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

The lake level is 553.63 and has dropped 1-1/2 inches in the last 24-hours. We need to be at 548. The wind was blowing from the northwest when I went out yesterday causing whitecaps on the main lake. I knew exactly where I would go to get out of the wind and headed there. It was a brush pile in 25-ft. of water on a north south bank around the corner from a main lake point.  The crappie were biting as soon as I got there and were still biting when I got my limit and left. They were big ones too. No 17 or 18 inchers but several in the 15-16 inch range. They were very healthy and fat. I put them in my basket to get a picture and will turn them loose under my dock today. There were no throwbacks. I caught a few bass and released them immediately. No big ones though. The low pressure was moving through causing the wind and the fish were coming up shallow to feed. I  caught all of them on the 2-inch grub casting it over the brush and letting it sink just a bit. You have to use the net on these big boys or they will come off pulling them over the side of the boat. I hate it when that happens even though I am releasing them. This is the first time in several days that I can report the fishing was good and not just fair. There were no other boats out there but the weather was not conducive to open water fishing. Winter begins today and the days will start getting longer now. The full moon is tomorrow and it is big. The weather is scheduled to be good for the next several days and we will see what the moon and higher pressure does to the bite. I like it when low pressure moves across but do not have very good luck during cold fronts. The fishing gets better and better as the time passes with a high pressure front and when it clouds up with a low you can bet I will be out there. You cannot go out every three or four days and write an accurate fishing report. Things are changing too much and what has happened in the past will not predict what will happen but it gives you a good place to start. The wind has blown itself out now and the temperature is in the high 40's with 50's for the next several days. The surface temperature is still just above 50 and the lake is in excellent condition. You can park at the dock and step on the walkway and put your boat in a free stall and launch right beside the dock and put your trailer in ample parking. No driving up and down cliffs or going elsewhere to launch your boat. We have a good set up and the best prices and are open all year. Several places are closed.