It is looking good here at Blackburns and the price is right. 
The lake level is 553.84 and has risen 1/2 inch in the last 24-hours. They just started up the one operating generator at 9:AM after 4-days of nothing. The White River at Newport is 10.08 feet and dropping. The surface water temperature is 55-degrees and the main lake is very clear and the creeks are stained a little green. I could see my lure down about 10-ft. on the main lake but it is very clear near the shore. Bass fishing is the best. I have them on the bank back in Blackburns Creek and under the dock. Some very large ones. Some are also in or around brush piles They want to make a nest but are not ready yet. it is very cold out today and we got a frost last night but is to get better tomorrow. The cold fronts just keep coming through. I fished one brush pile and caught one walleye, two bass and two crappie in about two hours. Fishing is not the best but you can catch some if you work at it. Small Bass are easily caught but not very many big ones. They are there but just not biting. They will pre-spawn feed soon. Some White Bass are coming back south but not a lot. Stripers are scattered and roaming but will move to spawning banks soon at dark. Fish walleye on shadowy banks with a soft plastic in the evening and then switch to stripers with a stick bait. I like 5-inch rogues or thunder sticks but do not like the hooks for big fish. Switch to Gamakatsu. I am using a Bobby Garland Baby Shad Blue Ice on a 1/16th ounce white with red eye jig head tipped with a live minnow and casting past the brush and letting it sink into it for crappie and bass. I like a Bass Assassin with a lightly weighted nose hook for Walleye and also bass on the bank. Fishing is tough but some good ones are being caught most days. The first day after the cold front is very tough and they are coming through every week or less. The water is just slow warming up but is warmer than it was last year and the lake is in better condition. It is too clear near and past the dam. If you can see the fish they can see you. A good rule is to drop your jig about 5-ft. deeper than you can see your lure. Blackburns is still the home of the $59/day one bedroom cabins and $79/day two bedrooms. Three and four bedrooms are priced accordingly. There are no price increases for 2024 and a free stall for your boat at our dock comes with the cabin. No stalls for one night stays. You can stay at the best place and save $40/day or more here at Blackburns. Give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115 for a reservation. Scuba Steve will show you where the brush piles are located and we have some good ones. If you are not staying at Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental you are paying too much.
