Norfork Lake Arkansas near Mountain Home in the Ozarks Mountains Region Fishing Report and Lake Condition by Scuba Steve from Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental.

Scuba Steve with his best two fish yesterday. Sorry we do not take pictures of big stringers full of dead fish. Catch a few, keep a few and release a few. Image title

The lake level is 558.16 and has risen 1-inch in the last 24-hours. We have received 1.2 inches of rain with more coming. The creeks are not running but they are running just one generator so the lake will continue to rise. The White River at Newport is 20.48 feet. People ask me why I report the White River level and it is because that is where the gauge is located that sets the parameters for the chain of lake generation schedule. They are supposed to follow rules prescribed by congress to govern the discharge from the area lakes based on how high the level is and draw down all of them equally. If the river is above the prescribed level do not expect much generation until there is danger of a lake going over the spillway and then they panic and open spillway gates. Basically they hold water until it is an emergency and then flood everything out downstream. Dam management 101 says do not let the water go over the dam and that sometimes is the only thing that keeps them from holding more. 580 is the limit for Norfork and I have seen it there. I found some 61-degree water on the main lake yesterday afternoon and 57 in Blackburns Creek. Some crappie are full of eggs, some are on nests, some are staging and some are spawned out. Bass are just starting. Stripers, Walleye and White Bass are finished. Flatheads are the last to spawn and will not finish until July. Bluegill spawn several times a year and usually start when the water reaches mid to high 60's and spawn is shallow water. It is cold and rainy today with storms for tonight and early tomorrow. It then gets very warm but it comes with a price. High winds. We get about one day a week without being windy. Ovarall fishing is just fair but some nice fish are coming in every day. It will get better and the top-water bite will also get better. It needs to and should have already.  Come on down to Blackburns. A free stall at our protected dock comes with your cabin and all cabins are individual with no duplexes and have covered porches. If you are in town come on by and check us out.