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

The lake level is 570.87 and has risen over 5-inches in the last 24-hours with about one inch of total rainfall. The creeks run very slowly and there was runoff from the hillsides but nothing big. They are generating just a few hours in the afternoon and allowing Norfork to rise. They also closed the spillway gates on Table Rock but are still running Beaver hard into it and also have spillway gates open to keep the water from going over them. It is only one foot away. Bull Shoals will now not rise so fast but it is running out of room. Bull holds the most water but is also the slowest to drop if it ever does. It will be in the fall before things get to where they should be unless we have a drought all summer.  It is now a balancing act to keep from opening spillway gates on Norfork and Bull Shoals and flooding out the White River below while holding and hoping. The only thing that keeps them from holding more are dam capacities.  There are no management strategies at all. Fishing remains good with most species biting well. Bass, bluegill and small stripers are best. Top-water early and then go to swim baits about 10:Am.