Norfork Lake fishing and lake conditions by Scuba Steve from Blackburns Resort and Boat rental (click here for comments)

The lake level is 554.07 and has dropped 1-1/2 inches in the last 24-hours with generation about 1/2 the time. The lake is at a good level and color for fishing. I was busy working on cabins and boats yesterday and getting my second covid shot and was unable to get out fishing. I talked to my friend Tom Kelly who has been out fishing and is a very good fisherman to get a report. He says he has been out everyday for several days and has not been catching very many fish. He did see shad dying but the water was too clear for him at point 5 and he could see the bottom at 12-feet and deeper. Later he went up to point 6-A in Bennetts where the channel turned and there was muddy water. He fished a couple of points where he usually finds fish with little luck. He did find some 54-degree water.  Then he went across from Bidwell with the same results and then went back into float creek and it was a little better but not good by any means. Other reports say they got much more rain up north near the border and the water was muddy but I have not seen any of that in Blackburns area. If that is correct then it should be on it's way here unless it settles out before it gets here. The creeks in this area rotate between clearing and stained almost daily. Another fisherman reports doing better on bass up near Red Bank where the brown water turns to clear water. I seldom go that far but it is a good place sometimes and gets fished pretty heavily despite the lack of marinas and resorts in the area. Bass fishing is the best fishing right now with not much else being caught. Bink is out with a client now and I will get a report from him a little later. He is fishing way down in the back of Big creek and using the stick bait. He says there is no muddy water in that area either.  I have to get four cabins started up for the spring now and will check things out after that. It is very busy here at Blackburns and we will be ready for you when you get here and will not greet you with higher prices. The weather looks good for the next week with a chance of rain about thursday. I am not predicting things busting loose like some say but fishing should steadily improve with the warmer overnight lows and longer days and it needs to.