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

The lake level is 550.84 and is the same as it was at this time yesterday with still 1/3rd of a generator running continuously. We have received 0.7 inches of badly needed rain the last couple of days. The surface water temperature is 69-degrees and dropping and the water is trying to clear especially when the wind is light. Scuba Steve could see his lure down 3-4 feet today. The White River at Newport is 5.08 feet and rising slowly but still very low. The weather has been cold, damp, rainy and dreary for several days. The fall foliage is changing and we are getting some color finally but nothing spectacular. The sumac is turning red and there are a few yellows on the roadsides. The lake shores are turning a little but they are mostly cedar and stay green. There is more color when the sun shines directly on the hardwood trees but we have not had much of that lately and it does not look like it will happen for a few days. These high temperatures in the 50's are more like January than October.  You can catch some fish if you concentrate on the banks that the wind has been blowing into for at least a couple of days and on or near brush around main lake points. Look for a point where the channel swings . There is a top water bite for White Bass and Bass most days early and late. It does not last long but is fun while it lasts. Crappie are schooled and roaming looking for bait fish. Cast a small grub or jig past the brush and let it sink into it. Some are shallow right near the bank with Bass in the evening. Use a small Bink's Spoon directly over the brush and use your trolling motor sparingly and shut off spot lock. Learn how to go against the wind to stay on the brush and not have your trolling motor with spot lock running all of the time trying to stay in the same place. It works when you are in open deep water with wind and trying to stay on red meat fish but not so much over brush. If you go past the brush, go back around it and try again or change brush piles. Be stealthy. These fish are spooky. I have not caught a Walleye for a couple of weeks but they will move on the shadowy banks in the evening at sunset as the moon gets bigger and you can use a soft plastic on a jig head. Bluegill are shallow in front of brush. Blackburns has several customers in now and most are catching fish but not a lot. Things are getting better. It has been over two weeks since the lake turned over and that is good. Come on down to Blackburns where we will not charge you too much and a free stall for your boat at our full-service dock comes with a cabin rental of two days or more. You can launch here, park here and not have to go elsewhere. Compare prices and give Debie a call at 870-492-5115 for a reservation. Why pay more unless you just have too much money? If you do stay at Blackburns and give the difference to disabled Veterans. We have live bait on site. It is nice here and we are closest to Mountain Home, dining and shopping. For an article on how to fish Norfork lake in the winter go to www.norfork.com