Norfork Lake Fishing Report

Stripers are schooling on Norfork Lake. Striped bass fishing has been pretty good over the last couple of weeks. Large schools of stripers and hybrids are being found from the Robinson area to the dam. Once you find the school drop a spoon and vertical jig, you will get a fish. I have had guests over the last week vertical jigging and catching some nice stripers, hybrids and white bass. Walleye have also been caught at the 101 bridge suspended in 25 feet of water. The photos are two different families/friends. One had three generations of family members on board with all catching fish. The little one had the job of the netting the big catch. One of the families was fishing out of a 20 foot ski boat and the other out of a bass boat. It shows that you don't always need a trolling motor to catch fish, but a sonar does help. These fish were caught in 50 feet of water feeding on the bottom. They were back in a cove that we have dubbed Hummingbird Hideaway Cove, since fishing in this particular cove at this time of year has been productive for me over the last 3 years. The bite is occurring anywhere between 6:00 and 9:00 in the morning. Live shad fishing has also been really good for the guides on the lake. It is a early morning and late afternoon bite. Take a break mid day to go swimming or just relax out on the water.

Black bass fishing has also been good. There is a little top water action early in the morning back in coves and creeks. Plastics are working well in 5 - 20 feet of water. Vertical jigging will pick up a few in 30 feet of water.

Catfish are being caught with live bait on trot lines and jugs. Crappie fishing is still very slow but will start to pick up when the temperature starts to fall. Pan fishing has been fantastic with nightcrawlers and crickets. My dock has produced many large slabs for our guests. White bass are still schooling in the backs of creeks and coves. Walleye are in similar areas to the white bass usually on the bottom in around 30 feet of water and close to brush piles.

The Norfork Lake level is holding fairly steady and is currently at 552.6. The water temperature is in the high 80's to low 90's. The water is clear in the main lake and slightly cloudy in the coves and creeks. One or two generators are being run sporadically.

I will see you on the water next week, my boats are currently rented.

Happy fishing.