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 546.13 and is up one inch in the last 24-hours with no generation. The lake level is exactly where it should be this time of year. It is just lower than newbees have seen it because it has been mismanaged for too long. We have a better chance of not flooding out this year if they generate when it rains and not just hold and hope. The surface water temperature is 52-degrees and the lake is clearing quickly. Scuba Steve could see his lure down about 10-feet where he was fishing last evening. The White River at Newport is 3.07 feet and very low. It is lower than Bryant cCeek at Tecumseh which is 4.09 feet meaning more water is coming in than going out even theough we are very dry. Bass (especially Kentuckies) and Crappie are the best bites. It is easy to find schools of Crappie but hard to find feeding Crappie It is either feast or famine and they do not bite very often but when they do there are some nice ones. Minnows are working best set at a depth that is a couple of feet deeper than you can see them. They are spooky so do not use the spot lock on your trolling motor and use it sparingly. If the wind is blowing drift over them and go around the brush pile and do it again.  The Bass are just off steep main lake windblown banks. Cast the grub to the shore and let it drop as you reel in slowly. They are biting in about 6-8 feet of water at the first drop-off.  There are several small ones but some nice ones too. We are to get a little rain tonight and several days next week. It is cooler today but to warm up again in the middle of the week. You can count on a cold front coming through at leat once a week in March slowing fishing and it does not need to slow any. You can catch some good fish if you know what you are doing but it is not easy. There is no frost scheduled and things will really green up with some rain but no matter how warm it gets Scuba Steve does not plant his garden until after the first week in May is over. He has been burned too many times. Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental has the best place with the best prices on both cabins and boat rentals in the Ozarks. You can get a 1-bedroom cabin for $69/day and a 2-bedroom for $89/day. 3&4 bedrooms are priced accordingly. A free stall for your boat comes with a cabin rental of two days or more. Call Debbie at 870-492-5115 for a reservation. We especially welcome Veterans and Police. Scuba Steve will show you where his brush piles are located when you get here and he has some good ones.