The lake level is 553.33 and rising very slowly with no discharge for several days. Both generators are still inoperable. The White River at Newport is 3.21 feet and very low indicating not much water is being released anywhere. The surface water temperature is 79-degrees and steady with very warm ambient temperatures. The lake has turned over about 2-weeks ahead of normal and is clearing again. The water is homogenous from the surface down to about 40-feet where it is normally cold ths time of year. Few fish are below 39-feet and most are from 25-35 feet. Fishing is starting to improve after being poor for a couple of weeks but is still not good. As the water cools it will keep getting better and better as we get to November when it will be good again. Most fish are schooled, roaming, scattered and spooky. The crappie have started to move back into brush on the main lake especially on points and steep river channel banks. The best bet is to use a slip float and live minnow directly over the brush and set your bait down about 5-feet further than you can see it and do not use your trolling motor any more than you have to. Brush holding bait will have fish and others will not. Start with the banks that the wind has been blowing into. There are a lot of nice sized Kentucky bass with the crappie and between the banks and the brush especially early and late. There is occasionally some top-water action for bass early. 3-inch Creature baits on a 3/16th ounce jig head are working but also finesse worms. Some largemouth are mixed in with them and a few Smallmouth are showing up. Temperate Bass are scarce and in open water and roaming. Trolling just spooks everything. Big Bluegill are biting best on crickets on a #6 red trueturn hook with a very small sliptshot about 1-foot above the hook on 4-lb clear line with no hardware. The fish are not only spooky but line shy. Flip the cricket out past the brush and let it sink towards you into the brush slowly. Again do not use your trolling motor any more than you have to and I even shut off my locator. You have to keep moving positions until you find baitfish in the brush. The lake is in good condition and at a good level and fishing will get nothing but better as the water cools. It looks like the best fishing and the fall foliage color will both be the best about the end of October. Give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115 for a reservation. Blackburns is still the home of the $59/day 1-bedroom cabins and $79/day 2-bedrooms. Three and four bedrooms are priced accordingly. A free stall for your boat comes with the cabin and they all have big covered porches and are individual with no duplexes. Why pay more? For a daily report go to Scuba Steve's Blog. He is out there everyday and will keep you informed on what is happening on Norfork Lake. Blackburns has some good brush piles and we will show you where they are when you get here. We put in our own for our customers. Most do not.