Scuba Steve with some nice ones diving. Blackburns is your diving headquarters. 
The lake level is 556.97 and has risen 1-3/4 inches in the last 24-hours with no discharge for two days. The White River at Newport is 6.83 feet and dropping. Not much water is being let out of any of the area lakes for some reason. We received 0.8 inches of rain early this morning and the creeks ran but not hard. The ground is saturated with over 5-inches of rain in the last week with four different events. Fortunately We received no severe weather here at Blackburns. The surface water temperature is 85-degrees and the thermocline remains at 27-feet with cold water at 30. The visibility is good down to the thermocline with a small mud line after that and clear cold water after that. Visibility is good for August. Several fish of different species are in the 27-32 ft. range suspended at different depths on or near brush with bluegill shallowest, followed by crappie, then bass with walleye and catfish just off the bottom. All fish are moving around following the bait fish. Some Bass are past the fry stage and are fingerlings and are schooled in large numbers. It evidently was a good spawn for them and bluegill because they are everywhere. Creek minnows and shad are also plentifull and all predator fish are very fat and healthy looking. Drop a 1/4 ounce spoon down in or around brush and tap bottom and snap up 5-6 feet and let it fall on slack line and you could catch about anything. I am not seeing as many White Bass as usual for this time of year but they may be in open water. Some Crappie have moved in on brush but not as many as there will be in a couple of weeks. Right after Labor Day is an excellent time for crappie fishing. The larger walleye are mostly still in open water deep but several smaller ones have already started to come in to the brush on main lake points. About one in three are keepers. I am seeing a lot of bass with most being Kentuckies but some big largemouth. Not so many smallmouth. There are still a lot of boats dragging overweight children around on chaise lounges and mosquitoes disguised as jet skis out there but things will get better after Labor day. School starts next week in most places. They start early in August when it is hot so the tax payers can pay for air conditioning and then get a nice spring break when the weather is moderate and does not require much heat or cooling. School should start after labor Day and get out after Memorial Day but we have let things get away from us. The Baxter County Fair is August 22.26 it is one of the best fairs around but I liked it better when it was in September and cooler but it has also changed. I think it has something to do with the carnival and scheduling. If you are in town come on by and check out Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental and give us a try when you are back in town. Best place, best price and closest to Mountain Home, dining and shopping and a free stall for your boat is included in the price. We go on off-season rates after Labor Day and will continue to be the home of the $59/day one bedroom cabins. Can't beat that anywhere. We offer peace and quiet and no drama. It is called culling. Give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115 for a reservation or you will have to pay much more elsewhere. People with too much money do not mind paying too much but I do.
