The lake level is 553.56 and has dropped 1/2 inch in the last 24-hours with 1/2 generator running most of the time. The White River at Newport is at 5.8 feet and should be 12-ft. They are keeping the level just below the power pool of 553.75. The surface water temperature was 65 when I went out yesterday and it was cool but nice out. It was just below freezing this morning and very foggy. Wait for the fog to lift and do not run on GPS for safety's sake. These new 4-stroke motors are very quiet and you cannot rely on hearing them. I have had people go flying by me on GPS with absolutely no idea if there were any boats near. I just fish in Blackburns Creek until it is gone and go slowly near the shoreline but it is best to just wait. Some big crappie are starting to show up where the ones that I had been catching were 11-12 inches. Now they are 13-15 inches but the numbers are not high. The smallmouth bass are starting to bite as predicted and they are nice sized too, 3-4 pounds but you have to catch several small ones to get a big one. They are right near the bank part way back in the creeks behind brush.The fish that were on the main lake brush have moved so check out the brush on secondary points in 20-30 ft. of water and drop the spoon. If there is no wind the 1/8th ounce spoon works the best on 4-lb. test clear line. It is harder to tell if the small spoons hangs on itself so check it regularly. If you wait until it is finished dropping before jigging it will not hang as bad. If you do not check it you are wasting your time. I have never caught a fish on a hung up spoon but you can usually tell by the way the resistence changes if it is fouled but it is harder with the small ones. Crappie and bluegill love small white with red eyed spoons dropped right in the brush. If you are in the sunshine try the gold one. The lake is clearing a bit after the turn and fishing is getting better everyday. It is to get near 60 this weekend and 70 early next week so it is a good time to fish Norfork and come down to Blackburns. We will not charge you too much and your first boat stall is free. I talked to some open water fishermen yeaterday and they did not catch anything. It is hard to find open water temperate bass and if you do have them feeding. The best way is to drop the spoon right on their heads and get a reaction strike.
