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 some pretty good ones.Image title

The lake level is 561.69 and has risen two inches in the last 24-hours with about 5-hours of vatiable generation. The White River at Newport is at 21.37 feet and dropping quickly. They are reducing the overall discharge into the White River. The surface water temperature is in the mid 60's and the lake is clearing and is very clear near the shore. Flathead catfish are biting very well on live bait on both poles off the dock and on throw lines part way back in the creeks. Bass are spawning and crappie are trying to finish but are stringing it out. Some years they do this for vatious reasons but mostly rising water. There was a top-water bit yesterday for temperate bass but it did not last a long time. It has been a little disappointing so far this year. We are to get heavy rain for the next two days and it is cloudy and cool and raining now. The cold fronts just keep coming through but are not nearly as cols as a few weeks ago. It has been slow warming up. As the black bass finish spawning they will move out in the open water on shad and will come up early with the stripers. Not too many of them so far but a few. I am still catching some nice crappie and not all of them have spawned. Start out by fishing part way back in creeks that the wind is blowing into and go from there. This is one of the few times of year that I do not use jigging spoons It is about time for the walleye to move near the island in about 15-20 ft. of water on bottom bouncers. Things are looking pretty good and some nice fish are being brought in everyday.