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

Caught fishing with Bink's Guide Service Yesterday. That Bink is one good fisherman.Image title

The lake level is 557.41 and has risen 3-1/2 inches in the last 24-hours and is still rising with generation about 1/2 the time. There is none now. The water stayed clear with the runoff except in the very backs of the creeks. It was very cool yesterday with highs near 60 and breezy. It is a beautiful day today after the fog lifted and is to get to about 73-degrees with 80 scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. That will put the spawn into high gear even though it has progressed without the benefit of warming water. It will warm now with nighttime lows near 60 for a couple of days. Tomorrow morning will be a good time to be on your top-water spots at sunrise with a spitin image for bass and a clear spook for red meat fish. If they do not break the surface try calling them up anyway as they will not be very deep and will come up to get the lure if they are there. Look to see if you can find shad this evening and the big fish will be there in the morning. I am not finding very many shad but am mostly just fishing the backs of creeks on the bank and on shallower brush part way back in the creeks. Stick with those creature baits on a light jig head. Lizards, 3-inch worms and crawdads are all working. Work the bottom but keep the head dropping as much as possible while reeling in. Plan to lose some lures in the buckbrush and other dead brush on the shore. Use a light jig head, about a 1/16th ounce white with red eye and do not drag the bottom to help prevent this. The black crappie are the first to spawn and that is what I am mostly catching but am still not catching hardly any spawned out fish except walleye. Twin coves, Briar creek, Pigeon, East Pigeon and the creeks near to Blackburns are all producing several fish including bass and crappie with a few walleye. Smallmouth and Kentucky Bass are the best now. Blackburns is nearly full here with people taking advantage of the best place and best prices on both cabins and rental boats on Norfork lake and we really like our repeat customers and do not test our friendships by charging them too much. We are the family and fishing headquarters for Norfork lake and especially welcome both Police and Veterans. New customers are also welcome and you can join the family. We try to help and take care of each other. Your first boat stall is free here except that we do not have stalls available for one night stays but have good launching and plenty of room for you to pull your boat in and out. We are not huddled up on a cliff here and the children have plenty of room to run. Check us out if you are in the area.