The lake level is 563.26 and has dropped a little over 2-inches in the last 24-hours and the surface water temperature is about 83 degrees and is just right for swimming. They are discharging the equivalent of about 1-1/2 generators about 1/2 the time while keeping the White River at Newport to 11 feet to hold the lake up as high as possible for as long as possible and are getting better and better at it every year. The lake has cleared a bit since the holiday but not much but is a good color for fishing. Fishing overall is just fair but some good fish are being caught everyday. The dissolved oxygen is very low below 30-feet and most fish are above that in the 25-28 foot level and more still if there is brush nearby. I was fishing just main lake points but fish are scattered about everywhere but are at the same depth no matter how deep the water. I am picking up a few crappie working the Bobby Garland Baby Shad hard but not very many. They will be. The jigging spoon is working the best. The Gold one was working yesterday in the cloudy weather. It is now Flathead time part way back into the creeks in deeper water on throw lines baited with live bluegill. I am catching some big ones everyday and it will last until the lake cools and clears and then stop. They bite at a certain time in the spring and then again in the early fall. You must use live bait to get them as they will not bite anything else. Bluegill and shiners about 3-inches long are the best. I have no luck on gold fish. I have tried using them as other people say they work but not for me. I bait every other line with them and they are all still there the next morning so I quit using them. I have some luck with crawdads on channel and blues but not flatheads. Norfork lake flatheads are right behind walleye, bluegill and crappie as the best eating fish and are in there with Kentucky bass. Blackburns is now on their off-season rates and you can get a cabin for $59/day with a free normal sized boat stall. Cannot beat that anywhere. If you are staying at a place where you are nearly the only customer you are paying too much. Come on down. We will not charge you too much and have the best prices on rental boats. The big pool is open.
