Hello All and Hello Spring Time! March is always tricky to forecast from one day to the next. With cold fronts from the north still a strong possibility along with warm winds and rain pushing in from the south make for typically inconsistent fishing from one day to the next. During this month we will see water surface temperatures start off in the mid to upper 40's and escalade to the mid to upper 50's by the end of the month. One very important factor to watch this month is the inflow water temperatures that are entering the lake. Every year there is what I call the "cutoff line" that develops for our shad populations and most of our game fish species when they are pushing up the rivers and creeks that feed our reservoir. Basically we will have cooler water entering the reservoir mixing with the warmer water in the lake. Once we have warmer water entering the lake, most of our shad populations along with the game fish that are pursuing them will push up the far reaches of the creeks and rivers to spawn. This is where you need to be to intercept the game fish that are actively feeding with warmer water and longer days on the way.
Our walleye population is currently spawning up most of the rivers and creeks during this month. Fiffty-Two degrees will mark the completion of the spawn and a decent bite will set in as this fish float back down stream once fertilization and there eggs are dropped. Typically we will see a lot of males feeding aggressively with the larger females showing up towards the middle to end of the month during there post spawn period as they are feeding on their way back down stream. Large Shiners, Crawlers, Jerkbaits and three to five inch grubs should be utilized when pursuing these fish. Locations with current, both wind and inflow, will hold good numbers of these fish with early morning hours and night time being the very best time to catch good numbers of these fish while there in shallower water.
Crappies are beginning to stage in the creeks and channel swing locations this month. We have already seen fish in there pre-spawn locations, typically we don’t see this until the latter part of March. Depths of 15 to 35 feet with both pole timber and brush piles are holding good schools of fish. Towards the beginning of the month look for them to be lower in the column and really relating to the bottom and there chosen form of cover. As surface temperatures warm and the days grow longer look for our specks to start moving shallower in the water column. When I say shallower in the column I do not mean moving to shallow water, I simply mean they will stage, for example, Eight feet deep over twenty-five feet of water. Small 1.5" - 2" plastics fished on light line and 1/16 to 1/8 th ounce jigs, minnows under a slip cork, spoons and small spinners will all catch good numbers at times in these locations.
The much anticipated white bass runs will start towards the end of this month, with the Hybrids following in right behind them. Towards the end of this month I look for a very good white bass bite half way to three quarters of the way back in the creeks and rivers this month. Some early fish will be spawning, however 58 degree water temperatures with the right amount of daylight will mark the height of the spawn. There is always a sweet spot of seven to ten days where fishing is flat out, out of control! This peak stretch is almost impossible to forecast, however I look for the last week of this month to be within that window if daily average temperatures and rainfall are consistent through this month. Three inch grubs, Fish Dinner Cindy K spinners, Spoons and live Minnows should all be utilized when pursuing these fish.
March is an AWESOME time to visit the reservoir with good catch rates on most all species expected. I look forward to seeing each and every one of you on the water this spring. If you have any question’s about the reservoir or would like to book a trip please call me at 501.691.5701 or email me at fishgreersferry@gmail.com Good Fishin` Cody S. Smith www.fishgreersferry.com
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