Norfork Lake Arkansas near Mountain Home in the Ozarks Mountains Region Fishing Report and Lake Condition by Scuba Steve from Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental.

The lake level is 568.45 and has risen 5-inches in the last 24-hours with dam discharge equal to 3-1/3rd generators. Bryant Creek at Tecumseh is 8.65 feet and still rising so more water is heading our way. The rain started about 5:PM last evening and lasted about 1/2 hour and the creeks run but mostly clear water. Scuba Steve only had 0.3 inches in the rain gauge at the resort but it seemed like a lot more at the dock. The White River at Newport is 23.76 feet and steady. The surface water temperature is still in the low 70's and the water is trying to clear. There is still some debris out there but not bad. Just do not run after dark and watch and you will be ok. Norfork Lake is 15-ft. above the top of the power pool, Bull Shoals is 15-feet above the top of their power pool and Table Rock is less than 2-feet above the top of their power pool and they are still generating. The dams are for holding water only and are not for recreation and there is no politics involved in how the lake levels are managed. If I hear that one more time I think I will be ill. Why did they take away 1.75 feet of flood capacity for minimum flow for the put and take trout on the rivers? Keep Branson Landing from flooding at all costs. The moon was small, the river was rising, it was cloudy with low pressure, the water temperature was in the low 70's and it was time. Time for what you ask? Flathead Catfishing on Norfork Lake. Scuba Steve caught three nice ones in the 8-10 pound range yesterday evening on 3-inch live bluegill. For an article on how to catch Catfish on Norfork Lake go to www.norfork.com and click on fishing. Walleye, Crappie and Bluegill may be better eating but I am not sure. Flathead Catfish out of Norfork lake are right up there. You can keep your red meat fish if it was up to Scuba Steve. I like it when people fish for them as it leaves more of the good ones for me. I really like the Carp and Gar fishermen. A friend said Gar Balls were good and I did not even know Gar had balls. He also said Carp was good if you run them through a scoring machine. Stripers, Hybrid Stripers and White Bass are also good if you cut out the red meat. I encourage everyone else to do these things and not fish for Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill, Flathead Catfish and Kentucky Bass. Scuba Steve will take care of these for you. Fishing is about as good as it gets now and the lake is in good condition albeit fairly high. You can still launch right here at Blackburns and there is no need to go anywhere else. A free stall for your boat comes with a cabin rental of two days or more. Compare prices and give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115 for a reservation and join the fun. All cabins here have either big covered or screened-in porches to get out of the weather. Come on down. We will not charge you too much. Veterans and Police are especially welcome.