Norfork Lake Fishing and Fall Foliage Report

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The lake level is at normal pool and the surface temperature is still in the high 60's. Both the main lake and creeks are stained. It is hard to tell if the lake is turning unless you are scuba diving or have a device that you can drop into the water and check temperatures as you go down. Aqua cameras have that.  If it is the same from top to about 35-feet it has turned. The creeks are first and then the main lake. The main lake has clouded in the last few days indicating something has happened. I fished four brush piles yesterday afternoon and caught crappie on all of them both on main lake and in the creeks.  I am a little disappointed in the size but there are a few big ones. Blugill fishing is very good. There are a lot of shad at the mouth of Blackburns Creek with some white bass on them. They are not the big ones though and not the hybrids. I am not much interested in white bass but the big ones are fun to catch. As for eating, they only work if you cannot catch crappie, walleye, Kentucky bass, flathead catfish and bluegill. The weather cleared yesterday afternoon and the wind was variable. It is to rain again late Friday night and Friday afternoon will be good for fishing. I have some reports of bass being caught using spinner baits on wind blown banks in the creeks but have not confirmed that. I have been using the 1/4 ounce spoon almost exclusively but will hook up the grub and try my favorite bank this evening. I love being outside and watching the wild life. We have a big Bald Eagle hanging out near Blackburns dock. The fall foliage is disappointing so far this year but that could change a little. It is beautiful here but if you are just interested in peeping leaves it is probably not worth the trip.