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

The lake level is 559.23 and has dropped 2-inches in the last 24-hours with both generators running about 1/2 the time. They start late morning and quit in the evening. The White River at Newport is 12.19 feet and they are regulating it around the 12-ft. level. People ask why the Level at Newport is important. The reason is that it is the gauge where the total discharge from Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes is measured and the rules about the White River level  are all enforced. It changes seasonally. From 15 May to 30-November it is 12-feet and there is no reason for this. The flood stage is 26-feet and anything below 23-feet has no effect on the farmers or anyone else downstream. It is an antiquated rule and needs to be changed. It makes it so the area lake levels are held as high as possible for as long as possible. 12-feet allows for very littke discharge and that is why we have been high all summer despite the drought conditions and continue to be 6-feet above power pool in the middle of August. It usually gets down in September after the summer season is over. The level looks to be fine for the Labor Day holiday if we do not get much rain. Anything under 560 allows for most things to be open but does not allow for any flexibility. We should be at 552 at this time of year and the whole year if possible. The surface water temperature is still in the high 80's and has been steady for most of the summer but did get up to 90 in July. The visibility is not the best for scuba diving at least at the level where most of the fish are located but is better than the last few years. It is ok down to about 20-feet and then again at about 32-feet. About all that has changed is that a few crappie have returned to the brushpiles. Other than that things are the same. Call Debbie at 870-492-5115 to get the best prices in the Ozarks for cabins and boat rentals. The lake overall is in very good condition for boating, swimming and fishing. There was a little more boat traffic last week than the week before but still not bad.