Norfork Lake Fishing Report

The sun has been shining and the air temperature has been in the 50's on Norfork Lake in the Arkansas, Ozarks. The fishing was really good today for bass. I couldn't keep myself off the lake so I worked on my remodel job till noon, then decided I earned time off, and took off for the water. I started fishing for striped bass with little success, I ended up catching one diaper striper (only 18 inches long). We definitely have a shad kill going on. I saw dead and distressed small shad everywhere that I went today. I fished the Henderson area, then Float Creek, then Panther Creek. I was marking a ton of bait fish, but very few large arcs. The bait is anywhere from the surface to 60 feet down. Maybe the stripers are totally full with all the easy pickens. The sea gulls were just having a feast.

After trying for striper I headed back to a few of my brush piles. I ended up catching 4 largemouth from 14 to 20 inches long. The 20 incher was a monster and very fat. I also caught 2 nice Kentucky bass both 15 inches and also 2 small but keeper size crappie. All fish got their freedom as the spawn is just around the corner. The bass were fat and aggressive once I hooked them. I was throwing a grub tipped with a crappie minnow and was also vertical jigging with a 1/8 ounce spoon. To get bite I was barely jigging the spoon. Over half the fish hit the spoon when it was just lying on the bottom. Both crappie hit the grub on the fall.

If you are a river fisherman, this is the time to head to the tail waters at both dams. The dead shad will wash though the generators into the river. This will create a feeding frenzy with the trout. I haven't tried it myself, yet, but I hear it is a blast.

The Norfork Lake level is dropping very slowly and is at 552.32, almost normal pool. The Corps is running generators sporadically during the day. The surface water temperature was around 43 degrees in the main lake and slightly warmer in creeks. The lake is slightly stained but appears to be clearing. This clearing will continue unless we get the rain they are forecasting.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

Recently I have been dreaming of the up-coming warm weather and a great spring bite. Crappie, Walleye, Stripers look out.

The weather on Norfork Lake has really not been conducive to fishing lately. We had around 4 - 6 inches of snow the other day and the daytime temperature has been hovering in the low 30's. With all of the cold weather I have not been on the lake, but instead have been working hard on my current remodel job. I should have it complete in the next couple of weeks.

Linda and I are planning to attend another sport show at the Tinley Park High School this upcoming weekend, Feb 13 & 14th. Tinley Park is located south of Chicago and has been a really nice show to attend. We look forward to this show every year. Last year we had to miss the show due to the ice storm we had in Arkansas. So for all of those people in the Chicago land area please stop by and visit. We are looking forward to seeing many of our current guests in the area and will hopefully make many new friends.

Stop by and visit. Happy fishing. Hope to see you soon!

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

I finally got out fishing on Norfork Lake after our big winter event. We had close to 10 inches of snow but it is almost gone after today's 45 degree weather. Tomorrow is supposed to be the same as today. Hopefully this is the last snow I will see this winter. I am ready for normal winter temps in the mid to upper 40s and the nights in the upper 20's and 30's.

I left the dock this afternoon around 4PM. I just wanted to check a few spots to see what was going on with the fish. Well the bass fishing is as good as it was before the snow. I found 4 largemouth bass over timber, I caught 2 at 16 inches, one at 18 inches and one at 19 inches. I also caught one crappie that was only 11 inches long. I caught fish on a 1/4 ounce crappie spoon and a 2 inch white grub tipped with a live crappie minnow. The fish were in the brush anywhere from 27 to 35 feet down. I only fished till the sun went behind the trees, then the air started to feel really cold. I guess I'm a sissy!! I fished on only two of the points with brush on them that are close to the resort. Hopefully I will get out tomorrow for a little longer period. Of course that will only happen if I get some more work done on the remodel project in cabin 3. We are turning a 2 bedroom and a connected one bedroom into a 3 bedroom 3 bath unit. I am currently working on the new living room and kitchen area. It should be really nice when I am finished.

The Norfork Lake level is at 552.79 and currently all generators are being run. The surface water temperature was at 43.3 both in coves and the main lake. Our cove is starting to clear, is still stained, but the main lake looks pretty good. I

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.