Mike Eakle with some nice ones diving Blackburns Brush piles.
The lake level is 557.37 and has risen 8-inches in the last 24-hours and they have been running 1-1/2 generators since 10-AM yesterday and are scheduled to keep them on all weekend. The White River at Newport is 8.36 feet,still low, and they could be letting out much more if they wanted to. The surface water is 86-degrees and the thermocline is 34-feet. The hot weather brought up more floating algae back in the creeks and it is bad again. Condtions are changing rapidly and you have to be out there every day to write an accurate report and know the current conditions. it looks to be a very busy holiday weekend but the boat traffic on the lake is very low during the week at this time and it is good for peace and quiet before the jet ski and wake boat crowd gets here. I like it after the last summer holiday is over. Blackburns has one cabin open for the holiday so give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115 before you have to pay much more elsewhere. It fills up and then another one cancels for various reasons. Mostly health problems. Not many of us are getting any younger. Our 1-bedroom cabins start at $90/day for two people. The best chance to catch fish is to go on main lake brush in 30-35 feet of water and drop a spoon or live minnow and catch some nice Kentucky Bass or Bluegill. Others can be caught but it is not easy. Things will get better as we go into September and early October. November is my favorite month for fishing. The best overall months are April, May and November. The lake turns over some time in October and it slows the fishing but does not stop it. Norfork Lake turnover can be slow and gradual and fishing is very good just before and gets beter and better after, especially brush pile fishing. Blackburns is very busy with fishermen in November and Thanksgiving is an excellent time for big Crappie and Bass. Compare prices and give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115 for a reservation. We will not charge you too much and a free stall for your boat comes with a cabin rental of two days or more.