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

Caught fishing out of Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental Yesterday. More too.Image title

The lake level is 557.30 and has dropped about 3-inches in the last 24-hours with one generator running continuously. The lake surface temperature was 73 degrees when I went out yesterday afternoon.  The water was stained and you could only see your lure down a couple of feet and the fish were biting. The weather was beautifull with sunny skies and light wind with an ambient temperature of about 70-degrees.  I started out casting a Bobby Garland jig over brush and letting it slowly sink into brush and caught a couple of nice crappie and a few bluegill in 17-ft. brush. They quit so I moved to another main lake brush pile and did the same thing and caught three more crappie. Next was a main lake point in 27-ft. of water and caught two nice bass on the 1/4 ounce spoon near the bottom. I came in after about two hours.  There were very few boats out there and things were very calm. It is to be in the 80's for the next week with sunny skies.  The moon is getting smaller and the fishing is getting better for me except for temperate bass of which I am not seeing any. Striper fishermen are having a hard time but that is not unusual for early October. Crappie, bass and bluegill fishing is good right now if you know where and how. Walleye have slowed a bit but some are still being caught. Catfishing is also slow. I never catch very many with a dropping lake and big moon. I was getting several very nice flatheads and a few channels but not now. They will bite again and then quit when it gets cold and the water clears. The bass and crappie will not. November and December is when I catch the largest crappie. Both them and bass will bite best right at sunset. This is a good time of year. Come on down we will not charge you too much. You can get a one bedroom cabin for two for $59/day and a free stall for your boat. The lake is at an excellent level for fishing, launching and parking right near the dock. Fishing pontoons with trolling motors start at $110/day plus gas and oil.