Norfork Lake Fishing Report

The weather on Norfork Lake has been fantastic. Warm temperatures have arrived, but I don't think it is going to last. A slight cool front is on its way and the evening temperaturess are forecast to get in the high 20's and the days are to be in the 40's and 50's. Not bad for fishing, but not warm enough to increase the water temperature. I'm looking for surface water temperatures in the 50's to activate the fish.

Jeff and crew had another good day fishing in the Bennett's area. They caught this massive 37+ pound striped bass. They landed another and lost several others. A large gizzard shad attracted this trophy fish. The fish have been back in the creeks where the water has warmed to the upper 40's. Shad has also been back in the bayou in the shallow water. Sun and a south wind really helps fishing this time of year. I have also gotten reports that the stripers are up past Red Bank in the shallow warm water.

I was feeling pretty good yesterday afternoon so I headed out at about 4pm to see what I could catch throwing rogues. (It felt great just being back on the lake.) I fished back in Float Creek until about 8PM. I landed 3 smallmounth and 1 largemouth just before it got really dark. I was hoping to get a little striper night bite action, but nothing was happening, for me anyway. The water temperature was about 46 degrees back in Float. Two other boats arrived at dark, one left before me and the other was still fishing when I left. Hopefully the fish finally came in for them.

The Norfork Lake level is still rising slowly and currently sits at 541.5. The main lake surface temp is around 45 degrees, a little warmer back in the creeks. The lake is clear.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

Temperatures in the 70's for the past several days has really made the fish active on Norfork Lake. I had two different guests fishing, one up river past Cranfield and the other fishing in the Bennett's area. Walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass were the catches of the day up river. My guest was using a 3 inch paddle tail with a small jig head. He was finding fish on points. When he got off of the points, he got no bites. He ended up catching 6 walleye, only one keeper size and as many bass. He caught all his fish in 7 - 20 feet of water dragging the bottom. The water temperature up river was in the mid 40's. (hopefully I will be able to get the walleye photo tomorrow)

My other guest was striper fishing in the Bennett's area and using live shiners. The stripers were active and chasing shad to the surface. The water temperature was near 50 degrees. The big fish was 27 pounds and was caught on a free swimming shiner (no weights). He told me the striper came clear out of the water when it attacked the bait. (I just love spring time fishing!!!) They also caught this nice 15 inch crappie and several nice bass.

I have been homebound with the flu, but hopefully I will feel up to fishing in the next day or so. It seems like I haven't fished in forever with all the bad weather, our winter sport shows and now this yukky flu. I am really starting to get anxious to get back to fishing. The 10 day forecast shows that the temps will fall a little, but still should be great for fishing. Forecast is calling for highs in the 50's & 60's and lows in the 30's and 40's.

The Norfork Lake level is rising very slowly and currently sits at 541.35. No current generators are being run. The lake temp is in the mid to upper 40's. The main lake is clear, with the creeks slightly stained.

Happy Fishing. Hope to see you on the lake soon.