Caught on the Bink's Spoon in 27-ft. of water near the bottom. We like Walleye here at Blackburns. 
The lake level is 555.65 and has dropped 1-1/2 inches in the last 24-hours with less than one generator running for a few hours and 1-1/2 running for a few hours. They are scheduled to start again at noon with 1-1/2 generators for about 1/2 the time. All area lakes are now down past the tops of the power pool. Our normal level for this time of year would be about 552 but they have managed to keep it up much higher all summer. The White River at Newport is at 5.83 feet and about ready to dry up. The power pool drops to 553.75 at the end of September and I hope they draw the level down for the winter going into the spring rains but they refuse to do it and like to keep us too high so we flood out every spring and then take all summer to get it down. The surface water temperature is 85-degrees and the weather is hot. We could get some pop-up storms on Friday with pretty good chances of rain on Saturday and Sunday with a cold front moving in. When this happens the wind usually shifts to from the North. There continues to be some floating algae back in the creeks but not as bad as it was. I found the thermocline starting at 27-feet yesterday and not very prounced down past 32-feet and that is as deep as I went. I could see about 4-5 feet at that depth. There were more Walleye and Crappie shallower than they have been and everything was very spooky and roaming. There is a lot of baitfish out there including shad, fathead minnows and creek minnows and plenty of food for everyone. The fish are fat and healthy. They had good success with the Crappie rearing pond on Bull Shoals Lake this year and I wish they would get the Walleye rearing pond fixed and producing again on Norfork. The Walleye Club should look into this. Overall fishing is just fair but you can vertical jig for Walleye and Crappie with a spoon, use live bait on a slip float on brush for Crappie and Kentucky Bass or clip a weight in front of a crank bait and drag it around the lake for both. Look in 27-feet of water. Some White Bass are partway back in the creeks in the evening in 25-30 feet of water and you have to get down to them. Anything weighted with a spinner will work like a Rooster Tail. Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental goes on their off-season rates next Monday and you can get a 1-bedroom cabin for $69/day and a 2-bedroom for $89/day. No better place or better price around and it comes with a free stall for your boat at our big dock with stays of two days or more. You will like it here and the price is right. Come on down and we will not charge you too much. We especially welcome Veterans and Police. Compare prices and give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115 for a reservation. Scuba Steve will show you where his brush piles are located and he has some good ones. No we are not for sale, have not accepted offers and are not leaving. We like it here. It looks to be a very busy holiday weekend on Norfork lake but the fishermen will take over after that when the jet skis and wake boats get put in the shed.
