Norfork Lake Fishing Report

Happy New year to all!

It has been a pretty busy winter for Linda and me, but I am finally back to fishing on Norfork Lake. I think I have only been out on the lake a couple of times, so I am more that ready to get back at it. I headed out on the lake around 1PM to try the afternoon bite. My goal was to striper fish and try to find where the fish are feeding. I did a lot of graphing. I started graphing around the 62 bridge and Henderson area. I marked bait and some fish, but nothing real exciting. I then headed to the mouth of float creek. I headed towards the hump and marked a nice school of striper. I set out four down poles with large shiners. Two at 60 ft and 2 at 45 ft. But as happens on occasion (more than I like to say) I could not find the school again. I was getting ready to move and one of my deeper poles bent to the water. The fish started to run, then it just stopped. I thought I was snagged, then took a quick glance at the depth find and saw I was in 99 feet of water. I finally felt a few head shakes and a constant pull straight down. For about 10 minutes each time I gained on the fish, it headed to the bottom and gained on me. It was a good fight, but I knew it was not a striper. It had to be a huge walleye or a big catfish. Low and behold it was a monster blue catfish. As I was trying to net the fish the hook came out and the cat just layed on its side. I got the net over the head with the tail hung over the edge. It was fun trying to get the fish into the boat, but I finally did. The cat weighed well over 50 pounds as my scale maxed out. I am guessing in the 65 pound range. I am still using 8 pound test monofiliment fishing line on light tackle.

I resumed my search for stripers and graphed back by the 5A marker and didn't see much. I did mark a lot of smaller fish, largemouth and Kentucky bass when I got into less than 40 feet of water. Spooning would have worked as these fish were in good size schools. I headed over the mouth of Fall Creek and then to Panther Creek and again I marked bait, but no fish. I graphed the bluff line along the number 4 marker and started to mark stripers and a lot of bait. I set out my poles and my bait was continually becoming excited, but no strikes. There was fish, but I guess the Arctic blast that we had slowed the bite. Hopefully the warmer days will turn the fish on!

I currently have a guest striper fishing and he had a similar type day. He did land two small stripers, marked plenty of bait and fish, but they were not going to cooperate today. Tomorrow will be a new day.

I went to the Corps of Engineers office on Wednesday and picked up my tree cover permit. At the meeting I got to talk with several crappie fishermen and crappie guides. They are currently doing well with live bait. The crappie are suspended in 10 - 12 feet of water over brush that is in 25 -35 feet of water. Start using your slip float and cast to the brush as our water has gotten really clear. I have also been told that suspending rogues and small crank baits are working for crappie and walleye when cast over the brush.

The Norfork Lake level is falling and currently sits at 544.08. The surface water temperature was 45 - 46 degrees today in the main lake and colder in the creeks where the water is more shallow than 20 feet. The lake is getting gin clear, some stain back in the creeks. The Corps has been running all generators sporadically during the day. The air temperature this afternoon almost hit 50 degrees. I LOVE IT!

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

The night bite for Striped Bass is still happening on Norfork Lake. I believe the full moon has increased the bite. I was fishing the Bidwell area last evening and ended up catching 3 nice Striped Bass between 12 - 15 pounds. The fish seemed to be short for their size. It looks like they have all been over eating. My first hit was around 9:30PM and the last was before 10:30PM. I had several other bumps. All fish were released. I was throwing my bone colored rogue and slow rolling back to the boat.

Some of my guests had a successful Striper trip. Sunday morning he caught 2 and lost numerous others all in the 20 pound range. One that he lost, as he was netting the fish, was in the 30 pound range. Monday morning he landed two, but the bite had slowed. He was free lining live shiners. He was fishing the Bidwell area.

The stripers seem to be all over the lake. I am getting reports that the night bite is happening in the Cranfield area, Bennett's area, Float Creek and down by the dam. The morning bite is also taking off. If you want a great experience try out the Norfork Lake Striper fishing.

The Norfork Lake level is rising slowly and currently sits at 554.86. One generator is being run. The main lake is clear with the creeks and coves cloudy due to last weekends rain. Last evening the lake surface water temperature was 54 degrees.

Have a great fishing day and see you on the lake.

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

Good Morning all. For the past two nights the Norfork Lake night bite has slowed (stalled) for striper fishing. I have been out the last 2 evenings and not one striper bite. Due to the potential bad weather I have only traveled to the Cranfield area and have not tried any new areas. One of our guests is fishing the same area with the same results, but they have been catching keeper size walleye at night. (not me!) The walleye bite is slow, but they are catching several a night. I talked to or heard about 3 different guides (live bait) and they all had a very difficult day Saturday. I guess due to the changing weather patterns and changing barometric pressure it slowed the bite for all fishing for striped bass. The forecast for next week is fantastic looking at this time. Warmer consistent temperatures and no rain.

Our guest that is fishing the night bite is also doing good catching crappie and bass in the mornings. They have been using road runners with good success. They are fishing the brush piles that I have placed in Norfork Lake over the years. I talked with a basscat boat owner yesterday morning who was fishing around my dock and he states that the largemouth bass are currently sitting on their beds. They spotted many spawning bass. Haven't heard anything about the smallmouth. Yesterday I spotted at least 5 very large largemouth swimming under my dock during the day.

The lake is slowly rising and currently sitting at 552.7, with no generation. Water temp last evening was 56 degrees and steady. The water is still clear with a little stain back in the creeks and coves due to the current rain.

Well that's it for the fishing info, but another exciting bit of news, the hummingbirds are back. We spotted our first hummingbird yesterday. That always means spring is finally here.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

Well I didn't get out Striper fishing on Norfork Lake last evening as planned, the thunderstorms scared me off, but I have talked to a couple of guides this morning and the night bite was still happening. The guides were fishing the mid lake area, similar places that I have been fishing. They were throwing suspending rogues (same as I have been doing) and boated several good fish. It also sounds like the morning bite is starting to pick up as another guide is out now and has boated several and lost several on live shad. The morning bite should really improve with the rain that we have had. Can't wait for the top water bite to start happening.

I have also talked to some local fishermen who have been white bass fishing and have really been slamming them. They are back in the creeks in about 20 or less ft. Spooning was working for them as well as heavy spinner baits.

I forgot to mention that I have caught several good walleye during the night bite on the same rogues that the Stripers are hitting.

I hope to get out on Norfork Lake soon to catch more fish. My favorite pasttime.