Caught fishing with Bink's Guide Service yesterday.
The lake level is 571.77 and has risen 1.3 inches in the last 24-hours with about 10-hours of running one generator. The White River is 19.10 ft. and dropping at Newport. They are still running Table Rock as hard as they can with spillway gates open and filling Bull Shoals rapidly. It is 25-feet over seasonal conservation pool and is listed at 74% full but seems much fuller than that. It is predicted to crest on 25-May but they have to slow Table Rock if this is to happen. Norfork is still expected to crest at 572.3 and is now on June 1st. These will all change with the heavy rain expected today. The 4-lake system is listed as 62% full. The rain is to continue through tonight and tomorrow morning with Monday to be the best day. A cold front is on the way with winds shifting to the north and much cooler temperatures are to follow. Our normal high is 78. More rain is scheduled for next week after Monday. It was hot and windy yesterday but it finally layed about 5:30 PM and everybody got in a good evening of fishing. It was from the south and swirling and hard to get out of. Bass fishing is good, crappie fishing is fair, top-water bite for bass black bass and temperate bass is good, catfishing with live bluegill is excellent and big bluegill is also good on crickets. I am not finding big schools of crappie but there are some around almost all docks and shallow wood. Some are still full of eggs. The main lake is clear and the creeks are still stained a bit but not bad. The surface water temperature varies from 75-77 depending on location. If you are swimming off a boat make sure you are in at least 25-ft. of water or you will jump into brush and rose bushes. Do not tie off from the shore but use an anchor or two. The water overall is very clean and clear despite it's level. Everybody in the area is in the same condition but some are able to handle it better than others. It is better to have access to a swimming pool than it is to try and get to the lake and find a place to swim everytime you want to go unless you have a boat and launching and parking will be at a premium. It will be busy out there starting Friday. I am not looking forward to it.
