The lake level is 546.30 and is down 2-inches in the last 24-hours with varying amounts of generation. It does not need to drop anymore and does not have to if they quit letting water out. We are in a drought but there is enough water coming in from the spring-fed Norfork River to maintain. The surface water temperature is 43-degrees and most of the snow has melted and all of it on south facing banks where the sun shines. The White River at Newport is 5.37 feet and low again. The water is not clearing up like it should in the winter but Scuba Steve could see his lure down about 5-feet on a cloudy day and a little more when the sun shines. The creeks are stained but clear near the shoreline. It is to get very warm this weekend with highs near 70. Fishing is just fair but some nice ones are being caught every day. It will not be long before the Walleye head upriver and in the backs of the larger creeks to spawn. The shallow water warms more quickly that the deep water and look for surface water temperatures of about 48-degrees. The White Bass are next and like to spawn in water temperature in the mid to high 50's on Norfork lake. Both are moving further North in the Norfork River now that Dawt Mill dam got washed way. Lots of things changed on Norfork Lake with the dam gone. It has been gone since the spring of 2017 flood. More Temperate Bass are being found several more miles upstream than before especially in the spring. Stripers simulate a spawn the full moon in March. Since they have started stocking Spripers and Hybrids in the Cranfield area several years ago instead of all at the dam more and more are hanging out it that area. There is no need to go way down to the dam anymore to find them except in August when the go very deep in the oxygen bubble and head south instead of North. There is also more algae and moss in the lake now that Dawt is gone where there was very little except when the water gets to 90-degrees in the summer and it blooms. They have finally found out that if they do not flood out the lake and hold it up high all spring and summer killing the vegetation on the shoreline creating a high biological oxygen demand and using up all of the oxygen in the water the big Stripers do not die in August. it does not make much sense to stock Stripers and then kill them off when they get big but the Game and Fish stock the fish and the Corps of Engineers and Southwest Power manage the lake level. It would be nice to have a normal year and we have a better chance at it with the lower water levels going into the spring rains. When they hold it up past the top of the power pool of 553.75 all winter there is a very good chance we will get too high. Anything over 560 is high. High water does not affect fishing much unless it comes up too fast but it sure does hurt access. The fish population is very good in Norfork Lake except for the big Stripers despite the higher fishing pressure, many more guides killing multiple limits daily and the enhanced electronics. There needs to be a boat daily limit no matter how amny people are on it. Now is the time to book your spring fishing trip and family summer vacation. There will be no price increases on anything here at Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental for 2026 and continue to have the best place with the best prices on both cabins and boat rentals in the Ozarks. We want you to have an affordable vacation. Blackburns continues to be family owned and family operated and are not for sale or recently sold. We are not trying to cash in. Compare prices and give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115 for a reservation to get the cabin and boat rental of your choice. You will like it here and the price is right. Scuba Steve will show you where his brush piles are located and we especially welcome Veterans and Police. You can launch right here with plenty of parking.