The lake level is 553.55 and has dropped 1/2 inch in the last 24-hours. They started up the one operating generator at 9:AM this morning after 4-days of nothing. The White River at Newport is 7.90 feet and still low. They are definitely trying to regulate the water level to the top of the power pool of 553.75. That changes to 556.75 on May 1st . At 560 the water starts to get too high so there is not much difference. The surface water temperature is 553 and not changing much. We need some warm nights with the lows in the 50's. I am finding the bass still in deep water around 40-ft. with few on the shore but back in the deeper creeks and am using the 3/8th ounce Bink's Jigging spoon vertical jigging it in the deep water and casting it to the shore and hopping it back to the boat. Vertical jiggging is the best. A few are still on the main lake and some Smallmouth are starting to show up. Things are all mixed up and ready to change. The fish move in upder the dock when it warms up and leave again when it cools. I am catching a few Crappie but not many and not the big ones. If I do catch a big one it is a single. Some Stripers are being caught but they are small and the White Bass have moved out of the area. Things should start to change quickly after the middle of March but it all depends how often the cold fronts come through. Striper fishing should pick up just before the full moon which is the 25th. The water is very clear and I can see my lure down 10-feet on the main lake but is stained a little in the creeks. Early March is just tough fishing on Norfork but it should get better soon. It needs to. The water level was 559.45 with a surface water temperature of 52-degrees on this date last year. The normal average high is 58-degrees. People up north are really wanting to get out and the phone is ringing constantly. If you want to take advantage of the best prices in the Ozarks with 59/day 1-bedroom and $79/day 2-bedroom cabins and a free stall for your boat at our dock give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115. We have lots of pontoons and bass boats to rent at good prices. It is nice here.
