Norfork Lake fishing and lake conditions by Scuba Steve from Blackburns Resort and Boat rental (click here for comments)

The lake level is 565.69 and still rising slowly and they are not letting enough water out to match the river inflow despite it being very dry here and Newport has dropped to almost 14-feet. They have dropped the discharge down a bunch at Newport after they finally dropped Table rock back to normal to protect Branson. The flood level at Newport is 26-feet and we are not near that and they could be letting out a lot more. Rain is on the way next week. Hold and hope is not working. Someone needs to be fired. Blackburns resort and Boat Rental was nearly full last night and the dock was very busy with people cleaning fish. They were biting well yesterday. It is a good thing we have two fish cleaning stations. it seems the people that normally use campgrounds and day use facilities are now staying at resorts. The water is pretty clear and clean and is good for swimming with the surface temperature in the mid-70's. Debbie, Abby and Amy finished painting the 30x60 pool with slide and we will start filling it soon. It is the largest in the area and looks really nice. You will be able to swim in the pool, off the dock or from a pontoon boat. Not many other options. If you are obsessed with sand, the children can play in our large sand pile. You can still get a cabin for $53/day for two people. It is amusing to see people paying $30/day more for a cabin with no covered porch, paying for boat stalls and hauling gas to their boat to save money. Fishing is pretty good now with bass and crappie the best with walleye not far behind. I do not count white bass. Please release those small 5-8 lb. stripers. Top water bite for bass lasted all day yesterday part way back in the creeks. Many fish are just outside of the buckbrush at the old shoreline before they allowed the water to rise.