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

The Moody Brothers with some of yesterday's catch.  Good fishermen and better friends. Image title

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The lake level is 559.64 and has risen about three inches in the last 24-hours with generation about 1/2 the time. The light brown water is moving down the river channel and is just about at the 101 bridge and heading south. It is clearing and dissipating as it moves and is not a problem. The wind has been blowing hard for about three days and has made fishing on my best spots more difficult. It has layed a bit now and is moving to the south at about 5-10 and it is to get into the 60's today with bright sunshine. We had about a half of dozen different fishing groups out yesterday and all complained about the wind and slow fishing except the Moody brothers. Crappie and bass continue to be the best bite with a few small stripers and white bass being caught. The water temperature continues to be in the mid 50's in the afternoon and is not increasing much with the very cool nights. 23-feet of water seems to be the best for crappie with the fish on top of the brush in the sunshine and down deeper when it cools off and early. I am using 1/4 ounce Bink's spoons. Bobby Garland jigs, and slip floats with minnows and all are working but at different times. You have to keep trying all three. I do not use Alabama rigs but they are working for bass as are stick baits and crank baits. Stick with the wind blown banks on both main lake and part way back in creeks. The bluegill under the docks in the creeks are drawing bass and crappie but the spawn is still a bit off for both unless it really warms fast and it could do just that. This is the first day of spring and sometimes we just go straight into summer after a cold March and cool early April. What you look for is when the nightime lows stay in the 60's for the best fishing. Blackburns has all of their cabins open now and most of them are full. We are finishing up the new siding on the last cabin for the year now and then are working on getting the pool ready. Spring is a very busy time here with people taking advantage of the best prices on both cabins and boat rentals on Norfork lake. They also like the free boat stall and the no price increase. The three person paint crew has painted just about everything that does not move and we are ready for you. Come on down. You will like what you see when you get here and we will not charge you too much. We have spent all of our money on improvements and need business to by lunch. You can help out a fellow American.