Norfork Lake Fishing Report by Lou of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort

Norfork Lake's summer fishing pattern is showing signs that it is starting to change. Typically around beginning to the middle of September the striped bass move from the south end of the lake and scatter thoughout the lake with a tendency to move up river to the cooler water. This year appears to be a little different to prior years. The lake has great oxygenated water down to and a little past the thermocline and then the oxygen level drops to a very low level. This is keeping all species of fish above 40 feet with most concentrating around the 30 - 35 feet level, regardless of the water depth. The lake surface water temperature has cooled off a bit and currently is in the low 80's down from the 90 degree water temperature of a week ago. I am sure the cooler water is a big relief to the striped bass as they prefer temperatures in the 60's and low 70's. Because of the change that is occurring, I am starting to find feeding striped bass up in the mid to northern parts of the lake which is a little earlier than normal.

Two weeks ago I was fishing the south part of the lake with my granddaughter using thread fin shad and we were limiting out most days with stripers and hybrids. After she went back home, I changed my tactics and have switched from live bait fishing to vertical jigging with a spoon and to casting lures for largemouth bass. I have mainly been fishing within 6 miles in all directions from Hummingbird Hideaway Resort. My best bite has been in the late afternoon. I am finding large schools of fish feeding in 25 - 35 feet of water mainly on large flats. If you find the bait there will be fish not far away. The south end of the lake continues to be very productive for striped bass early in the morning with live bait in the same 30 - 35 feet of water. Look for stripers off of points within 0 - 2 miles of the dam and you should find some nice fish.

The walleye, white bass, catfish and spotted bass bite has been improving and I am finding them in the same type of areas as the stripers and hybrids. One great thing about vertical jigging with a spoon is that they will catch all species. Yesterday I caught every species int the lake except crappie by vertical jigging. I also like to horizontal jig by casting out a Kastmaster type of blade bait, letting it sink to the bottom then jerk it back to the boat bouncing it along the bottom. I have used my spoons the same way, but have had more success with the blade type baits. I have caught most of my walleye using a 3/4 ounce spoon, but instead of vertical jigging I have been moving slowly with my trolling motor and dragging the spoon along the bottom and jerking it as I am moving. Most times they attack it as it hits the bottom after a jerk.

Crappie appear to be scattered out on the same flats as all the other fish. They have not moved into the brush as of yet, but will do very soon. I am picking up a few while jigging my spoon and the ones I catch have been the 15 + inch monsters.

I am also picking up some nice largemouth mixed in with all the other species in the same areas, but have had more luck on rocky points going into a creek or cove. Most of the fish I have caught have been suspended 10 - 20 feet down and a wiggle wart has worked great for me. I have also found some sporadic top water action and used a Zara Spook puppy since they wanted a smaller bait. For you night time bass fisher people, work the bottom with a jig and pig along the bluff lines or use a tube jig or dark spinner bait by docks after dark.

Lake Norfork level is rising very slowly and currently sits at 554.29. Minimal power generation is occurring to allow this rise. The lake surface water temperature has fallen to around 83 - 84 degrees, but I am sure it will rise once the air temperature warms up again. The main lake is clear with the creeks and coves stained.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.

 

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

  

11-19-13 Today's Catch

Fishing is still in the fall pattern on Norfork Lake. Striped, hybrid and white bass are all schooling and a lot of times can be found feeding together. I have been mainly fishing two areas for the last month, Cranfield and the 101 area. I have checked many other locations but always tend to return to these two. I have had reports of stripers and whites being caught in the Calamity Beach area and also Float Creek. Recently I have been finding my fish in 45 - 55 ft of water, but have also found them in 30 ft. These areas are big so it does take some looking around with your electronics until you mark fish. Today was a very good day for me. I first checked out the Cranfield area and did not mark much that excited me, so I headed to the 101 area. I arrived around 8AM and stopped and talked to one of my friends that had been fishing. So far he had landed a nice 6 pound hybrid on a live shiner using just a small split shot for weight. This method would be good for fish up on the surface. I started up my motor and moved away from him slowly when I started marking some big arcs under my boat. Then I saw a few fish breaking the surface. I stopped and grabbed my casting rod that was baited with a  1/2 ounce silver Kastmaster with a feather tail, and casted past the blow-ups. It wasn't long into my retrieval when I got a bump, but missed it. I continued reeling and a second fish hammered it and took off on a long run. It was a good fight and I thought the fish was much bigger than it turned out to be. The top water action didn't last long, but I started marking fish on the bottom and started vertical jigging with a spoon. Smaller stripers were on the bottom, which kept me entertained for the next 20 minutes or so. I lost the school and started moving around again. It took at least 15 minutes until I  found a huge school of fish. They were in 47 ft of water and feeding. I dropped my spoon and on the fall  could feel the fish hitting it then the fall stopped so I set the hook. This was  a school of hybrids in the 3 - 5 pound range. I kept on this school for about 20 minutes and then lost it. I started moving around again and found another big school of fish on the bottom. Dropped the spoon and started to pull up huge white bass one after the other. This went on for about 30 minutes and I lost them. It was a little after 10AM so I decided to head home to work on  leaf cleanup at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort. The friend that I was talking with when I first arrived, did land a nice 18 pound striper on a live shiner. Live bait as well as artificial baits are working. The changing weather patterns that we have been having play havoc on the fish. Everyday is different and the bite is never the same. As I always say the fish are biting somewhere on the lake and your job is to find them! Stripers, hybrids and white bass are continually moving and chasing the bait fish which sometime makes it very challenging.

 

As you have noticed I have not talked about other species as I have mainly been fishing for this white bass group of fish. I will get back on crappie, walleye and black bass soon. As the water temperature continues to cool, jerk bait time will be here, as well as, hopefully the night bite with suspending jerk baits.

 

The Norfork Lake water level is holding fairly stable and currently sits at 552.58. The surface water temperature this morning ranged from 60 degrees to 61.5 degrees. The main lake is fairly clear, but the creeks and coves are stained with a nice green tint. Periodic power generation occurs during the day which is maintaining the lake level.

 

The Norfork Lake Chamber of Commerce has been busy working out the details for the upcoming 2014 spring fishing derby. Look for details on www.NorforkFishingDerby.com and start making your spring fishing plans now.

 

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.