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

This bush greets you as you enter the resort.Image title

Tom Kelly with some of his today's catch. He is one good fisherman.Image title

Caught on a BInk's spoon.Image title

The fall foliage is near peak and the roadways are the best. Great for taking a cruise and looking at the hillsides too. It is not great but OK. Some leaves are falling in the wind. I have been mostly grub fishing for bass and catching several but mostly in the late evening. They are moving to the bank about 4:Pm and feed until dark. My favorite bait is a 2-1/2 inch white Bobby Garland twister tail on a 1/16th ounce jig head. White with red eye. I turn the tail up and hook a crappie minnow through the top of the head to trail just behind the tail of the grub and cast it to the bank or over brush and let it sink to the bottom and raise the rod up and let it sink again.I have been doing this for many years and a lot of people are doing it now.  The more time it is sinking the better. If there are any active fish there this will get them. The bass are right on the bank. The evening bite will stay the best for awile until the moon gets smaller and then the morning bite will take over again as the best. I am not seeing any stripers on the bank at dark yet. The lake level is 551.38 and rising very slowly with no generation for the last 24-hours. The lake is very clear, especially near the bank and the water surface temperature is still in the high 60's on the main lake. I am getting questions about the thermocline. I think it is gone and the lake has turned because it is clearing and no there is no such thing as a 60-70 ft. thermocline. At least I have not seen one in 25-years of diving the lake but that is of no significance anyway now. It is in the late spring and summer. The weather has been great and the fishing pretty good but not great. Good fish are being brought in every day. Blackburns still has 1-bedroom cabins for $59/day and are open all year. We also carry live bait all year and do not charge for your first boat stall. Come on down. We will not charge you too much.