Mike Eakle with a top water striper this morning. Released.
Jeremy Deardoff with a good one.
The lake level is 569.93 and is fairly stable with the same discharge of one generator and two spillway gates open one foot. It has risen a little over one inch in the last 24-hours and we received about 1-1/2 inches of rain in the last two days with more on the way. They have dropped the White River at Newport to 19+ feet as predicted on it's way to 18-feet. This is so stupid. The area lakes will be high for most of the summer unless someone at the Corps of Engineers get a brain which is not likely except for Table Rock which they religiously keep at power pool at the expense of everyone else. Especially Bull Shoals which is very high. It is all about the money and antiquated rules of operation. They have had all fall and winter to drop the lakes but refused to do so. There is a top water bite most days early if you know where to go. Sometimes they do not surface but are shallow and you can call them up with a spook or use a swim bait with no weight to get down to them. Creature baits and worms are working for smallmouth and Kentuckies with gitzits for bedding fish. Some crappie have spawned and some are spawning and some are still staging. I am really surprised about how many have not spawned yet for this time of year. There are some really big ones. The lake is pretty clear and the surface temperature is in the mid to high 60's depending on where you are. A lot of fish of most varieties are on shad and roaming in 18-25 feet with walleye just a bit deeper. I tried for walleye on the flats by Cranfield Island but they were not there yet. Throw lines are working best for catfish with flatheads still being the best. Fishing overall is fair with some good ones being caught every day. The lake overall is in good condition.
