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

The lake level is 573.06 and is up just a bit in the last 24-hours with very little generation. They are dropping Table Rock and Bull Shoals a little while holding the White River at Newport to just over 12-feet and mostly keeping the drain plug in Norfork. It is getting very dry here and our next chance for rain is on Monday with more sunshine and dry conditions after that and a little cooler. We just need to keep away from the storms.  This holding and hoping is now borderline criimal incompetence and the only thing keeping them out of trouble is the dry conditions. They like to keep the levels just one big rain away from opening the flood gates and keeping the swim beaches and campgrounds flooded all summer. I am sure some people in the Southwest Power Administration service area could use some electricity somewhere. The same people running the dam management must be the same people running the post office and the Veterans administration. We need government in charge of more stuff. I talked to some divers yesterday and they said the lake was as clear as they have seen it in years and the visibility was good. A lot of fish are in the 20-ft. range just above the thermocline. The surface water temperature is 86 degrees. There is still a little debris out there with a few logs floating so watch out. It is a good idea to not be boating after dark. The lake overall is in good condition and people are having a lot of fun. Fishermen are still catching top-water fish at first light for a couple of hours and then spooning main lake points after that until about 9:Am and then takng the middle of the day off and then going out again in the evening. Not a lot of people are fishing during the day at least the ones staying here at Blackburns. Most are enjoying the lake and the big pool and having family time with their fathers. Come on down. We will not charge you too much.