Norfork Lake Fishing Report By Scuba Steve From Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental On Norfork Lake Arkansas Near Mountain Home In the Ozark Mountains (Click Here for Comments)

It is very dark and rainy this morning. We have received 1.3 inches of rain and the level is back up past 554 and is rising slowly with one generator running. Both the creeks and main lake have poor visibility and there is no thermocline. The temperature and clarity are about the same down to 30-feet and probably further than that. There is no reason for fish to be at a particular depth except for food. Bait fish are keeping some fish on brush and the others are following the shad. I went out last evening about 6:Pm and found some nice Kentucky Bass and walleye on the same brushpile in 22-feet of water on an inside mainlake point. I was using a 1/2 ounce Bink's jigging spoon. White with a red eye. I am not much on dragging around live bait with a half a dozen rods out all over the lake. I can barely handle one rod at a time. I prefer casting or spooning artificial bait. I do use live bait for catfish and crappie on occassion. The large crappie and largemouth bass are eluding me but I like walleye, Kentucky bass and flatheads pretty good. Temperate Bass pull hard but do not dress out very well.  As far as I am concerned they should be released and walleye, crappie, catfish and  panfish be kept for food. High pressure is to move in on Sunday for about a week with highs to be near 90. This should create a thermocline and be great for spooning open water fish. The top water will diminish and the fish will go deeper. This is spooning season if you like big stripers. The water will finally warm up now. Tom Kelly caught some nice fish Wednesday and we put them in the Trophy pond.