The lake level is 551.4+ and the surface temperature is in the mid to high 60's and the lake is pretty clear except for the pollen. It is to rain for the next couple of days and we seem to get some just when we need it. It is to get very cool this weekend so bring jackets. It is not too wet or dry. We are at a good level on the lake and it is in general in excellent shape. The best bite for now is the top water bite early in the morning but they can come up any time when the shad get pushed up to the surface. Get out there about 6:AM and fish until they go down which is about 9:30 AM part way back in the creeks. East pigeon and middle pigeon are good places to start. If the weather is clear and sunny use a clear spook. It sparkes in the light and resembles a shad in the sunlight. If it is cloudy a white spook and a 5-inch bass assassin will work just fine. Use a spittin image for bass. Learn how to use the spook properly and it will draw them up even when they are several feet below the surface. I like the spook puppy because it is more the size of the shad but the larger ones can be cast further. They always seem to come up just out of reach. Some big bass are with the red meat fish, some are on the bank spawning, some are making nests and some are finished. Bass on Norfork spawn up into the summer. That is not the only bite. Smallmouth bass are on the river channel banks just off the bank as are warmouth. I am catching them from 2-4 lbs. quite regurlarly and in the middle of the day too. Many fish have moved under docks both on main lake and just off. Bass, walleye, crappie and bluegill are loaded there but are hard to catch. They are shallow and can see you. I looked for walleye on the flats around the Islands but could not catch any. It is usually a may thing but the water is too low to bring them in early this year. The best bite for them is evening just before dark on shadowy banks near brush on the 5-inch plastics. Some crappie have spawned and moved to brush but some are also still in the creeks on any wood. Bluegill fishing should get very good soon. Blackburns still has 1-bedroom cabins for $53/day for two people with a free boat stall with your cabin and free 24-volt trolling motors for your fishing pontoons which we have several for rent. Check prices before you book and save a lot of $ here at Blackburns where we do not charge you too much.