Greers Ferry--Part II

[burghman]

Spent Tuesday-Friday on Greer's Ferry near Choctaw with my son and a good friend. Things started out slow, but the fish came alive on Friday afternoon.

Tuesday evening we fished in Harper's Cove near the entrance to South Fork. Water temperature was 43 degrees on the flat at the front of the cove and 45 degrees in the cove. No luck. While my son and buddy casted the shore with jigs and crankbaits, I tried bumping a jig and minnow on the bottom for walleye in 15-20 feet of water. This a pattern that's worked well for us in the past once the fish get active, but with temperatures in the mid-40's, none of this work. We did pick up a small bass and a white bass trolling in 30 feet of water, but no pattern.

Wednesday water temperatures rose about 2 degrees. Not much luck again in Harper's Cove, so we set out for Johnson Hole. Worked several areas along the way, but between wind and cool temperatures, not much we tried worked. Gave up about a mile short of Johnson Hole and headed home. We caught a few fish, but again, no pattern.

Thursday was better. Surface temperatures between 47-51 degrees. Fishing improved--caught several good white bass, a few smallish crappie, and some bass. No luck with walleye.

Friday morning, we needed to run some errands and check out of the cabin we rented, so we didn't get on the water until noon. Not a problem since it rained until 12:30 or so. Water temperatures were much better--between 52-57 degrees. About 2:00 pm, the whites and hybrids came alive--didn't seem to matter what you threw at them--I used several different jigs and an X-rap, and they all worked. Key was to stay in 30 feet of water. Didn't see much on the finder or catch much in water less than 30 feet. About 4:00, the crappie turned on, and we caught probably a limit between two of us (son had to head home Friday morning). A couple were big females full of eggs.

I talked to a couple of guys who caught crappie shallow, but most of the fish we saw or caught were in deep water. The weather won't be great this week, but next weekend should see some great action.

[ski trip]

Thanks for a good, detailed report. Sounds like you guys had a good time anyway!

[Fetmo]

Thanks for the updates. Lots of fishing fun

[farmer1940]

Where did you rent a cabin near Choctaw and what the cost was it close to Choctaw.

[burghman]

Very nice log cabins at Cabins on the Cove, highway 336, across the lake between the boat launch at Choctaw and the mouth of South Fork. Includes a boat slip on a very nice private dock. $130.00 a night off-season. A bit pricey, but my son was home from the military, so I splurged. Cabins are open floor plan, so you'll want to go with people you know well.

Cabins on the Cove Ozarks. Barbara and her husband are great hosts. Plan on taking my wife and daughter later this year when its too hot to fish.

[burghman]

Some pictures of the cabins--

[burghman]

I'm wrong. $110.00 a night off-season through April 30.

[Billy E]

Sound like you had a great trip