Norfork Lake Fishing Report by Lou of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort

NIGHT BITE ON NORFORK LAKE: Norfork Lake's spring fishing season is starting to heat up. After many weeks of not being out on the lake I am finally back at it. I fished the last two nights with John, a friend/guest of ours. We were slow-rolling a suspending stick bait for striped bass. The bite after dark has started. The first day we had seven fish hooked and landed five and the second night we also had seven fish on and landed four. The largest fish was 10 to 11 pounds. We fished from about 7PM until 9PM each night. For me it is the battle that is exciting, no matter what the size of the fish. All of our fish were released on site. If you have interest in fishing for striped bass after dark, here are good methods to use over the next couple of months.  I use a shallow running suspending stick bait, 4 - 6 inches in length, such as a Smithwick Rogue or a Spro Mc Stick. (There are many other brands) There are two different ways to position your boat. Both are professed to be the best depending who you talk with. You can get your boat next to the shore line and cast parallel to the shoreline. This method keeps your bait in part of the strike zone at all times. The placement that I prefer to use is to get as far away from the shore as I can and still be able to cast within a foot or two of the shoreline. There is also a couple different methods of retrieval. Some like to jerk the bait 2 or 3 times to get the bait down 2 - 4 feet under the surface then retrieve to the boat very slowly. I prefer to cast to the shoreline, let the bait sit for 15 to 20 seconds, then start a steady retrieval back to the boat as slow as I can. If you think you are reeling slow, reel slower. The second method keeps the bait on the surface making a tiny wake. The first method has the bait submerged several feet down. Remember to always reel slowly all the way back to the boat, as I have had many strikes right at the boat when I am taking the bait out of the water. I have several favorite spots to fish after dark for stripers.  In general the stripers typically relate to long shallow water points. Cranfield area is a favorite spot, as well as in the major creeks in the area such as Panther, Fall and Float. I have been known to head back towards the 6A marker area and sometimes go even farther back. As you can see, you can try almost anywhere on the lake, if you don't see bait and fish on your point head to the next one.

I have many second hand fishing reports on bass and crappie fishing, but at this time no first hand knowledge. I will be updating on these species in my next report.

Norfork Lake has been stable and has been basically at normal pool of 553.68 for the last week or so with sporadic power generation. The surface water temperature is around 49 - 52 degrees. The main lake is cooler than the creeks. The water is stained, both the main lake as well as the creeks. The lake is starting to clear, but still will take some time.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

Norfork Lake Fishing is heating up. Stripers, bass and crappie are all starting to bite. The fish are moving to the banks to feed both in the day as well as in the dark. The lake surface water temperature has consistantly been in the low to upper 50s depending the location on the lake and the time of day.

The best bite for striped bass is still back in the creeks. A few fish are starting to move out into the main lake, but the water temp will need to rise more for a consistant main lake bite. Look for stripers on shallow water points and flats at night as well as during the day, especially if you are in the warmest water. The stripers seem to be in deeper water when the water is cooler. Live bait is working very well, shiners, threadfin shad and gizzard shad are all working. The size of your bait does matter at times, but I have no clue why? Only the fish will be able to tell you. I have mainly been fishing after dark. This is the best time for me to be away due to the work load at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort. I have been in kind of a slump lately, I have been catching many stripers each time out but the biggest has only been around 7 pounds. I keep checking out new areas after dark, and I catch fish, but the big boys and girls are eluding me. This will change for me soon. Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters had a fantastic day yesterday. His group landed many big fish using gizzard shad. One of my good friends landed a 30 pounder late yesterday afternoon. Hopefully I will get his photo. If you are live bait fishing make sure you have several lines out with no weights, the fish are coming up for them. It will not be long before fluke and spook fishing will start to take off.

Over the last several days bass fishing has become much better. Largemouth, spots and smallmouth bass are moving into the shallows feeding on bait fish. Stick baits, swimming minnows, crankbaits and plastics are all starting to work. What a change since the last couple of tournaments. I am also starting to catch bass after dark which tells me they are getting very close to spawn time.  I'm sure a few are already on their beds.

Crappie have also started to move into shallow water over brush. I am  seeing many big slabs under my dock and this has happened just over the last several days. The water is pretty clear so when you are fishing brush piles you will need to stay away and cast into them. The fish will not be very deep so you don't want to spook them. Live bait with a slip cork or smal paddle tail baits tipped with a minnow will work great.

Walleye, white bass and catfish fishing should start to heat up very soon. Look for these species on shallow flats and main lake points. Currently the walleye and white bass are back in the creeks and will be moving out. Catfish will be starting their spawn soon if not already so look shallow.

The Norfork Lake water level is rising slowly and currently sits at 553.90. The surface water temperature has a wide range 50 - 58 degrees depending where you are at on the lake and the time of day. There has been periodic water generation by the Corps of Engineers. The main lake is clear and the coves and creeks are slightly stained, a very good fishing color.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.