The lake level is 553.82 and has risen 1-inch in the last 24-hours with intermittant generation about 1/3rd the time. The White River at Newport is 17.96 feet and rising slowly. The surface water temperature is 45-degrees and dropping with the cold ambient temperatures. It is to get very cold the middle of next week. The water is clearing, especially in the creeks and you can see your lure down about 4-5 feet. Overall the lake is in excellent condition and at a good level for fishing. Fishing is just fair with the full moon and the cold fronts coming through every week. You have to pick your days but some nice fish are being caught everyday but you have to work for them. Scuba Steve is catching some very large winter Norfork Lake Crappie and he likes that. My favorite way to catch them is to cast a Bobby Garland Baby Shad Blue Ice in color on a 1/16th ounce white with red eye jig head or a 2-inch twister tail grub tipped with a small minnow past the brush and let it sink into it and feel the thump. Small spoons and a medium sized crappie minnow on a slip float right over the brush also works. If you are over the brush use your trolling motor sparingly and shut off spot lock. It may keep you over the brush but it is no good if the fish are all spooked away. That is why I like to cast to the brush. If it is windy you will snag your spoons but if it is not they can be the best. Open water fishermen are catching a few Stripers on broken schools of shad but are looking far and wide for feeding fish. When I Bass fish I am mostly catching Kentucky Bass on the grub.You need to know the winter Bass Banks for success but it is sure a fun way to catch them. I would almost rather catch nothing than catch fish trolling especially with umbrellas. I like Striper Fishermen because otherwise they would be fishing for Walleye, Crappie, Bass and Catfish and that is what Scuba Steve likes. I have caught all of the red meat fish that I care about and will leave the rest for the people that want them and wish them the best. They pull hard but so does an alligator. This is the time to plan your spring fishing trip and summer family vacation. Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental has the best place and the best prices on both cabins and boat rentals in the Ozarks. A free stall for your boat at our big dock comes with a cabin rental of two days or more. Compare prices and give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115 for a reservation. We especially welcome Veterans and Police and are family owned and family operated and are not sold or not for sale. We like it here and are not trying to cash in. There is no better place. Give us a try and join our family of repeat customers. We have a lot of them.