The lake level is 559.34 and has dropped three inches in the last 24-hours with both generators running continuously. I hope they keep this up. The lake surface temperatures are rising with ambient temperatures near 80 and warmer nights. It is above 60 now about all places even in the early mornings and gets in the mid 60's back in the creeks in the sunshine shallow in the afternoons. There is to be a cold front coming through tomorrow cooling things down just a bit with a chance of storms and some rain. We can use a little rain with things getting dusty and dry. The dry last of March and early April has been a blessing for lake levels in this area. The pollen is starting to come out in force and there are green layers of it floating on the windblown banks. Moss is breaking up and is floating around. We did not used to have this and I think It will get worse before it gets better. The repercussions of the loss of the dam at Dawt Mill in 2017 are just starting to be felt on Norfork lake. The runoff in the watershed of the Norfork River is now unimpeded and flows directly into the lake. The lake in general is a good color for fishing. Bass, crappie and catfish continue to be the best bite and striper fishermen are either turning into crappie fishermen or going home. A 15-lb. one is rare now and would not have even worth a picture a few years ago and is still not as far as I am concerned. High water with no oxygen for long periods of time, over harvesting and none being stocked by Game and Fish last year do to covid will just exacerbate the problem. They will not come back anytime soon if people do not quit killing them but still it continues. Stripers are what sets Norfork lake apart from other area lakes and I want them back. I have not kept one for a couple of years now. The limit needs to be dropped to two until they make a comeback. They do grow fast. Creeks are the best fishing now with just a few on main lake brush. Bass, crappie and walleye will move back to the main lake points on brush after spawn. Cast a grub, jig or crearure bait on a jig head to the shore and work it slowly back to the boat raising and letting the head drop as much as possible. Pigeon, East Pigeon,Twin Coves and Briar Creek are good places to start. Very good. Cabins are still $59/day here at Blackburns and your first boat stall is free unless you drag your own pontoon. We have 12 of them to rent. Come on down and check us out. We will not charge you too much.
