August 16,2022 Scuba Diving Report by Scuba Steve from Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental on Norfork Lake near Mountain Home

The lake level is 557.57 and is dropping about 2-1/2 inches daily with both generators running about 1/2 the time. The surface water temperature is 87-degrees. I want to talk about clarity and visibility which is much better than previous years. It is about the same down to 27-ft. and you can see past the end of your speargun. After that the mud line goes to about 32-ft. and it is clear again in the cold water. The thermocline starts at 25-ft and it is cold at just over 30-ft. It is not pronounced. Several of Blackburns brush piles are in play now but there are mostly just Kentucky Bass, Smallmouth Bass and Bluegill on them so far. Very few crappie have moved in from the open water on shad but will as more bait fish are in the brush now and there will be more. I expect a good fall for diving and spearfishing. The walleye will come back into the shallower brush when the thermocline goes away in late September. Now they are on main lake points in the cold water for some reason and are mostly small. The larger ones are still deep. I have caught several on a pole this year and shot several on points earlier in the season when the visibility was not as good. After Labor Day and in mid September would be a good time to book a trip for spearfishing. Just pleasure diving is good now.