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

The bite for most species has been good. The never-ending changes in the weather have definitely affected the bite by not allowing it to become consistent. The fish keep moving around as their comfort zone changes. But with a little looking each day you will find the fish. The largemouth bite has been the best with crappie, walleye and striped/hybrid bass all being a close second. Most of the species in our lake have spawned or are in the process except for bluegills. Catfish are close to their spawn cycle if not already in it.

Largemouth bass have started their post spawn feed. Topwater action can be found most early mornings and late evenings. I have found them surface feeding both back in creeks and coves as well as out on the main lake especially near long brushy points. It’s prime time to start fishing with flukes and you can catch a lot of bass up inside of the newly sunken brush. Swim baits and spinner baits are also working very well. If a cool front moves though, the fish do seem to move off of the shore

line, but can be found nearby in 10 to 20 feet of water, and will move back into the brush very quickly.

Crappie are also on their post spawn feed. You will find them schooled up, roaming from brush to brush, out in 20 to 30 feet of water. A great way to catch these roaming fish is to troll Berkley Flicker Minnows in size # 7. Some of this species are relating strictly to brush and the brush is usually in less then 20 feet of water. A few crappie are still spawning and can be caught by casting the shoreline with small grubs, a small swimbait or a roadrunner.

Striped/hybrid and white bass fishing has been good, but the fish seem to be continually moving. You need to find the shad and the stripers will be nearby. One day I found them back in creeks close to the shore line and the next day they were out on main lake points that have a lot of sunken buck brush. The lake is getting more and more buck brush under water due to recent rains and the rise in the water level. Threadfin shad are getting very close to spawning, if not already

spawning in some areas of the lake. If you can find spawning threadfin the stripers will be close to them in very shallow water. Cast out a topwater bait, a swimbait or a Kastmaster and hang on.

Walleye fishing has also been pretty good. The best bite for me has been early in the morning prior to sunrise. Find an area with bait and cast out a small 3.5-inch swimbait with a 1/8 or 1/4 ounce jig head. The walleye will be near the surface feeding on the shad. You will also find them in about 18 to 25 feet of water on the bottom. Vertical jigging or dragging a crawler harness will pick up some fish. Or you can troll a hard crank bait that gets down to 15 to 18 feet to catch some nice ones. Back in the coves and creeks are a good place to find walleye.

The surface water temperature has been keeping fairly consistent, ranging from 63 to 65 degrees. The water level is

rising due to recent rains. The current level is 563.37 which is about 9 feet over normal seasonal pool. The water is fairly clear, but may stain up a bit with the most recent rains and runoff.

If you are looking for almost daily fishing reports and to see what species are being caught, check out Hummingbird Hideaway Resort’s Facebook page. Give us a like and start seeing what is happening on the lake.

Happy Fishing and enjoy Norfork Lake.