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 550.24 and has dropped 2-inches in the last 24-hours with both generators running for a total of about 8-hours. This is a big change and the White River is 3.75 feet and rising with the increased discharge. It is over 5-feet at Calico Rock where it had about dried up. The surface water temperature is 58-degrees and dropping with the cold ambient temperatures. The water is stained and Scuba Steve could see his lure down about 3-feet. It should be more clear this time of year. This report is for an area Just North of Cranfield Island to just South of Robinson Island. I rarely have a need to go any farther and also rarely fish anywhere except my own brush piles. They are in the best places and Scuba Steve will show you where when you get here. I also do not troll or go after open water fish anymore. Red meat fish are fun to catch but not very good eating unless you cut most of the meat out. I much prefer Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill, Flathead catfish and Kentucky Bass. White Bass are for people that cannot catch anything else on the lake and Trout are for people that cannot catch White Bass. That always gets them going. Trolling is for people that cannot cast a baitcaster and just like to drag around stuff until something hooks itself.  For some reason Scuba Steve always feels better when he has a big fish on a baitcaster, especially when spooning or using a stick bait.  The lake is in good condition and at a good level for fishing but overall fishing is just fair. It should be better by now. My plan for winter fishing is to go out in the warmest part of the day and come in at dark. I am not charging out there at the crack of dawn when it is the coldest and come in when it starts to warm up especially when the best bite is just before sundown except for cloudy days. Small Spoons, jigs, small grubs tipped with a small minnow and a bit larger live minnow on a slip float about 5-7 feet down (just above the brush) are all working. Use light clear line especially with the spoon to allow it to flutter down like it is not hooked to anything and not heavy line like it is dragging an anchor rope. Heavy line will allow you to get out of snags but will not catch any fish. Do not drag the spoon and keep it straight up and down to keep out of snags and do not set the hook until you are sure it is a fish. Bringing up the spoon in brush sometimes feels like a bite. If you spoon enough you will learn to tell a bite from going through brush and not get hung up or when you do how to get out of it. Spooning can be deadly and gets the most fish especially when they are not biting on anything else except reaction strikes. Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental continues to have the best place with the best prices on both cabins and boat rentals in the Ozarks. A free stall for your boat comes with a cabin rental of two days or more and you can launch right here. Come on down and check us out. Call Debbie at 870-492-5115. The holidays are a good time to plan your spring fishing trip and family summer vacations. We invite you to compare prices and especially welcome Veterans and Police.