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

Norfork Lake is on the tail end of its summer pattern with many species still in very deep water. As the weather starts to cool, the fish will become much more active and start to feed heavily. According to the long range forecast we are expected to start getting cooler weather here very shortly.

The best bite on the lake for me has been for crappie. The crappie bite has been fantastic. I have been vertical jigging a ¼ ounce spoon and a 1 ounce spoon. The best color has been a white spoon with a chartreuse back. The fish have been aggressive and are hammering the spoon as it is falling. Find brush piles that are in 30 to 35 feet of water that come up to around 15 feet. The crappie have been suspended on the top of the brush around 15 feet as well as being buried in the brush all the way to the bottom. I have been catching the larger fish toward the bottom. Most of the crappie that I have been catching are in the 9 to 11 inch range. The bigger slabs are still out roaming away from the brush, but will be heading into the brush as the water cools. Norfork Lake has a 10 inch size limit, but I have been catching many keeper size fish.

The bass bite has also been very good. Again, many smaller fish

are feeding up toward the surface early in the morning, with the larger ones hanging around in deeper cooler water. I have been catching spotted bass that have been in the 13 – 15 inch range. The best areas I have found are on main lake points with lots of buck brush still partially submerged. I have been casting a swimbait up next to or even inside of the brush and letting it sink and the spots are hammering it on the fall. The fun part is trying to get them out of the brush. I have also marked many bigger fish along deep bluff lines suspended down 10 to 15 feet deep.

The striped bass bite has slowed, which is very typical for this time of year especially with higher than normal water levels. The stripers that head down toward the dam area should be moving away from the dam area and are scattering throughout the lake. As the water cools, they will again start to school and become very aggressive.

Norfork Lake’s surface water temperature is holding in the mid 80’s, but should start to drop with the upcoming cooler weather. The lake continues to drop 1 to 3 inches per day depending on how much power generation is going on. The current water

depth is 560.94, which is only about 5 feet above normal seasonal pool. The main lake is clear with a slight stain, with some of the creeks and coves a little more stained.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.