Justin Kerkhove and Chad Davis caught and released some nice ones yesterday. 
The lake level is 554.56 and has risen 3/4 of an inch in the last 24-hours. They shut off the flood gates one day, cut the 1-generator down to 1/2 generator and then completely quit in just a few hours. Wow what big changes. The White River at Newport is 18.46 feet and dropping like a rock. They slowed Bull Shoals way down and they are still 7-feet high. They must be getting ready for the snow melt coming down the Mississippi. I am glad they took us to where we are quickly instead of taking all summer to get there. The lake level was 560.99 and rising, the White River at Newport was 24.62 feet and the surface water temperature was 62.5 on this date last year. We are in much better shape now and the weather pattern of a cold front coming through every week may have broken. Instead of heavy snow coming in from the west coast and meeting the warm moist air from the gulf somewhere in this area it is very hot there now. The light rain that we got yesterday and more tomorrow did not hurt anything as were are dry. We received about 1/4 of an inch. The lake is trying to clear and I could see my lure down 5-6 feet yesterday afternoon. The surface water temperature was 64-degrees. Bass and crappie are moving to their spawning banks now and Smallmouth are pre-spawn feeding. Big bluegill are showing up with the crappie on Blackburns brush piles and the top-water bite is getting better on warm mornings. Catfish are moving part way back in the creeks and hitting live shiners and bluegill. Fish the backs of the windblown creeks where the shad have followed the plankton to the shore. There are some reports of shad spawning but I have not seen any and they usually wait until the water is at or over 70-degrees. The lake is in excellent condition and at a good level and the prognosis for May fishing is excellent on Norfork lake barring any big rains in the watershed area. All area campgrounds are open and boat and trailer parking is abundant. Blackburns still has $59/day one bedroom cabins until Memorial day so come on down. We will not charge you too much and also have the best prices on rental boats. A free boat stall comes with your cabin. We keep our hands out of your pocket as much as we can. If you are not staying at Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental you are paying too much and we especially welcome Veterans and Police.
