Sammy Morrison with a nice one caught off the dock. He is one fine young man and Scuba Steve's friend. 
The lake level is 556.47 and has risen 1/2 inch in the last 24-hours with no discharge for three days. They did open up sluice gates equivalent to 2/3rds of a generator at 8:AM this morning. Both generators continue to be inoperable. The White River at Newport is 4.73 feet and still very low. We have received 1-1/2 inches of rain in the last three days here at Blackburns and it has greened things up after being very dry for several weeks. The cooler weather has been welcome but that is going to go away later this week. Our normal ambient high is 90. The surface water temperature is 87-degrees and the thermcline is at 22-feet with a mud line just above that and clear water down to 16-feet. Several fish continue to be around the thermocline including bass and walleye but most are small. Trollers are dragging stuff parallel to the shoreline at 20+ feet down near the bottom and catching a few fish but they are mostly small. The fish are near brush and not conducive to trolling unless you have a lot of rigging. I just do not get much kick out of putting rods in holders and dragging stuff around until something bites and hooks itself but you can catch fish that way if you need meat. Crappie fishing is slow but will get better. They are roaming and spooky. Catfishing is getting better with the moon getting smaller and the water stable. The flatheads are finished spawning and are the last ones to do so except for Kentucky Bass which spawn throughout the summer multiple times. Drop-shot an jug with three or four hooks baited with 3-4 inch bluegill and you will catch some fish back in the creeks at night. Bluegill are biting crickets off docks in the shade. Red meat fish are deep and you can get a reaction strike if you drop a spoon on their heads. Some walleye are with them. The lake continues to be in good condition and at a good level for boating, swimming but the visibility is not the best for Scuba Diving and keeper walleye are getting harder to find but that is all normal for July. It will get much better after Labot day. Blackburns still has the best prices on both cabins and boat rentals in the Ozarks and your first boat stall is free at our private dock. Come on down. We will not chatge you too much. Give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115 for a reservation. If you are not staying at Blackburns you are paying too much. We especially welcome Police and Veterans and we are your family fun place. We have it all and at the best price. Big pool, big dock and big playground little prices.
