Norfork Lake condition, fishing and fall foliage report by Scuba Steve from Blackburns Resort Resort and Boat Rental (click here for comments)

There is a little fall foliage color but not much.Image title

Kim Marvel from Ewing, Illinois caught one giant crappie yesterday on Blackburns Brush yesterday. One nice fellow. Image title

The lake level is 553.62 and has dropped less than 1/2 inch in the last 24-hours. They absolutely refuse to drop the lake in the fall and winter despite the White River at Newport is now 8-1/2 feet and dropping.  It is about to dry up. They are running less than one generator when they do run. This would be unbelievable for someone who does not work for the government but we do not expect much from them. The water surface temperature was 69 degrees and the wind was light when I went out yesterday and the water is clearing. I have not been going more than 1/4 to 1/2 mile from Blackburns Creek to get about all of the fish that I want. I catch a few, release a few and have no desire to see how many fish that I can kill but like to find places where our customers can catch fish. I keep a few for my friends that are unable to get out anymore. Blackburns brush piles are at perfect depth now and are producing mostly bass, crappie, walleye, catfish and bluegill. Temperate bass are scarce, at least for me, but I do not fish for them much but catch several spooning for walleye. I am now using a Bobby Garland baby shad tipped with a minnow and a 1/4 ounce Bink's spoon only. My entire tackle box fits in my shirt pocket. I caught two bass, four crappie, four bluegill and two walleye and came in and was out about 1-1/2 hours. It was cloudy but very nice fishing conditions. The moon is little and the lake is dropping very slowly so I will try for catfish again. I like to do that. Come on down to Blackburns. We will not charge you too much. It is to get very warm today and for the next couple of days. I like that too. 80 is my favorite number for temperature. The fall foliage is not the best this year but the hillsides are beautiful anyway. The incessant wind has blown a lot of them down but the ones left have some color but mostly brown. There is some yellow and red. Not worth a long drive to see color but is worth a drive to see the beautiful country that we have here in Baxter County no matter what season.