Caught fishing with Bink's guide Service on his Spoon. 
The lake level is 553.35 and has been the same for several days with a little siphon and minimum flow discharge but both generators are still inoperable. It has been very warm and dry. The White River at Newport is 2.79 feet and was 1.34 feet yesterday and about ready to dry up. We are expecting rain starting later this week and continuing through the weekend. We need it as things are getting dry again. It is good to go into the winter with moisture in the ground. The surface water temperature is 70-degrees down to about 18-feet and 69-degrees after that so there is not much difference. The cold water is at about 45-feet where there is also not much oxygen or fish. The water was a little more clear yesterday and the visibility at 25-30 feet was not bad. Several fish including Walleye, Bass, Crappie and Bluegill were in and in front of main lake point brush piles in 15-25 feet of water. They are not feeding very well so you need a spoon or jig dropped right on top of them to get reaction strikes. The crappie are schooled, roaming and spooky looking for bait fish in the cover. The fish sense when colder water is on the way and start feeding. Contrary to some reports fish do not get more active in colder water but do feed before they slow down in the winter but that is not here yet. It is usually in early November. If all they wanted was cold water they could just go deeper. They are cold-blooded vertebrates. The fish that I am cleaning are empty of food and the fat is going away. They were very fat earlier. There are smaller schools of shad scattered all over the in creeks in the evening but mainly small bass and gar are on them in the warmer shallow water after a day of warm sunshine. The more shallow water cools more quicky but also warms up more quickly. Find a main lake point that the wind has been blowing into and look for baitfish on and in brush. Brush piles that are loaded with fish one day are empty the next. A small spoon and a live minnow on a slip-float are the best right now. A few White Bass are in open water on shad but they are moving quickly and hard to stay on. Trollers are having a hard time. The big moon is slowing the catfishing but a few are still biting on live bait or artificial. The lake overall is at a good level and in good condition but fishing is just fair but getting a little better. When you do not see a report for three or four days it usually means not much is being caught. Yes, Scuba Steve knows where the fish are located and will show you when you get here. Blackburns Resort and Boat rental is still the home of the $59/day 1-bedroom cabins and $79/day 2-bedrooms. 3&4 bedrooms are priced accordingly. We will not charge you too much. All cabins have big covered porches and are individual with no duplexes. A free stall for your boat in our dock comes with the cabin. Some charge for the first stall, Blackburns does not. Compare prices. It is very nice here and the price is right.The fall foliage has started to change more quickly now and is best where the sun has been shining the most on the hillsides. It is better than in the last few years and is on pace for a peak right at the end of this month. You can cruise the lake, peep leaves and get in a little fishing. Give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115 for a reservation. Blackburns is the best value in the Ozarks.
