Norfork Lake Fishing Report By Scuba Steve From Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental

The lake level is 556.44 and dropping 4-inches a day with heavy continuous generation. Wish they could have done this during the summer. All launch ramps, parking lots and roads are open again and in good shape again. The surface temperature is in the low 70's and the main lake is clear and the creeks are stained just right for fishing. The open water fish are following the shad which are following the plankton which follow the wind direction. One day the fish will be in the North Creeks and the wind shifts and they move to the south creeks. I like this level now and the brush which had been too deep is now in play. The most important tip now is to fish the stained water. I have been catching fish close to Blackburns in 30-feet of stained water with a 1/4 and 1/2 ounce Bink's Jigging spoon. I only use the heavier ones in deep water. Grub fishing was pretty good but has stopped now. Crappie are starting to bite on brush with a slip float and minnow but are also moving with the wind and bass are still hitting a single spin and crank baits in the creeks. I am not much on crank baits but they are catching smaller fish now. I am only fishing brush piles now. The white bass are biting in the creeks but are small. The big ones with hybrids mixed in are not here yet. It is too early for a night bite but that is determined by the lake turnover. Norfork lake does not turn over violently with debris coming to the surface off the bottom like shallow northern lakes. The thermocline just inverts and the clarity, water temperature and oxygen level is the same for several feet down causing the fish to scatter. After the surface water cools down with the short days the open water fish will school and  come to the banks to feed at night and move further out during the days. This usuall happens during November. The other fish will also move shallower to cover and stay there. Spoons will be the bait of choice for a while during the day and stick baits at night. Until then I switch to a grub when the sun goes down. I have no luck with spoons after dark. This is a fun time of year and the lake is in excellent condition.