Norfork Lake Fishing Report

Norfork Lake is in its summer fishing pattern with a few twists compared to prior years. The striped bass are schooling and when you find one of these schools you won't believe the numbers of fish, they are massive. The main difference over prior years is that the fish continue to move and they may not be in the same location as the day before. I guess that is why they call it fishing. Half the fun is finding the fish and the other half is learning what to do to catch them once you've found them.

Today was no different. I have not fished since a week ago Sunday so I decided to do a lot of graphing to see what I could find. I started my day at 3AM (with a huge cup of coffee) then went out to find bait. Baiting was very tough this morning. My first 3 spots produced 3 shad. At my 4th spot I found a few more then moved one more time and in one throw I had all the bait that I needed. It did take about 2 1/2 hours, but I had fun. I started to graph in the mid lake area. I checked main lake points and bluff lines. I graphed from 50 feet of water out to the channel. I found a few fish, but nothing really exciting. I then headed to the Diamond Bay area and again I marked a few fish. I continued down to the dam area and marked some good fish on the bottom in 60 feet of water. I fished this area for a while and had one hit, but no fish. I moved to several other points and finally I marked many fish. I ended up catching one, broke off another and missed a third. As quick as the bite started it stopped. So I headed out. I got a call from one of my guests who was starting to get some nice bites, but his electronics were out and he wanted me to graph the area. I set out two poles 60 feet deep and in about 15 minutes I was marking lots of bait and big arcs all though the bait. I landed this nice 14 pounder and Jeff was also fighting a couple fish. It was a good area, but was it was getting late for me to be out so I headed in and am hoping the fish will be back in this location tomorrow!

Live bait fishing for stripers is working very well, but once you find the school you can also vertical jig a spoon. I have been finding the fish 50 - 70 feet deep, either on the bottom or suspended in 80 - 150 feet of water. My fish have been found on main lake points and along deep bluff lines.

I have not done much walleye fishing lately, but I talked with Leslie Wake of Twin Lakes Guide Service yesterday and he stated the walleye on Norfork Lake are becoming very active. Leslie has found that the walleye have finally moved out of the brush and can be found in 25 - 35 feet. of water on main lake points and flats. He has been doing very well with crawler harnesses. If you looking to take a guided walleye trip give Leslie a call at 417-252-0906.

We have a couple of young guests that are very avid fisherwomen. They love to fish off of the dock and also from their Dad's boat. (Mom's boat too!). Their bait of choice is either nightcrawlers or crickets. Both are working great.

I have no reports on Crappie fishing.

Catfishing is still good with live bait either on trotlines or jugs. Dragging a crawler harness at dark is also starting to produce some nice fish.

The Norfork Lake level is still falling slowly and currently rests at 568.8. The lake surface water temperature this morning was 89 degrees at both ends of the lake. The main lake is clear and the creeks and coves are clearing.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

The weather and the water temperature on Norfork Lake are perfect for your summer time pleasure. Whether it be skiing, tubing, swimming or fishing, Norfork Lake has it all.

Striper fishing on Norfork Lake has been outstanding lately. The fish have gone deep and you will find them on the bottom early mornings in 40 - 50 feet of water or suspended in 100+ feet of water 30 - 70 feet down. The stripers have finally started to school and when you find a school get ready!! Live bait is working great and vertical jigging a spoon through the school is producing some nice fish. Last Thursday I fished alone and landed 6 stripers by 8AM. I had to work at it but I finally got the first three fish to go back down, then I kept the next three fish. I am going to have to learn how to vent these fish because starting soon and for the next  couple months they will not be able to be released. When you catch your limit you will need to go do a little bass or crappie fishing. Friday I fished with my daughter and a couple of our guests. We had a great time. At about 6:45AM the stripers started to erupt all around my boat. Every rod bent to the water. We landed two and broke off two. Each time I rebaited and cast the bait out it got hammered within minutes. We ended up landing 5 stripers out of this school. The fish were from the surface down 40 feet. It was really fun. My top water rod with a Zara spook tied on had a malfunction so I could not cast it out which really disappointed me. I know I could have landed a couple more fish. This top water action is very unusual for this time of year. I also fished Sunday with my daughter and granddaughter. We ended up missing three good bites. I was on fish, a huge school which was 50 - 70 feet down in about 140 feet of water. Boats all around me were catching fish with live bait as well as by spooning. I guess I didn't have my bait deep enough as we only got one bite and missed it. My granddaughter had a blast playing in the bait tank :-) I think she was relieved we didn't catch a big fish because they scare her a little!!!

There is still a little top water action early in the morning for black bass. This action is typically just as the sun is starting to rise and can last a couple of hours. I have found bass around docks and also off of main lake points and creek points. The black bass are also starting to go deeper. You can find them on the bottom just outside of the brush line in 20 - 30 feet of water. They are also on sunken brush in 40 feet of water.

I have had reports that crappie have started to move to the deep brush in 30 - 40 feet of water. Live bait as well as small jigs are working. Crappie are also being found under docks.  Yesterday morning I netted 5 huge slabs by a dock where I was trying to net shad. These fished were 15 and 16 inches long. I released all.

Pan fish are plentiful under docks and in the brush. My granddaughter had fun fishing on my dock and caught some nice bluegills.

Catfishing with live minnows on trotlines are producing some nice fish. If you are pole fishing drag a nightcrawler on the bottom in coves after dark. You will find them in 20 - 25 feet of water and possibly  at shallower depths.

No reports on walleye, but they should be in the 20 to 40 feet range on the bottom off of points with rocky bottoms.

The Norfork Lake level is still falling slowly and currently sits at 570.59. The surface water temperature is in the upper 80's. The main lake is clear and the creeks are coves are continuing to clear.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

Fishing Norfork Lake has never been any better. I have been out the last two mornings as well as a few days last week, and have had a blast. Stripers seem to be in their normal summer pattern. That means that they are starting to feed heavily, starting to school and are going deeper. I have been catching stripers over 80 feet of water suspended at 20 - 50 feet deep. I have been using a 1 ounce egg sinker on my front two poles and a large split shot on the back two poles. I usually have the heavy weights down about 40 - 50 feet and the split shot down around 30 - 40 feet. I am getting equal number of bites on both. I have been using live thread fin shad, but I am starting to notice the fish starting to school so vertical jigging with a spoon should pick up very soon. This morning was a riot. I landed 7 stripers in the 9 - 15 pound range and lost another 4. All fish were released on sight except for the 3 in the photo. I have been fishing main lake deep bluff lines and points. Yesterday I fished with a guest and his daughter and we landed 3 stripers and missed numerous other good bites.

Last week I fished ith a couple of guests from the St. Charles area and we just hammered the black bass. We were catching a few on Zara spooks and many more on live shad. Last week I was finding them on creek points close to inside of trees and brush. Yesterday I tried some of the same areas and the fish were not there or at least would not bite. I believe they also are starting to go deeper, but are still on creek points and main lake points. You will need to start getting your bait to the bottom. I am still noticing a little top water action early in the morning, but this seems to be slowing.

Walleye are being found just outside the brush line in about 20 - 30 feet of water. Dragging nighcrawler harnesses and vertical jigging with a spoon is producing some nice fish.

Pan fish are still in the sunken brush. Crickets and worms are working very well.

The Norfork Lake level is still falling slowly and current is at 572.59. The surface water temperature has risen back to the upper 80's. The lake is still slightly stained, but it is continuing to clear.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.