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

The lake level is 565.39 and rising with no generation since about dark last evening. The level is back where it was and has risen 3-inches since yesterday. They did start generating again just now. They are running Table Rock and keeping it at normal while letting the others rise. The level at Newport is now below 12-feet for no reason at all  and it looks like the Corps of Engineers are punishing us for some reason. You cannot let the government run anything. Someone has to be accountable. The main lake is clearing faster than the creeks in my area and the lake is in good condition for boating and swimming with the surface temperature approaching 80 degrees. The temperate bass fishing is good (red meat fish) as well as other bass. Catfishing is good and crappie are fair. A lot of people are catching some good fish. You have to get out there early to get the top water bite but when they go down trolling unbrellas and spooning is working well. Go part way back into the bays and start looking in 30-ft. I was hoping more of the beaches and day use areas woul be available for this weekend but it does not look good. They have had ample time to drop the lake.  Almost all of the resorts have full service. Some campers will be disappointed. It will be best to swim at the resort pools or dock or off a boat. There is some debris out there so boating after dark is not recommended by me. Let us have an accident-free weekend for a change. You can bet there will be a lot of law enforcement out there. Do not come on vacation and leave on probation. It is best to buy your fishing licenses on line at Arkansas Game and Fish. I sold licenses here for over 20-years but am no longer smart enough to do so. Sorry. More government.