Fortunately we were dry and the creeks did not run but the lake has come up about 6-inches with little generation. They are going to keep Newport at below 12-feet for some reason and let little water out. Most of the raise came last night about 24-hours after the rain indicating it came from Missouri. Fortunately Norfork is in good condition and pretty clear. I went diving yesterday and had good luck. The thermocline is at 23 feet with cold water at 26-feet. I found the walleye in front of a brush pile at 30-feet. There is an increase in boat traffic with most of it being people on pontoons dragging kids around on chaise loungers. I wonder what happened to water skiing? I am out there everyday and see very few skiers. Bink reports the stripers are in 45-60 feet of water and can be caught on a jigging spoon. He is catching several everyday. I am seeing no crappie except just a few caught off docks. My brush piles are in 40-ft. of water or more and are just too deep. I do not fish other people’s brush. I am getting some good walleye diving everyday but am seeing very few fish from 0-40 foot. They must all be suspended on shad except smallmouth bass which are in 19-28 feet on bass fry. It is very hard for a diver to spear suspended fish. Be prepared to swim quite a ways between keeper fish. I would put in brush now at 30-feet if I could. The trees would be easily got and the fish would go right to them. I cannot because my permit expired on April 30th. The lake is creeping up but we are in much better shape than most other lakes except Table Rock where they will never let it get high due to Branson. It is all about the money and politics. Looks to be a very busy holiday. It is not something I look forward to. There is little debris in the lake but be very careful when going out after dark and scout your path before dark and take it easy. We do not have a no wake law like Lake of The Ozarks but it is a good Idea after dark. Everything happens on Saturday night and when you couple that with the 4th of July safety should be of the highest concern. There will be a lot of law out there. Do not be in the paper on Monday.
