Norfork Lake Fishing Report

Fishing on Norfork Lake has been going strong the last several days. Striped bass, hybrid bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and crappie have been hitting well. Due to the windy weather I haven't been on the lake the last two days and there were several postponed guided trips today so I have no report on how fishing was today. The low pressure and cool front might have affected the action today, but the weather forecast after today is back to normal. (Highs in the 70's lows in the 50's)- perfect spring weather is coming back soon.

I did fish Thursday evening and just slammed the bass. The photo shows a sampling of the bass caught. I landed 7 bass in the 3 - 5 pound range. All fish were released. I also had two striper hits and lost both. I was fishing with small gizzard shad in the strong wind. I have realized that fishing alone with live bait in strong wind is almost impossible. I fished Wednesday night with a couple of our guests and landed one nice striped bass, but it was a slow rogue fishing night. We did have several other hits. At sunset on Wednesday another of our guests fishing in the same area with live bait had a frenzy of top water action for about 45 minutes. He ended up landing 6 stripers in the 8 - 20 pound range. He released all fish that evening. We were fishing in the Bennett's area. Robert Lee of Lee's Lite Line had another successful trip with several of our guests. They caught plenty of hybrid bass, black bass and smallmouth bass. Last evening a couple of our guests battled the strong winds and landed a nice 28 pound striped bass. I commend their perseverance in the weather conditions we had yesterday evening.

Crappie fishing during the week was really good. The fish are moving to the banks and on shallow brush piles. It seems live bait is working the best, but artificial jigs are holding their own.

Walleye are in the same brush piles as the crappie and also can still be found on the rock bluff lines from 5 - 20 feet down.

The Norfork Lake level is rising due to 1.3 inches of rain the other day. We are currently at 551.63. The lake surface water temperature has dropped and is in the hight 50's to low 60's. Creeks and coves are stained due to the rain, but the lake is clearing quickly.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.