Hummingbird Hideaway Resort will be represented at the St. Louis Boat and Sportshow. Stop by and make your spring fishing trip or summer vacation reservations. We will be happy to plan a memorable trip for you. If you are not aware of Hummingbird Hideway Resort's 2015 Norfork Lake Fishing Derby give us a call at 870-492-5113 or go to our website at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort for details.
Winter fishing on Norfork Lake for striped bass, hybrid bass
and white bass had been fantastic this year, up until a few weeks ago. Around
the first of February the baitfish started to move out of their winter pattern
and so did the predators. I fished several days last week and found fish on
large flats in 30 – 50 ft of water on the bottom and nothing in the deep water
channels. I found big schools of roaming hybrids and whites. If I was
lucky enough to get over a school of fish I had fun. There were a few striped
bass mixed in with the hybrids. This movement of the fish is typical for this
time of year, but may have occurred a little earlier than normal. Unless this
current cold front changes things, what you can expect to happen over the next 4
weeks or so is that stripers will start to migrate back into the
creeks. As the water warms they will continue to move farther back in the
creeks. Typically at the end of February and beginning of March, I will find
stripers in the Cranfield and Fouts areas at my end of the lake. They will also
be up in the Red Bank and Calamity areas this time of year. They will be
feeding on bait along the bluff lines. The night bite for the stripers will
start around mid March as the water temp warms to 50 degrees or so. You need to start getting your stick baits ready for the slow roll night bite, it
is a blast.
Black bass have also changed their patterns a little. You
will still find some nice fish on the bottom in 50 feet of water, but I have
caught a few big ones suspended at 20 feet over 30 – 40 feet of water along bluff
lines. Throwing an Alabama rig for these suspended fish is working well. For
the bottom feeders, pig & jigs or worms are a good choice. As the water
starts to warm these fish will start to move up into shallower water.
Walleye are staging for their spawn. They can be found along
the side of channels off of rocky points in 30 – 50 feet of water. They will move
back into creeks and coves as the water warms a little more. The Calamity area and
into Missouri waters is one of the favorite spawning ground for walleye in
February. Dragging crawler harnesses or live shad are great baits. Sinking stick baits are a good choice for artificial bait. The night bite will also
bring out the walleye fishermen. After their spawn, they will be on shallow
points at dusk and after dark.
Crappie are both scattered and on deep brush piles. The
scattered fish will be following bait so if you can find a good concentrations of
bait, especially around docks, the crappie won’t be far behind. I have been asked
numerous times when will the crappie spawn? The rule of thumb for the crappie
spawn, is when the Dogwoods just start to bloom the crappie will be up on the
banks spawning. In our area this typically happens toward the end of March to
the beginning April all depending on Mother Nature.
The Norfork Lake level has fallen to 548.92, but currently
is stable as power generation is just keeping up with the rise. The lake should
continue to drop as the Corps prepares the lake for the spring rains. The water
temperature was at 45 degrees, but I would suspect it to lower a few degrees due
to the snow and cold rains we received last evening. The main lake was clear
and the creeks are clearing.
Happy fishing and see you on the lake.
