Norfork Lake Fishing Report, Fall Foliage Report and Lake Condition By Scuba Steve from Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental.(click here for comments)

The lake level is 553.11 and has dropped 1-1/2 inches in the last 24-hours with one generator running about 9-hours starting in the early afternoon. The White River at Newport is 6+ feet and dropping. It was very windy all day yesterday with white caps and hard to fish. At least the first few feet of water got aerated that is for sure. It is calm now and was very foggy early but that is gone and the ambient temperature was 50-degrees earlier but headed for 80. It looks to be a beautiful day with increasing rain chances as the week progresses. Another inch would not hurt us at all. I went out in the afternoon and the fishing was a little better and the lake was almost void of boats unlike last week but there were a few of us out there. They will be back later this week with the Cystic and next week with the Bass Cat. The surface water temperature was 77+ this morning and should start dropping with the cooler days and much cooler nights. It was too windy to spoon so I just used the jig and drifted back and forth over brush. The fish were in 19-25 feet of water down about to the top of the brush and I caught several very large bluegill and a couple of 12-13 inch crappie. They all were released under the dock and swam right into the big school. The creeks were just as clear as the main lake. I know where and how to get out of the wind but the fish are just not biting there. I am sticking to main lake points with brush and fishing in 19-32-ft. of water. It was too windy to tell if there were any fish surfacing. I did not catch any bass but Rodger Moody did on a crank bait. October and early March can be the most iffy Norfork Lake fishing and this year is no exception. It will get better. If the Missouri boys cannot catch very many bass this saturday nobody can. I am seeing almost no red meat fish being caught except for a few small white bass in 45-ft. of water suspended. I expect fewer striper guides on the lake next year and the ones left will work hard for their money. Some are turning into crappie and walleye fishermen or changing lakes.  There will be some 5-8lb. fish show up soon and a very few over 10. The full stocking resumed this year so let us let them grow and release the ones caught and get the big ones back like they were. It will take several years of no prolonged high water. When you see pictures of stripers with their mouths open they are not being released. If they are released they would not save them up and would take only one fish picture at a time and release them immediately. They do not make it very long in the live well. Blackburns has one cabin still open for the Bass Cat tournamnet so give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115. We will not charge you too much. All cabins are individual with plenty of parking and electrical outlets. You can launch right here. You can get food delivery here or cook out. We have it all and at the best price. A lot of leaves were blown off yesterday and did not do the fall foliage any favor.