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

One big fish. Caught yesterday.Image title

These are showing up in big schools.Image title

The lake level is 555.39 and has risen just a bit with no generation for about 16-hours. They are doing their best to hold the level up. They better drop it all this winter to about 548 and raise the level requirement at Newport to a proper level or there will be a revolt. Enough of this mismanagement. The surface temperature is about 66 degrees and the lake was clearing but the creeks turned stained again yesterday. The main lake is still clear especially near the shore. Bass and bluegill are the best bite now with some crappie and walleye also being caught. Walleye bite is best just after sunset on and around main lake points.  I will go up to the walleye rearing pond and check for stripers this evening. If they are to move in there to feed at night it will be by the 12th of this month on the full moon.  I got it from a reliable source that they caught some white bass but I still have not. i do not fish for them much but catch them anyway. This is good news as I have not seen any all summer diving. They are usually everywhere. We need them when other fish do not bite. For some reason some fish that are usually near the bank or on brush, like bluegill, are showing up in big schools on shad in 50-feet of water. They are big ones too. I do not know where all of them came from. Some schools of shad are very small in size so the smaller Bink's spoons, 1/8th ounce ot 1/4 ounce, are working the best. I am either casting my grub and minnow or dropping the spoon exclusively now. I can carry my tackle box in my shirt pocket. It is sunny and nice so it is time for me to go. Come on down. We will not charge you too much and your first boat stall is free.  I wish more big stripers were showing up and that people released more of the smaller ones. A 7-9 lb. striper is not a big fish. If they do not quit killing these we will not be known as a trophy striper lake anymore even though the same amount are being stocked. Guides, striper club, other fishermen, are getting better at catching them. This along with the increased fishing pressure is taking a toll on them.