The lake level is 554.16 and has risen 2-1/2 inches in the last 24-hours. They opened up the 10 spillway gates to an equivalent of one generator at 5:PM last evening with no generation. The White River at Newport is 6.31 feet and still very low but rising. We have received a three day total of 1.7 inches of rain so far with another inch expected today and tonight. We were dry and a lot of the water soaked in without much runoff and it did not come down as fast as it could have. This is all we need for a while though. The surface water temperature remains at 63-64 degrees but should start warming up with higher ambient temperatures on the way. Clear water is hard to warm up especially with cloudy skies and we have had little sunshine for several days. At least we have missed all of the several weather and heavy rainfall so far and the lake is in excellent condition and at a good level. Walleye, Stripers and White Bass have finished spawning and crappie and black bass are in various stages of spawn with some finished, some on beds and some still just staging. Kentucky Bass continue to spawn well into the summer and flathead catfish are the last. Some larger bass are on main lake points near the bottom in 30-ft. of water and most crappie are back in the creeks with most still staging. Big Bluegill are pre-spawn feeding and waiting for 70-degree water as are most crappie. They will continue for another month and move to main lake shallower brush when finished as will the fry. You will start to see larger spawned out females on brush soon. It just has been slow. I keep saying the top-water bite for bass and stripers will start soon and they are coming up sporatically but you cannot count on it yet. Some are starting in the evenings after the water warms during the day and the shad go shallower. I am seeing some White Bass, Bass and Walleye fry under the dock but just recently. White Bass are biting under lights very well starting at about 9:30 PM. The results of the Bass Cat invitational are as follows: Total 2-day weight 29.85 lbs., 622 anglers and 312 teams catching 1,379 fish, 5.78 lb. big bass, 1.33 lbs. Ozark Bass which was very large, 10.10 lb. striper, 3.94 lb. walleye. 245 caught at least one fish. I have nothing against big tournaments but wish they were held after the spawn and am glad they are over and now my regular customers, who avoid coming to Norfork during big tournaments, can now have some peace and quiet. I get more people calling about when they are scheduled so they can book around them than want to come for them and have to pull out my rental boats to make room for them. We all have to share the lake and I have many Bass Cat boat owner friends. I will be mowing continuously after the grass drys out and will plant my garden May 1st. Blackburns is still the home of the $59/day one bedroom and $79/day two bedromm cabins and a free stall for your boat at our dock comes with the cabin. Give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115 for a reservation and we will not charge you too much. It is nice here and the price is right.
