Tom Kelly with some nice crappie. He is one good fisherman and conservationist. They are now in his trophy pond. He knows where the big ones are located. 
The lake level is 553.89 and has dropped 1-1/2 inches in the last 24-hours with sluice gates open to an equivalent of a little less than 1/2 generator. The White River at Newport is 11.60 feet and dropping. The water is fairly clear and I can see my lure down 5-6 feet and the surface water temperature is 45-degrees. Fortunately I do not have to launch and pull out boats to go fishing because the launch ramps were icy this morning but the rain is taking out the ice now. We did not get very much and it was just a glaze. It is to be rainy the next three days with significant rain possible but Scuba Steve will be able to go out cetain times and fish brush piles close to the dock and get in and out quickly. Most of the rain will run off with the frost in the ground and the lake will rise more than usual with the same amount of rain. Three days of rain might take out the frost. So far it is just light and it is dreary and cold and a miserable day with highs in the mid 30's. Much warmer weather is on the way. Blackburns has several customer in and I am very happy there was not significant icing and power outages. The last ice storn was almost exactly the same dates in January of 2009 and is still fresh in my mind. We had had almost no winter until January this year but it has made up for it is January with very cold conditions and a 3-inch snow. There is still some on the ground on north facing hills. Spring is on the way and it is only less than 6-weeks until I have to start opeing up some more cabins. I keep 5 open all year. Now is the time to start looking for others starting with their annual price increases so you have to start watching. What you see is what you get at Blackburns and there will be no changes. Loyalty is good until someone gets their hands in your pocket and then it is best to start shopping. Friends do not raise prices on friends unless it is absolutely necessary and going on vacation is not one of them. Give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115 for a reservation and not pay too much. Blackburns has the best prices on both cabins and boat rentals in the Ozarks. No we are not for sale.
