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 546.01 and is up just a bit in the last 24-hours with one hour of running one generator this morning. It is a beautiful day. The surface water temperature was 47-degrees where Scuba Steve was fishing and the water was stained just a little green. He could see his lure down about 5-feet. The shad were under his dock on the light last evening after dark. The White River at Newport is 5.30 feet and low but rising. The lake level is exactly where it should be for this time of year and it is in good condition but fishing is just fair. Bass are the best bite and mostly Kentuckies. I am sure glad we have them. We have a chance of rain on Thursday but there is to be no frost in the next week with typical end of February weather.  Normal high is in the mid 50's. with regular cold fronts coming through every week. The Stripers usually move to the banks to spawn at night just before the full moon in March but unless it really warms up March 3rd will be too early. The next one will be at the very end of the month and that one is when it will probably happen. The surface water temperature should be in the mid to high 50's by then. The spawning banks will be near Quarry Marina by the tower or the flats across the river and also north of Cranfield Island near the entrance to the Walleye rearing pond. A 5-inch suspended Rougue or a Husky Jerk are the best lures cranked down a few feet and slow rolled to the boat. Stay as far from the bank as you can cast. Use a 6-ft. medium heavy rod on a good baitcaster. There will be spawned out Walleye with them and they will bite on shadowy banks on soft plastics before dark. This always happens. The Walleye will also bite on the same lure used as a jerk bait early mornings back in the creeks There was no shad kill this year and that is good. There are a lot of bait fish and the predator fish are fat and healthy. The Stripers will start to pre-spawn feed earlier in March and will be on shad. March can be a tough month for fishing with all of the cold fronts. People are antsy to get out of the cabin when the weather warms but do not expect great fishing until the top-water starts in Mid April. You can catch fish but have to work for them. The end of April, all of May and the first half of June are the best fishing months. Go to www.norfork.com for good articles on Norfork Lake Fishing. This is the time to plan your spring fishing trip and family summer vacation. Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental continues to have the best place with the best prices on both cabins and boat rentals in the Ozarks. Compare prices and call Debbie at 870-492-5115 for a reservation. It is nice here and the price is right. We are family owned and family operated and are not sold or for sale. We like it here. Yoy can launch and park right here with no need to go elsewhere. Compare prices. There will be no price increases on anything for 2026 here at Blackburns and Scuba Steve will show you where his brush piles are located.