Norfork Lake Fishing Report by Lou of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort



Norfork Lake Fishing continues to be good for striped bass, hybrid bass, large and smallmouth bass and crappie since my last reporting period.

I am finding stripers and hybrids in 2 different types of area. The first area is part way back in major creeks with a deep channel swing. I am finding fish in 50 - 80 feet of water suspended from about 40 feet to the bottom. Live bait is working very well, but artificial baits are also working. Vertical jigging and throwing a swim bait with a heavy (up to 1/2 ounce) jig head are my artificial baits of choice. All three of these methods of fishing will work throughout the summer. The second type of area where I am finding stripers is along deep bluff lines where the old river channel swings in close to the bluff line. The above methods of fishing will also work in this type of area. I have found fish suspended along the bluff lines from 40 - 80 down  in 80 to 120 feet of water. If you find fish 60 - 80 feet down jigging a spoon will work the best.

Crappie fishing has been abnormally good this summer. The fish are on deep 35 - 45 feet deep brush and are typically suspended 20 - 30 feet down. Slip floats with minnows are working the best. Night fishing for crappie has also been producing some really nice slabs. Use the same style of fishing as during the daylight hours. A light in the water helps with after dark crappie fishing.

Large and smallmouth bass fishing has also been good. There has been some nice top water action early in the morning and a spook is working great. As the sun comes up start working the bottom from about 15 - 40 feet deep. Jig a spoon or cast out a Texas rigged worm and work it back to the boat slowly.

Norfork Lake water temperature is rising and currently in the mid to upper 80's. The lake level is also rising slowly and currently sits at 570.4. A short period of power generation is occurring each day, but not enough to start lowering the lake. The higher water has not affected activities on the lake. Plenty of boating, skiing, tubing and fishing going on. The higher levels just makes for more lake to play on. Our guests are having a blast on the lake with the warm sunny days. The current forecast is not predicting any rain for the next couple of weeks. Yay!

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.