Norfork Lake Condition and Fishing Report by Scuba Steve from Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental (click here for comment)

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The lake level is at 563.93 and has dropped one inch in the last 24-hours with very little generation. Now that the White River level at Newport is below the magical number of 12-feet maybe they will let out some water. They have done an excellent job of holding it up again this year. You cannot let the government run anything. The lake is clearing now after the big churn of the holiday weekend and the fishing is starting to pick up a bit. Bink reports some walleye floating down by the dam and the oxygen level reported by the Striper Club shows no oxygen below 30-feet there. This coincides with what we are finding here with no fish showing up below the 30-feet level.  They may be in deeper water but suspend above the 30-foot level.  Most fish being caught are at the 25-28 ft level on main lake points on or near brush. If you can find brush at this level on a main lake point there will be fish on it. I am using the Bink's jigging spoon exclusively. The 1/2 ounce many shad or the Arkansas shiner are working well. I use the 1/4 ounce ones when there is no wind but prefer to keep the lure straight up and down and not drag it so I use a heavier one in the wind. Go against the wind with your trolling motor to keep it vertical, snap it up three or four feet and let it fall on slack line. Most fish will hit on the drop. Jeff and Alicia Barber from Biggers, Arkansas caught some big fish yesterday on Blackburns Resort and Boat rental's brush piles.  That is why we put them in.