The lake level is 559.33 and has dropped over 3 inches in the last 24-hours with the equivalent of one generator running continuously. The surface water temperature is also dropping with the cool nights and is now in the low 70's depending on when you check and how much sunshine there is. The lake overall is in good condition but fishing is just fair. Bass fishing and bluegill fishing is pretty good with crappie next and everything else not so good. Some walleye are coming in though but not as many as a few days ago. Barring any heavy rains the best fishing will be the entire month of November after lake turnover which is always sometimes in October. It has been happening gradually the last few years with no drastic changes except the thermocline goes away and the water is homogenous from the surface to several feet down with the fish having no special reason to be anywhere except for food and cover. That is where brush piles come in. Baitfish head for cover and big fish follow. The stripers will school and stay on the shad in open water as always but there are just fewer of them. At least fewer big ones with people killing so many small fish below 10-lbs. and very few being stocked this year will hurt the future. Fishing pressure is also increasing and more are learning how to catch them and where they are located. Norfork is still a very good fishing lake and has a great group of Biologists trying hard to make it better. Do not quit stocking those hybrids as they are the go to fish when the stripers get scarce.
