The lake level is 555.19 and has dropped 7-inches in the last 24-hours with one generator running continuously and spillway gates open to an equivalent of another 1-1/2 generators. They have lowered the spillway gates a bit. The White River at Newport is 20.21 feet and dropping slowly. They have already closed the gates on Bull Shoals. The new news is that they have revised the date that they will reach the top of the power pool of 553.75 to the 28th of April. If the past holds true from last year they will shut the spillway gates at or around 554 and keep the one generator running as they get below the top of the power pool and Southwestern Power takes over the generation. They then run the one generator for a few days when the level reaches 553 and then slow things down to nearly a stop. When it rains and the level then goes back up the whole process starts over again. I like this method better than the old hold and hope until the level gets dangerously high and then flood everything out downstream. It is an improvement but they are not there yet but it does show there is some flexibility to the 12-ft. and 14-ft. rules at Newport and the 50% full rules. What it does mean is that the launching and parking on the lake are all back to normal and all campgrounds are open. What it means to fishermen is the smallmouth bass will start biting very well on creature baits on the bank. They do not like quickly dropping water and catfish are the same. Everything depends on the amount of rain we get in May. There are good chances of rain for the rest of the week and we could use some. It could be a very good season. The southerly wind will push the bait fish back to the south facing creeks until the next cold front comes through and the wind comes from the north again. Blackburns now has a couple of cabin openings after being full until yesterday so come on down. We will not charge you too much and a free stall for your boat comes with each cabin. We are the home of the $59/day 1-bedroom cabins until Memorial Day. All cabins are individual with big covered porches and we have no duplexes. For a Norfork Lake Condition report by Scuba Steve listen to KTLO Radio FM 97.9 on Tuesdays and Fridays at 8:20 AM and 1:20 PM. and Listen to "Live in the Boat" fishing report by Bink's Guide Service on Thursdays at 8:40 AM.
