charge.... Mother Nature! We simply have to adapt and deal with what she hands out. Stay positive and keep your hook wet and you will surely have a great time on our beautiful reservoir. Now's the time to be on the water, enjoy some good time's and fellowship with friends. If any of you have any question's about what's going best during the coming month, please e-mail me @ smittyc888@hotmail.com and I will provide an accurate account! I am also running a MSHFN guide special. Mention you read this article and I'll give you a discounted rate on a full or half day trip~ Take a Child Fishin' Cody S. Smith Trout Troller Guide Service, The Little Red River and Greers Ferry Lake Good Fishin'
Tommy Zinda <tadpole@g2a.net>
- Friday, April 25, 2008 at 07:08:43 (CDT)

4/18/08 Night Fishing Trip...... Turned out well. 485.80 and falling.....Yesterday afternoon, friend and client Brad West, Heber Springs, and I hit the water around dusk. The fishing started off with a bang and ended about the same. Brad boated several nice: spots, white's, walleye along with the occasional Hybrid. We focused on the mouth's of main creeks and fished 18 - 30 feet of water right on edges of deeper water and structure. Most fish came on a 4" Action grub coupled with an 1/8 or 1/4 oz. lead head jig. We boated well over 20+ fish for the evening and early night. The moon was bright and the wind settled. It was a great time to be on the water. With the rain that came in late last night and early this morning the lake should have a little color to it and really should keep fishing strong. The water temps had come up since Tuesday to reach the Upper 50's and Lower 60's. The spotted gar are making there push into the shallows getting ready for there spawn. The spot's are in definate Pre-Spawn Mode with the males feeding aggresively. The smallmouth spawn is in full swing and if you can penetrate the thick stuff you will score on the bronze backs. Walleye are finally making a feeding surge and can be picked up on there usual hard bottom next to timber and flooded bushes in 10 - 20 feet of water. Let me know if any of you would like to scheldule a trip or have any question's. Smittyc888@hotmail.com Cody S. Smith Trout Troller Guide Service Good Fishin'
Tommy Zinda <tadpole@g2a.net>
- Friday, April 25, 2008 at 07:06:45 (CDT)

4/16/08 Well Folks, Good news is the Lake is finally on a slow retreat. I have to say my boat has been extremely fortunate during all this high water to put LOTS of fish in it. Today that came to a screaming hault.... High Pressure, Gusty Winds and Cold Water temps are to blame. Lake temps have fallen into the Low 50's and even upper 40's in some places. This has brought the fishin to a stand still in water depths of 15 feet or less. I still managed to pick off a few scattered spots (the largest being just under 18"'s) and a couple of white bass. The only thing I could get a strike on was a medium running crankbait fished on and above flooded Buckbrush and isolated patches of trees near main channels. No where near the action I had been experiencing. I would say that later this week as water temps slowly rise again it will pick back up. There was no sign of any spawing white's or hybrids today. The area's that had been holding HUGE concentration's of fish where void of any today. No Shad, No Whites, No Hybrids, No Spots, No Smallies and No walleye. The push of Big Mouth Buffalo where not anywhere to be seen eithier. That's ok though. Like I stated before once the water temps reach the upper 50's again they will be right back in there. As water warms fish have to feed more, spawn or not, it's just the way there designed. Their metabolism increases as the water temp does. Cooler water means less of a window for active fish. This is not to say there are not a few that you find in that small window. I will be going out tonight for the First night fishing oppurtunity of the year and of course be it good or bad I will report. If any of you have any question's regarding our fine reservoir please e-mail me smittyc888@hotmail.com. See ya on the Water~ Cody S. Smith Trout Troller Guide Service, Greers Ferry Lake and The Little Red River Good Fishin'
Tommy Zinda <tadpole@g2a.net>
- Friday, April 25, 2008 at 07:05:31 (CDT)

reports coming, still a lot of ice on the water!
Jeff Bolander <jeff@upnorthpublishing.com>
- Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 14:57:59 (CDT)

4/15/08 Well folks, as much as I hate to, we've decided to throw in the towel a couple of weeks early and head back to the frozen lakes of Northern Wisconsin. The game fish season opens there on May 3rd and should be a good season there. With the heavy snow melting we should have a much needed increase in water in our lakes there after a number of drought years. The lake here remains at an all time high and almost impossible to fish. It's a sure thing that the lake will not see normal depth until well into mid summer. Most all Corp Parks are closed and only a very few landings are useable to access the lake. White bass is the only species right now that are predictable, still spawning in the far reaches of feeder arms. Once these fish finish their spawn and move back into the main lake, even they will be hard to locate. With all the additional water, game fish are extremely scattered and hard to locate. Regular hot spots are simply void of fish at this time. With all the flooded buck brush and trees in shallower water, these game fish are every hard to access. Species like walleye and cat fish, which rarely surface feed cannot be reached on bottom due to all this heavy cover. Even the best of snagless lures and jigs will not penetrate this cover. Bass, white bass, and hybrids that will rise to the surface to feed are the species to fish for. Surface hard baits that run no deeper than 4 feet, used over the tops of this cover will produce. We have been picking up a few scattered walleye by using jigs and crawlers right on the edge of the heavy brush in 17 to 20 feet of water. However, a consistent bite has note been found. The bulk of the fish are tucked back into the cover and inaccessible. All the strange weather here this entire season has made this a tough winter with only a few stretches of hot fishing. My associates, Cody Smith and Tommy "Toad" Cauley, will keep you informed throughout the summer months as to fishing progress on Greers Ferry. In the meantime, until my return here on Nov 1st, I'll be reporting on my Wisconsin fishing. To all my southern friends, see ya'all soon. Good Fishin'
Tommy Zinda <tadpole@g2a.net>
- Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 07:41:57 (CDT)

4/10/08 Conditions on the lake have changed very little with all the recent rain and storms. If anything, conditions are worsening. We will see record high water here for sure this year. 483.93 is the record set back in 1973 and water is still rising here. Water remains very muddy in the whole north portion of the lake. Debris and tree limbs are every where and unpredictable as wind pushes those logs all over the place. Fortunately, the entire south portion of the lake south of the narrows has much clearer water and much less debris. Most of our lake landings are unusable, but enough remain open to get to any portion of the lake. Fishing as a whole has been very unpredictable for all species except white bass. The very high water has scattered schools of game fish. Most every species is right in the flooded trees and buck brush. This makes it impossible to get to the bottom in anything shallower than 25 feet. Even the best weedless jigs will not penetrate those jungles. With all that wood structure for game fish to feed in, normal mid lake rock bars and points are void of fish. Areas where we always mark bait fish and game fish year round are absolutely void of any fish at all. Live bait slow presentations I use almost exclusively are worthless. Therefore, slow trolling shallow running hard baits, like Rouges, X Raps or Husky Jerks have been the ticket for me. Troll them right on the edge of 20 foot buck brush tops and you will score fish. Trolling is working because it's necessary to contact these game fish, as they are very scattered and not in tight schools like normal. Yesterday for the first time, we witnessed buffalo carp bumping sides of boats in major marinas and beginning to spawn. This is a full week or two behind schedule this year. This signals the best fishing is just ahead. We are producing 1 or 2 walleyes and a couple of bass and even a cat fish or two every day. But certainly not smokin' 'em as normal in April. The one very bright spot has been the spawning white bass and hybrids. The far arms of all major feeder streams and even minor arms are clean and white bass are up in big numbers. However, each day is different. Weather fronts and water current have been changing things day to day. One day you will see surfacing of spawning fish all over in shallow buck brush. The next day, not one surface at all! On the days they are active, easy limits are being taken. These days a 1/8 or 1/4 oz jig and 3 or 4 inch twister tail will kill them. Color preference change, too, but purple or yellow seem to work best. On the days that are tougher, troll an X Rap in silver or grey ghost color in 10 to 20 feet of water over the tops of the heavy buck brush cover. On these days, the active fish are scattered and you will contact prespawn fish moving to spawning areas or those that have finished their spawn and are moving back down river. Again, expect white bass to be your main bite for now and enjoy the action while it's here. See ya next time. Good Fishin'
Tommy Zinda <tadpole@g2a.net>
- Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 10:11:13 (CDT)

4/9/08 : As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 480.70 feet MSL. Shiloh Marina said the water is high and all fishing has been slow. Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water is rising and looks like the record of 483.93 feet msl (set in 1973) will be broken. The surface temperature is 54 to 56 degrees. Bass are scattered all over the shallows, but when you find one, there will usually be several nearby. Spinnerbaits, Shakey Hookers or Chatterbaits fished shallow are working well as are tubes and Carolina rigs fished in the old buckbrush line. Walleye are scattered, but a few are being caught coming back down the rivers. The white bass and hybrids are up the rivers on spawning runs and can be caught as long as the river doesn’t muddy up. Yesterday, clients of the guide service caught 45 whites and hybrids in two hours. Good Fishin'
Tommy Zinda <tadpole@g2a.net>
- Wednesday, April 09, 2008 at 18:26:16 (CDT)

4/6/08 Well, The lake has come up an additional 2 feet since I last reported earlier this week. I would imagine it will crest, with no more rain, around 480.?? Most of the water is very stained with the exception of major arms on the north basin begining to flush out. I had friend and Client John Wright, Memphis TN, fishing with me Saturday. We Boated over 70 fish total for the day with the catch including Spotted Bass, Hybrids, Walleye and of course White Bass. The fish where active all day long but you had to work for them. All the new water has not affected the bite and if anything actually helped, believe it or not. Most of the fish we targeted came on 1/8 oz. Jig Heads with a 3" curly tail grub, Chartreuse and Pearl are very good right now with the color in the water when fished on a slow and steady retrieve in and around the buck brush and flooded timber. The important thing to remember is don't over complicate things, KISS, Keep it simple stupid, is an age old acronym and should be applied during the next coming weeks. I will also tell you that the White's are in full swing and spawning heavily day and night, If you fish for 15 minutes and don't get a bite and you know your in the right location's change color, presentation until you start catching. The white's are super sensitive to color and speed, don't overlook this aspect. Stick bait's are still producing but not as good as the jig and grub combo. I'll keep it short and sweet for now, I'm hitting the water again. If you would like to set a date with me on the water please e-mail me @ smittyc888@hotmail.com for first availability, The time to be on the water is NOW folks and it's only getting started. Days of 60 - 100 fish are here and should stick around for the next few weeks! Good Luck Out There~ Cody S. Smith Trout Troller Guide Service Good Fishin'
Tommy Zinda <tadpole@g2a.net>
- Sunday, April 06, 2008 at 16:49:16 (CDT)

3/31/08 Well..... After reviewing my notes yesterday morning, It seemed I always had my best days of spring time fishing in the Rain and lord knows we have had our fair share and then some. So I loaded the boat and headed to the water around 11:00. The day started with a Bang, Second Cast fish on! Nice white bass boated, I thought to myself this is promising. After and hour and a half of moderate catching I finally found the "sweet spot" I proceeded to hammer down on`em. I boated well over 40 fish in a 3 hour period and could have probably caught 100 if I would have continued. I boated 2 nice smallies in the 13 - 15 inch range, 1 largemouth of 15 1/2"'s and 3 spots with 2 of them over 13"'s along with my limit of white bass. It seems the fish are getting used to the high water with the lake now being somewhat stabylized, all be it 16 feet above normal pool. Needless to say, It was a fantastic mid-day bite and it's really just beginning. Basically, the fish have got to eat! All the new water makes it a little tuff on even the best of us, but once you put all the pieces of the puzzle together there are great catches to be had. Stick baits and 1/8 oz. Jig head's with a 3" curly tail grub proved to be best when fished on a moderate STEADY retrieve. White, Black's and Chartreuse where the best colors. Good Luck and If you want in on some of this action e-mail me to set a date on the Lake or river! Good Luck~ Cody S. Smith Trout Troller Guide Service Good Fishin'
Tommy Zinda <tadpole@g2a.net>
- Thursday, April 03, 2008 at 04:41:59 (CDT)

3/30/08 Well folks, not a lot of good news here on Greers Ferry. The lake remains over 13 feet over normal pool with all the flooding. Additional rain is falling at the time of this report. Possibly up to 5 inches the next two days. Not what we want to hear. Because the White River is at 100 year flood stage, no additional water can be let into the Little Red which flows into the White. I had hoped by this week the water would recede, but it will not. Because the lake level cannot be dropped, very murky muddy water remains on the entire north portion of the lake,through the Narrows, and into the big south portion all the way to Cove Creek. At that point, water clears to the dam. The north portion of the lake remains littered with leaves, branches, and, yes, even whole logs which are simply just floating around out there. As the wind switches, so does all this debris. Be careful, as hitting one of those logs could be disastrous in a bass boat running 70 mph. The one piece of good news is up all the main and minor feeder arms. Water is now 57 to 60 degrees and flushed out with clear water. You can reach the farthest reaches of these arms with ease. White bass and hybrids are up into as little as 3 feet and in a full spawn. Any where around buck brush is producing limits of big fish as fast as you can cast to them. 1/4 or 1/8 oz jigs and plastics are really producing with shad color sassy shads probably the best of all. Our choice has been Rapala X Raps in silver or white colors trolled or casted using an erratic retrieve so they don't run any deeper than 4 feet. When the fish hit, it is with a vengeance and those whites are nice. Most in the 2 lb or better class. Other than this species, all other fish are very scattered and hard to locate. We have been finding a few walleye and bass up these arms, too, but can't seem to find a concentration. So, all is not doom and gloom if you're satisfied with white bass. I expect this action to continue for at least a week or two. Hopefully this rain will stop and lake levels will drop, but I don't foresee this in the near future. Well, it's time for me to hit the water. See ya next report. Good Fishin'
Tommy Zinda <tadpole@g2a.net>
- Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 07:24:54 (CDT)