Carl Scott from Texas caught and released some nice ones yesterday. Good fisherman.
The lake level is 570.38 and has risen 2-1/2 inches in the last 24-hours with about 10-hours of running one generator. It creeps up very slowly with one generator running. The White River at Newport is 23.13 feet and dropping quickly. It is projected that Norfork will crest on 24 May at 571.50 and that would be good news. Beaver Lake is dropping with spillway gates open bypassing the generators for some reason and Table Rock is generating at full speed and also has spillway gates open filling Bull Shoals fast. It is getting the worse end of the deal but at crest Norfork will be only 8-1/2 feet from breaching the spillway. It is very fortunate that we have had several days of hot dry weather with wind which has resulted in a lot of drying. We actually can use the rain that we are to get tonight. The lake surface water temperature is in the mid 70's and the water is clear. Fishing has been very good and you do not hear me say that much. I seldom go past good but the top-water bite is happening every morning just before sunrise and a little after with more and more bass joining the temperate bass in coming up. Go back into the first creek west of the 101 bridge on the North side of the lake just a little bit back for the morning action. More and more trollers are finding this place and you might have to put up with some boats chugging around with a lot of lines out to tangle up and dragging crankbaits The stripers are not very big but some nice hybrids and a few white bass are with the black bass. Use a Zara Spook or Spitin Image or cast a spoon and hop it back to the boat keeping it from sinking too fast. The clear spook works best as it sparkles in the sun. The wind has been predominately from the south so check out the wind blown creeks as the plankton goes with the wind and the shad feeds on the plankton. Flathead fishing has slowed but I am not sure if they are gone or it they just are not biting with the big moon. It is full on monday and catfish do not like the moon or dropping lake levels. We have not had to worry about that lately. Crappie are everywhere on brush at various depths and you can use live minnows on a slip float, small spoon and crappie jigs. All work. Some bass are still back in the creeks morning and evening near any cover shallow feeding on crawdads and creek minnows on or near the old shoreline whch is about 20-ft. deep now. Blackburns has one cabin available for Memorial day so give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115 so you do not have to pay too much or pay for your first boat stall. The big pool with slide will be open if you do not want to swim in the lake. We have that too. You definetly need a pool, dock and covered porch. Make sure your cabin has a big covered porch so you can get in the shade. They have come in handy lately.