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 562.70 and has dropped 3-1/2 inches in the last 24-hours with less than one generator running about 2/3rds the time and both generators running the other 1/3. The surface water temperature is back up to 88+ degrees and the thermocline is at 30-feet with a mud line with poor visibility from 23-27 feet. The overall visibility has diminished in the last couple of days especially just around the inside of main lake points and in the creeks. A lot of fish including Crappie, Walleye and Bass are in the 23-ft. range. If you want Stripers go down around the dam and scoop up the floaters. They either die when you bring them up on a fishing pole or come up and die by themselves. Take your pick. Get out early before the other scavengers get them. Not much good to eat anyway.  The White River at Newport is 13.10 feet and heading for that magic number of 12-feet where they control to for a reason that nobody knows except to hold the area lakes up as high as they can for as long as they can except Table Rock which is exempt. They have special rules for them. You can catch some nice Crappie on both live minnows and a 1/4 ounce Bink's Jigging Spoon right over the top of 27-30 ft. brush piles about 20-23 feet down. They moved in about 4-5 days ago and are a few days early. There are some nice ones but also some throw backs. A good mix.  The future looks good for Norfork lake Crappie especially with the excellent spawn this year. They are Scuba Steve's late fall and winter go to fish. He catches big ones in January and February. March can be iffy with all of the cold fronts but has it's good days. Fishing will get better and better after Labor Day until the Lake turns over in October and then slow for a few days and get better again. Thanksgiving is almost always good for fishing. After Labor Day is good also because Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental lower their already low prices on cabins to the lowest anywhere. You can get a one bedroom cabin for $69/day and it comes with a free stall for your boat at our big dock and Scuba Steve will help you find fish. Get the crew together and call Debbie at 870-492-5115 for a reservation. If you are not staying at Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental you are paying too much. We especially welcome Veterans and Police. Scuba Steve is a Veteran but does not need as much policing as he used to. He used to keep them on overtime but not so much anymore.