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

Yesterday morning was a success for one of our guests at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort on Norfork Lake. He caught this 20+ pound Striped bass using live Gizzard Shad on a planner board. He was free swimming the shad. He fished the Bidwell area close to shore. The fish are moving up in shallower water feeding on shad. Robert Lee of Lee's Lite Line was fishing at the same time on the opposite bank and landed 4 stripers in the 10 pound range on Thread Fin shad and also one on a fluke (artificial). He to was fishing close to shore.

I fished last evening and started before sunset on a deep bluff line before the 6A marker. I caught a largemouth or Kentucky Bass on every other cast. I was throwing a bone colored rogue and they couldn't leave it alone. On my very first cast I caught a nice 4.5 pound largemouth. In a hours time I caught 7 bass and 4 were keeper size. At sunset I headed to a point up closer to Bidwell hoping for stripers. Finally at around 9PM I landed a small striper and quickly unhooked and release the fish. On my very next cast I hooked into a nice size fish. It ran for deep water into the wind. I was having a hard time keeping up with the fish with the windy conditions and finally my line snapped. I guess I had my drag to tight with the wind compounding the stress on my line. (Here we go, excuses again) I tried to retie a rogue, but with the wind and my old age eyes I couldn't do it. It was late so I decided to head home.

This morning another of our guests from the Collinsville, IL area fished the same area that I had fished the night before and caught a dozen nice bass all on flukes. The bass are hanging out on the deep bluff lines close to the bank.

Fishing conditions today is on the poor side as the wind is just howling. Hopefully it lays down a bit as my fishing guests are itching to get back out on the lake, not to mention I am too.

The water where I was fishing last evening was gin clear. The lake level has risen to 554.16 and rising very slowly. The Corp is running one generator around the clock. The Norfork Lake surface water temperature last evening was 52 - 53 degrees.

If your out on the lake today be safe. The white caps are rolling. See you all on the lake.

PS: Forgive all my grammatical errors as my wife is out of town and she is my editor.

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

We ended up having a nice & warm evening yesterday on Norfork Lake. After the sun set the lake calmed to a quiet ripple. Today, however is a different story, windy, cooler and rainy. We have had about three quarters of an inch of rain since midnight, but it does look like the end of the rain is in sight. It is still suppose to be windy this evening, but it should be dry.

I started fishing yesterday evening around 6:30PM hoping for a little top water action, but found nothing. The bass were still hitting OK, but not great. I ended up catching 4 undersized largemouth bass during the time up until sunset, then I caught two nice Kentucky (Spotted) Bass (18 inches) after dark. I usually don't catch a lot of black bass after dark. No bites other than the black bass. I was fishing in the Cranfield area, but from reports that I heard today I was definitely in the wrong place. I got two other night bite reports from people that said they just slammed the striped bass. One report was from the Float Creek area and the other was in the Bidwell area. I, as well as my other friends, were using suspending stick baits and were slow rolling them back to the boat. If the weather calms a little I hope to get out this evening.

I just love being on the lake after dark. It is so quiet and peaceful. I did say quiet, but last night in the Cranfield area there had to be a hundred Canada Geese surrounding my boat. They were making such a racket that I think this might be why I didn't catch any stripers. The geese spooked them. (At least I have an excuse!!)

Nothing new on crappie fishing, people are still catching over brush that is 20 - 30 feet down and the fish are suspended 10 - 15 feet down. They seemed to have moved a little deeper with the cooler water, after our recent rains.

The catfish should be far coming into the shallows before long to spawn. I plan to start setting a trot line next week to see what's willing to bite.

The white bass are still in the backs of creeks in shallow water. Throw a spinner bait, small crank bait or a small twister tail. Once you find them you will have a blast.

The striped bass are also starting to hit very well early in the morning. Most of my contacts have been using live bait and ballooning a free swimming minnow close to the bank. Rogues as well as flukes (either weighted or not) have been catching a few stripers on the banks, but also catching a lot of bass. The key to a fluke is to cast it out and let it sink then retrieve slowly with slight twitches stop then let it sink then repeat. Once the water warms and the fish become more and more aggressive a faster retrieval will work and at times skipping the fluke along the top of the water works well.

The Norfork Lake level is rising and currently at 553. 5. The Corps has been running one generator constantly. The lake will more than likely rise another 6 inches or so by the morning. The surface water temperature was 52 degrees last evening. The water was getting very clear last night, but with the rain today this should change especially back in the creeks and coves.

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

Norfork Lake Striper Fishing

Yes, these fish were heavy and I was happy.

I have confirmation, the Norfork Lake night bite is on. Last evening I headed out to the Cranfield area and caught 2 Striped Bass in the 8 pound range and 2 Hybrid Bass one well over 9 pounds. I was using my bone colored rogue and casting into very shallow water. My retrieval method was very, very slow with an occasional stop. Two of the fish hit the bait when it was stopped. Once I set the hook, there was no fight as the fish headed straight back to the boat. It was all I could do to keep the line tight. Once they reached the boat and realize they were hooked the fight began. All of them just ripped off line (you need a good drag system on your reel). I am sure I have mentioned before, but you only need lite tackle and line on Norfork Lake. I only use 8 pound test on a medium action rod. I use a green line, but clear will work just fine. No other color or braided line seems to work well on our lake.

The other exciting thing that I found last evening was that there was a fantastic top water bite right at sunset. The fish just started to erupt all around me and in the whole area. Most were small whites, but I could tell there were some stripers and large bass coming up along with them. Unfortunately I didn't have any top water baits with me. My Zara Spook box was still at the house. I threw a fluke at the swirls and only got short bites. This is the earliest that I have seen this amount of top water action. I won't forget my spooks next time. Hopefully I'll have some fun with them this evening.

The Norfork Lake water level is at 552.06, fluctuating up and down a couple of tenths of a foot depending on generation. Very little generation has been happening and by the Corps' forecast there won't be much the next day or so. The lake is clearing and starting to get back to normal. The Norfork Lake surface water temperature was in the low 50's.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

The weather has been fantastic the last couple of days. The sun has been out and that is warming the lake. That's a good thing! The nights are still a bit on the cool side, but if you dress for it you can still fish any time of day.

Ed just had a dynamite day yesterday. He caught almost all species of fish in the lake. He caught Walleye, Crappie, White Bass, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass and Smallmouth Bass. Most of the Crappie, White Bass and a few Largemouth Bass were caught back in Pigeon Creek. He was using several different baits, small grub with a twister tail with a 1/8 oz jig head, a small paddle tail minnow with a 1/8 jig head, a #7 Rapala and a hard jerk bait. He caught white bass after white bass in shallow water with the occasional crappie attacking his bait. He fished Pigeon from around noon to 4pm. After he left Pigeon Creek he decided to check out the rock bluff that I have been fishing. He found the right location and boated 6 walleye and several really nice bass. The walleye all measured 17 1/2 inches with milk pouring out of them. I guess the spawn for walleye is on or very very close. Ed does practice catch and release fishing. After the photo op these bass were released at my dock for another angler to tangle with.

I am getting reports that stripers are being caught all over the lake early in the day mainly on live bait (shiners and shad) but some on jerk baits, at the Red Bank area, Bennett's area and down by the dam. I have heard the night bite for stripers is on and they are being caught on suspending rogues. I haven't found the right location yet, but I will.

I hope to get out on the lake this afternoon, but the work around the resort must come first, even though I need to fish often to be able to help our fishing guests. At least this is what I tell Linda.

The Norfork Lake surface water temp ranged from 47 - 49 degrees. The lake level is holding fairly steady at 551.9. The main lake is clear and most creeks and coves are starting to clear.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

The weather is starting to improve and the wind is slowing down on Norfork Lake. I heard that the night bite is picking up so I gave it go last evening. I fished the Cranfield area, but I guess I was in the wrong spot. I only got one bite after dark and that was a 16 inch largemouth. I fished until about 9PM trying to find "night bite" action. But the bite before dark, from 6:30 to 7:30, was just fantastic for bass. I ended up boating 7 fish, 2 keeper spotted bass, 2 keeper size and 1 undersize largemouth and 2 short smallmouth bass. I also had 5 other hits that I missed. I was throwing a bone colored rouge on a deep rock bluff. I casted to the rocks twitched it twice and paused, then slow rolled the bait back to the boat with an occasional stop in the retrieval. Most fish hit the rouge when it was stopped. The exception to this was the small mouth, they wanted it moving. All fish were released, except the spotted bass. They may be lunch. I'm not giving up on the night bite and plan to go out again this evening if all goes well.

Crappie fishing has picked up. Fish are being caught over brush in 20 - 25 feet of water and are suspended anywhere from 5 feet to 15 feet down. Crappie minnows on a slip bobber has been the best bait. You can also troll or cast a small rapala with enough weight to get down to the right depth. I have been getting good reports out of the Pigeon Creek area and Red Bank area.

The white bass are still being caught in good numbers on the flats back in creeks. They are anywhere from the shore line to 5 feet deep. Check out the shallow water everyone. Baits that have been working are small rapalas, small spinners, and a 1/8 to 1/4 oz. jig head with a Berkley's gulp minnow. Pigeon Creek, East Pigeon and Bennett's areas have been reporting good fish.

I have heard, but not confirmed that walleye are being caught back in creeks with a grub and also on rouges. I am hoping the walleye night bite starts soon.

I am still looking for the stripers.

The Norfork Lake water temperature last evening was 49.6 degrees. The water is clearing nicely. The Norfork Lake level is holding fairly steady at around 551.8. Generators are being run sporadically.

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

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

Yesterday was a gorgeous day on Norfork Lake with great fishing to make it even better. The Spring bite is starting. It cooled off a little and was only in the high 50's, but the forecast for the next several days is for warm day time temperatures and in the 40's for the evenings. There is a slight chance of showers over the next couple of days.

Here is a nice 5 pound bass caught by one of our guests from the St. Louis area. He caught this fish back in the Fouts area around some docks. He was pitching a jigging frog with good success. There are two men in the party and they have fished the bayou area to coves across from our dock and have caught many bass from the dinks to keeper size fish. The fish are all being caught in the 10 foot deep range. All fish have been released with this big one released at my dock.

I fished last evening in the Cranfield area. I left the dock around 5:30PM and came back in around 8:30PM, when I got too cold. I'm going to have to dress much warmer for when the sun sets! I caught 5 largemouth bass in the 2.5 - 3 pound range in the first 45 minutes and then it got dark and the bite stopped. I was throwing a bone colored suspending rouge along a deep bluff line. I casted next to the shore line, twitched the rouge twice to get it down to about 2 feet then stopped. All hits came when the bait stopped and was motionless. I was hoping for striped bass after dark but no luck last evening. I have plans on going out again this evening with a guide friend to see if the night bite starts. All my fish were released immediately, and are waiting for the next fisherman to come along.

The Norfork Lake surface water temperature was at 48.7 in the Cranfield area. Reports are that the water temperature was above 50 back in the bayou. The lake is clearing nicely with the creeks and coves still a little stained. Not a bad thing for fishing. The Norfork Lake level is holding steady at 551.92, slightly under normal pool. The Corps is running generators only part of the day.

Happy fishing and see you all soon for the Norfork Lake spring bite.

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

Spring is finally here on Norfork Lake in the Arkansas Ozarks. The daytime air temperature has been in the 50's and the forecast for the next week or so is for the upper 50's and even 60's. It is time to get serious about your spring time fishing trip. With the warmer air temperatures, which will raise the lake water temperature, the spring bite should start to take off. I'm looking for 50 degree water temperatures to bring the big bass shallow, begin the crappie spawn and start the night bite for stripers and walleye.

I fished yesterday for the first time in about two weeks. I have been busy in the resort remodeling, painting and just starting to get things ready for all the spring time fishermen and women. Our big remodel job for this winter has been to convert cabins 1 - 3 into a three bedroom three bath unit that will be able to sleep 12 to maybe 14 people. I took out a wall between the kitchen and a bedroom of cabin 3 and turned that space into a spacious open living room and kitchen area. The kitchen will have plenty of counter space and will be able to sit 12 - 14 people comfortably for meals. The living room will have two futons and swivel rockers with a wall mount LCD flat screen TV. I have added new lighting and fans. I should be getting in the new counter tops today so I guess I'll have a busy work day. But the newly remodelled cabin 3 should be a nice cabin for all to enjoy.

I fished with Robert Lee of Lee's Lite Line yesterday. He has been prefishing for upcoming striper trips. We did a lot of looking for striper and marked many big arcs, but we mainly had fun fishing for black bass and white bass with artificial baits. I started throwing a bone color rogue (jerk bait) on a point leading into a major creek back in the Bennett's area. We caught plenty of Kentucky bass, largemouth bass and one smallmouth bass. They were all under size so I think the bigger fish are still in deeper water. The jerk bait is working, but the key for cold water is a slow movement if not completely stopped. Most hits came close to shore after I got the bait down 1 - 2 ft then stopped every thing. The fish would hit the rogue when it was suspended.

After checking out the points we headed to the shallow flats. Ed, my guest from Wisconsin, fished these flats on Wednesday and caught over 50 large whites and small hybrid bass. It was a sunny day, but very windy. The wind was pushing the bait fish onto the gravel shore line and the whites were in a feeding frenzy. He was throwing a small tube jig with a 1/4 oz. jig head and dragging it on the bottom. He got a fish on nearly every cast. Most fish were on the shore line in 1 - 2 feet of water. Yesterday was not as powerful as Wednesday, but we did catch 3 whites and one small hybrid all in a short period of time. I was using a Berkley's gulp minnow with a 1/4 jig head. The fish were not on the shore line, but were still in 4 - 5 feet of water on the flats. Ed was also fishing the same area and caught some nice whites and a few small hybrids. He was using a #7 sinking Rapala and also a small spinner bait. The whites are spawning or almost ready to spawn. The white bass were all big 1.5 - 2.5 pound fish and fought like a freight train.

I talked with a guide who was crappie fishing yesterday back in Bennett's and he had caught 12 nice size fish over brush in 20 - 30 feet of water. The crappie are suspended anywhere from 5 - 15 feet down over the brush. Live minnows with a slip bobber is working the best for the guides.

Norfork Lake water temperature was in the mid 40's. The lake level is steady at normal pool of 552. The lake is still stained, but should start to clear with the lake maintaining a consistent level.

The great fishing weather is here finally. I hope old man winter is gone for good this year. It has been one of the coldest and snowiest winters that I have seen in my 8 years as owner of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.