Norfork Lake Fishing Report by Lou of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort 870-492-5113

Norfork Lake fishing has been good and has had some very interesting occurrences that are not typical based on my prior years experience. If you are looking for some fun topwater action, it has been occurring for the last several weeks. White bass and hybrids are erupting in the mid-lake to northern parts of the lake in the mornings and the afternoons. The small to mid sized whites are on the surface, but if you get down 5 - 10 feet the bigger whites are feeding heavily. I suggested using a Kastmaster, blade type bait, to some of my guests. They found the feeding frenzy this morning and had a blast.

The catfish bite is also doing very well. Some of our guests have set trot lines in coves in about 10 feet of water and are catching blues and channels over night, as well as, a few during the day. I have caught some really nice size blues in about 50 feet of water on the sides of points with a sharp drop off. My catfish have been caught using live thread fin shad.

The striped bass and hybrid bass bite is good if you can locate the schools of fish. I have been fishing in 2 different areas, but I can see the fish are slowing moving out. I did a little looking around different areas from Point 2 down towards the Jordan area. I marked a few fish in all areas, but didn't find anything really exciting. In the last spot I did find small schools of stripers that were still feeding. A first time striped bass fisherwomen landed a nice 8 pounder out of this school. We had 2 other rods bent to the water at the same time, but we missed both of them. After this flurry of activity the fish moved on and we headed home. I am going to check this spot out much earlier in the morning tomorrow. I have been mainly using thread fin shad, but spoons are also working. If you enjoy trolling you should be able to pick up some nice fish. Umbrella rigs and swim baits are both catching fish. The trick is to get your bait down to 30 - 40 feet deep. Look from Point 2  to the dam out in the deeper water along bluff lines and main lake points.

Norfork Lake is holding fairly stable for both the lake level, and the surface water temperature. The lake currently sits at 554.30 ft. and the surface water temperature this morning was 87 degrees. The main lake is clear and some of the creeks and coves are somewhat stained.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.

Norfork Lake Fishing Report by Lou of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort 870-492-5113

Norfork Lake is in its summer pattern. Fish are going deeper as the thermocline continues to drop. The thermocline appears to be in the 22 - 30 feet range depending where you are located on the lake.

Striped bass fishing continues to be very good. The best artificial method has been vertical jigging with a spoon. If you are trolling use a large swimbait or an umbrella rig with the same swimbaits attached to it. Live bait ( threadfin or gizzard shad and large shiners), has been working the best for me. I am catching stripers 40 to 70 feet deep in 45 to 100 feet of water. Most of the fish I've caught over the last week that were 40 feet down have been hybrids. The striped bass has been deeper. Locations for the striped bass have not really changed much since my last report. I am finding them on the main lake as well as in some of the creeks. Channel swings where the water drops off to 80+ feet very close to shore are one of the best areas. Long points where the channel is close are also holding some really good fish. I am finding striped bass from the 62 bridge area all the way down towards and beyond Hudson Point, a little east of the dam.

Largemouth bass fishing has also been good. There is still some good topwater action right before sun up and as the sun is setting. Other times of the day you need to look for these fish on or slightly below the thermocline. Brush piles near the thermocline are also holding some nice fish.

Catfish and walleye have also been biting very well. I have caught some really nice sized channel and blue cats on live shad while fishing for striped bass. Most of the catfish came from 60 to 70 feet deep close to the bottom, especially when I have found deep bait. The same, as above, holds true for the walleye. You will also find nice walleye below the thermocline especially early and late in the day. Crawler harnesses are work very well, as well as, live larger minnows.

Norfork Lake level is holding fairly stable and currently sits at 555.28 feet above sea level. Periodic power generation is occurring to hold the level close to the current normal seasonal pool. The surface water temperature is in the 86 - 90 degree range. The main lake is clear with some of the coves and creeks slightly stained.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.