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 even and has dropped 1.2 inches in the last 24-hours with both generators running for about 5-hours. This is definitely a change in how the area lakes have been managed the last several years when they refused to drop the level lower than the top of the power pool.  We are about where we need to be for this time of year and Scuba Steve would like it to drop another couple of feet to prepare for the spring rains and not flood us out again this year or at least give us a chance to keep it below 560. The White River at Newport is 5.55 feet and low but at a good level. The surface water temperature was 58-degrees on the main lake last evening and Scuba Steve could see his lure down about 3-feet which is more stained than normal for December. The fish started biting about 4:PM last evening and quit before dark. Scuba Steve caught one Walleye, one Kentucky bass and five Crappie in about 1-1/2 hours of fishing. The Walleye was in about 6-7 feet of water, the Bass in about 5-ft. and the Crappie came up shallow in about 3-ft. A couple of them bit when I was pulling the grub out of the water. The big ones are finally starting to show up. The Seagulls showed up yesterday and there was a big flock just east of Blackburns Creek indicating that the Stripers, Hybrids, White Bass and Largemouth Bass are in the area.  Sometimes the fish push the shad to the surface and other times the ones that at are there are wounded by attacking fish and float up. It is alway a good practice to drop a spoon under the floating or lethergic fish after you make a few casts with top-water.  Now is the time to throw away your $2,500 live scopes and follow the birds if you are an open water fishermen. Do not follow them to South America when they migrate again though or you will miss happy hour. The best lures now are Bink's 1/4 ounce spoons, Bobby Garland Baby Shad blue ice in color and a 2-inch white twister tail on a 1/16th ounce white with red eye jig head tipped with a small Crappie minnow. Turn the tail up on the grub and hook the minnow throught the top of the head behind the grub body. When the fish are not biting getting a reaction strike with the spoon when you drop it on their heads works best. Use a larger spoon for the deeper fish but do not use heavy line. It stops the spoon from fluttering as it drops. Set your drag and set your hook and do not allow any slack in the line and wear them down. Do not horse them in and do use a net. Do not swing them over the side of the boat like the Bass Fishermen do on TV. If you do that and you hook a 16-inch Norfork Lake Crappie and the hook pops out of their mouth while lifting it over the side of the boat you will not be happy. Retie every time after catching a Walleye. Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental is open all year and continues to have the best place with the best price on both cabins and boat rentals in the Ozarks. We have live bait on site and your first boat stall is free on a cabin rental of two days or more. You can launch right here and park you trailer right here. Our big dock has a security system and is in a sheltered cove. Compare prices and give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115 for a reservation. It is nice here and the price is right. We are closest to Mountain Home, dining and shopping. Gerry's Quick Stop has the best selection of fishing tackle in the area and has non-alcohol regular gas and is just up the road. No sense paying too much and staying in the boonies.