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.

Norfork Lake Fishing Report by Lou of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort

Norfork Lake is in the final stages of the late summer fishing pattern. As the lake water cools and the oxygen returns to all depths the fish will scatter to all parts and depths of the lake. The surface water temperature is slowly falling each day and I would expect to see upper 70's very soon.

There has been little change with fishing since my last report. Striped bass fishing is still the

best in the dam area. The early morning and late afternoon bites are the best and the fish continue to be caught in 25 - 35 feet of water whether on the bottom or suspended in deeper water. I am starting to find a few stripers heading up river and also back in the mid lake creeks, but no big schools at this time. It will not be long. Live shad, either thread fin or gizzards are working the best, but vertical jigging spoons and casting blade baits worked on the bottom are also picking up some nice fish.

The biggest fishing change has been with largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass. I have located some nice topwater action at sunrise, but it only lasts 30 - 60 minutes. It's plenty of time to have some fun with a spook. The best place for me has been back in a creek that has the old river channel swing in close to shore. The fish are hitting a little bit of everything when they are active. I have been using a fluke, rattle trap, Kastmaster and a Zara spook and all of these baits have landed some nice fish. Most of my big spotted bass have hit live bait set at 24 feet.

Large flats are another good area to fish. Look in the 25 - 35 feet depths and you will find scattered schools of white bass, largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and walleye. I have been vertical jigging a spoon on the flats and once I find the bait I find the fish right in the same spot.

 

Norfork Lake water depth is falling very slowly and currently sits at 553.74. Periodic power generation is occurring daily. The lake surface water temperature is also falling slowly and was in the low 80's this morning. The main lake is clear and the creeks and coves are still stained.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.