The lake level has been dropping and is below 548. Surface termperature is 48 degrees. I do not know why they are lowering it so much but it does not bother me much. It just gives us more capacity for the spring rains and lets us fish in a smaller bowl. The main lake is stained but clearing a bit and the creeks are stained just right for fishing. For you smallmouth bass fishermen this is the time. i am catching 4-lbers everyday along with giant crappie up to over 17 inches and thick across the back. I like winter fishing. Usually I am nearly the only one out there but the lake was very busy with the nearly 70 degrees yesterday. The smallmouth were off the steep river channel banks in 16-18 feet of water on a grub tipped with a minnow, the crappie were on brush with a minnow on a slip float and the black bass were on brush on main lake points on a 1/2 ounce bink's jigging spoon. Caugh fish steadily all evening until dark. For you open water fishermen there are a lot of shad 50-feet down no matter the water depth at the mouths of the major creeks on the main lake channel. We had some good striper fishermen in yesterday and they had a little trouble getting very many fish. They fish umbrellas and almost always catch fish. I am not much on trolling a half dozen rods with live bait on them until I run out of gas. I am poor and it is hard on motors and I always get tangled up when I catch a fish or get two on at a time when going through a school. The fish population is good on Norfork Lake and they are healthy. Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental has the best prices on both cabins and boats and is open all year. A free boat stall comes with your cabin.and you can launch right here and do not have to go elsewhere to do so. We have it all and at the best price. If you are staying somewhere where you are nearly the only customer you are paying too much. Pet friendly. 1-800-635-0526