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

Caught on the Bink's Spoon yesterday. Image title

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The lake level is 569.88 and has dropped a little over 2-inches in the last 24-hours with generation about 2/3 of the time. I am really glad to break the 570 level but it is not near enough. 560 is a very good level for about everything but does not leave much room for spring rains.  We did receive about 1-inch total last week with several showers. When the rain chances were 100 and 90% we got nothing and when they were 10% it rained every day. There was no wind or lightening and we needed the moisture badly. It is good now. Things have really greened up again nicely and the gardens are doing great. We are getting some very nice weather with highs near 80 and lows in the high 50's and that is rare for early August which can be the hottest time of the year. It has been a good summer weather wise and we have avoided all severe weather so far. It is to warm back up this weekend but people are really enjoying the weather and the lake. It has been the busiest that I have seen it in many years despite the covid and the high water. People just want to get out and appreciate being able to social distance in both their cabins and on the water. Blackburns has rental pontoons available from $105 to $195/day and from 24-30 feet long and bass boats too. We do not allow any drag toys or grills on any boats but our marina friends do if you feel the need to. Ours are for fishing, swimming and cruising only and we have trolling motors on several of them. Check them out on the rental boat section of Blackburns web site. The water surface temperature is still about 87 degrees and is in very good condition for boating and swimming. Fishing is just fair except for the very good fishermen who really know how to fish this lake. Bink is still catching stripers and walleye (870-499-7384) and Tom Kelly and Mike Eakle are catching bass on shakey head worms and split tailed worms. The thermocline is dropping and is now outside the brush line making it a bit easier for divers to spearfish but the visibility is not the best. I will have to wait a couple of weeks or more for the business to slow down before I am able to go.  It is best in September and October anyway after the very early season. I get a lot of walleye and crappie in October. If you are staying in a duplex with no coverd porch or in a place with no pool or a very small one stop by Blackburns Before you leave and check things out. I think you will like what you see.