Norfork Lake Fishing Report

Happy New Year to all.

I have been out of town a good portion of the time since my last report. But I had fun playing with my grand kids over the holidays and already miss them. I have also missed fishing Norfork Lake and I am finally back at it. I went out several times over the last week, but today was an all around great day. First off it was 58 degrees, can't ask for anything better for a winter fishing trip, and secondly the fish were very active.

I landed a nice 20+ pound striped bass on a live shiner. I was fishing in 85 feet of water and the fish were in a line of shad 60 ft down. I had my shiners set at 44 feet and 55 feet and was able to watch the fish come out of the shad to go after my bait. I missed two other good bites and had several other light pull downs. What I did find is that I needed to set the hook as soon as I saw the rod tip start to bend toward the water. I usually wait until the rod tip almost touches the water, but today if I waited too long the fish released the bait. The stripers are in their typical winter pattern and I am finding the fish in the typical winter locations. This fish that I landed was a very strong fish, it did not run a long way, but took a dive down, then did not want to budge from its deep water depth. It was a real tug a war, but I won. Places to look for stripers are part way back in creeks such as Float Creek, in the deep river channel in the Hendersen, Bidwell, 101 and 6A areas. They should be in the Cranfield area, but I have not checked this area out yet.

I fished for stripers for a couple of hours then I decided to switch to bass. My first location was a deep water bluff line close to a point on the main lake. The spotted bass bite was non-stop. I was vertical jigging with a small 1/4 ounce spoon in 28 - 40 feet of water. I ended up culling a few fish as they kept getting bigger. The spots all ranged from 13 - 15 inches. I caught a few largemouth bass while striper fishing. They were suspended at 30 - 40 feet in 85 feet of water. I also caught 2 in the same location that I was catching all the spotted bass, but the best location that I found was near brush in 30 - 40 feet of water.

The Norfork Lake water level is currently at 540.63 and rising slowly. The lake has remain stable for the last couple of days with no power generation. The main lake is clear with the creeks and coves somewhat stained. The surface water temperature was 49 degrees.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.

PS. I can't seem to get this google blog to upload photos. If you would like to see pictures of today's catch go to Hummingbird Hideaway Resort's Facebook page.

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

There has been a lot of change to the fishing patterns on Norfork Lake since my last report. Fish are starting to move to their winter patterns and locations. The lake has cooled to the mid 50's which will make the fish more sluggish so you will need to consider that when you fish Norfork Lake. With cold clear water fishing you will still need to use clear, green or vanishing lines in 8 to 10 pound test for stripers and 4 pound for everything else. You need to slow your retrieval methods and presentations whether you are vertical jigging or casting. I am still using monofiliment line.

Largemouth and spotted bass have moved closer to the shoreline. I have caught a few nice fish on jerk baits and crawdad colored wiggle warts, but most of the bigger fish have come from vertical jigging in 35 - 42 feet of water. A lot of you may still feel this is deep water, but the big fish were in 50 plus feet of water not long
ago. I have noticed a few suspended bass, so when you find them throw a swim bait and get it down to their depth. The bigger bass have come from vertical jigging a spoon on the bottom. I have been using a 1 ounce to a 1/4 ounce spoon depending on water depth and the amount of bait in the area. The 1 ounce spoon seems to be working the best at the 40 feet level, but I have been using the 1/4 ounce more and more lately. The bass have also moved into and around brush piles. I have caught most fish off of bluff lines that have a secondary point (small cuts in the bluff line forming points), or at the end of the bluff line where a cove or creek begins. If there is brush in the area even better. I have found nice fish both on the main lake and also back in the major creeks.

Striped bass have also started to move more to their normal winter patterns. They have started to school and feed on small shad. I have caught stripers on both live shiners as well as a 1 ounce spoon. When I have found the fish schooling the spoon works the best. The schools have been suspended from 20 - 40 feet in 50 - 60 feet of water. I have caught stripers in the Red Bank and Float Creek areas, in or close to the channel. Other normal winter haunts for striped bass will be in the Cranfield area, Henderson area, Bidwell, 101 area and the Bennett area.
 

.The big Crappie are starting to move into brush in 30 - 40 feet of water. They may be suspended over the brush or inside of the brush. A lot of times it depends on the time of day and whether or not the sun is shining brightly. I have caught most of my fish vertical jigging with a small spoon around brush in 40 feet of water. Small grubs tipped with a small minnow, as well as minnows on a split bobber will work. We will start to see bigger schools of crappie in the brush. You still will need to work several brush piles because as normal, after you catch a few fish on on brush pile they seem to stop biting. When they stop biting move to other brushy areas and then come back to your first brush pile.

 

Walleye have also moved into shallow water areas, especially early mornings and late evenings. Vertical jigging has worked for me, but slow trolling a crawler harness will also do the trick. You will find walleye in the same brush areas that you are fishing for crappie. It will not be long until the walleye start their spawn. If you like fishing for walleye, up north around the Arkansas - Missouri border is a great place to fish for pre spawn and spawning fish.

 

When you are planning your spring fishing trip on Norfork Lake don't forget about staying at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort. Why stay somewhere else when you can stay at a resort that the owner actually fishes for all Norfork Lake species almost every day. We have very affordable pricing with clean and comfortable cabins that your wife and friends will enjoy. I will show you my favorite spots to fish and tell you the best fishing techniques to use at the time. I even like to get your cell number so I can give you a call on the lake if I get into fish. Where else can you get this service and comfort! Give us a call for reservations at 870-492-5113.

 

The Norfork Lake level is dropping about an inch a day and currently sits at 541.58. They seem to generate about 1/2 of the day in 2 - 4 hour increments. The lake surface water temperature is in the mid 50's. The main lake is clear with the creeks and coves slightly stained.

 

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.

 

 

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

Norfork Lake fishing patterns are starting to change a little with the cooling of water. Since my last report most of my fish were caught in deep water 50 - 60 feet down, but over the last couple of days I have seen a movement of the larger fish to shallower water. It appears fish are starting to move to their winter patterns and locations which means you will need to start to down size your baits, as well as, your fishing line and slow down your method of fishing. During the winter months I typically use 4 pound test mono for black bass, crappie and walleye. I continue to use my 8 pound test mono line for striped bass fishing.

Lately I have been fishing more in the afternoons than the mornings but the bite seems to have been about the same either time. Over the last 3 or 4 days the bass bite has started to improve for  bigger fish. I have been vertical jigging with a 1/4 ounce spoon in 18 - 30 feet of water. I am trying to stay around brush piles. Sunday afternoon I was fishing a main lake point near our resort and landed 7 bass including this 20.5 inch largemouth. The others were all Kentuckies in the 12 - 15 inch range. Saturday evening was much of the same, but walleye was the fish  in the area biting. I landed this 22 inch walleye and lost two others at the boat. My netting techniques need to improve as I lost one as I was reaching for the net and the second cut the line when I was trying to scoop him up. All of the walleye were in 18 - 25 feet of water on the bottom. I was slowing jigging a small white spoon.

Crappie still appear to be some what scattered, but are starting to show up on brush in 30 - 40 feet of water. I have caught many crappie over the last couple of weeks, and most were caught in places where I did not expect to find them. I was striper fishing about a week ago around a sunken bridge and was spooning with a 1 ounce spoon off of the edge in 60 feet of water. I was dropping my spoon in bait that were 40 feet down and caught two nice white crappie. I caught one along a bluff line in 50 feet of water. Each time I really wasn't targeting crappie, but there they were. I have picked up a few in the normal spots, in and around brush, but still the numbers have been hard to come by. But that being said in order to catch a lot of crappie you need to keep moving from brush to brush after you catch a few. They are a very skittish fish and get spooked easily. I have only been using my 1/4 ounce spoon, but live small minnows on a slip float and also a small grub tipped with a crappie minnow will work great.

Striped bass fishing has been hit and miss for most, but there have been some nice fish caught. Luke was fishing with Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters and landed these two nice stripers up north in the Calamity area. Stripers have also been caught over the last couple of weeks in the Bennett's area, White Rock area, around the 101 bridge, Red bank area and Float Creek. As you can see they are scattered all over the lake and starting to feed. They have been alluding me, but I will find them! Six inch gizzard shad have been the best bait of choice, but shiners are starting to catch a few fish. If you find a school drop a spoon in the school and I am sure you will get hammered. I have also found big schools of white bass and hybrids on the deeper flats around our resort. (Hummingbird Hideaway) I have found them in 35 - 54 feet of water. When you do find the school there will be the big whites and some nice hybrids. I have tried the night bite a few times last week with no luck. I got hit a couple of times, but could not get a good hook set. I will go out a few times this week after dark to see if they are coming in to feed. I have been fishing until about 7PM, but who knows, they may be coming into feed after that. I have become a big sissy because it sure is starting to get cold as the sun sets! Hard to stay out too late.

 

When you are planning your spring fishing trip on Norfork Lake don't forget about staying at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort. Why stay somewhere else when you can stay at a resort that the owner actually fishes most every day. We have very affordable pricing with clean and comfortable cabins that your wife and friends will enjoy. I will give you my best spots to fish and tell you the best fishing techniques to use at the time. I even like to get your cell number so I can give you a call on the lake if I get into fish. Where else can you get this service and comfort! Give us a call for reservations at 870-492-5113.

 

Norfork Lake level is falling slowly and currently sits at 542.45. Sporadic power generation. The lake temperature yesterday was 58.5 - 60 degrees. The main lake is clear with the coves and creeks a little stained.

 

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.

 

 

 

 

 



Norfork Lake Fishing Report

Norfork Lake's fall fishing bite is changing for the better with the cooler water temperatures. The surface temperature ranged from 62 degrees to 64.5 degrees depending on the location on the lake and the time of day. The best bite is white bass with crappie and black bass not far behind. I have been fishing almost every day and yesterday I actually fished in the morning then went back out in the afternoon. What a life, but I guess someone has to do it! I strictly fished for stripers in the morning up north, with no success, but a friend landed a 25 pounder not far from where I was fishing. The striper bite has been slow, but fish have been caught in all parts of the lake. There has been some top water action in the mornings for stripers, but you need to be in the right place at the right time. Stripers have been caught over the last couple of weeks back in the Bennett's area, 6A area, Pigeon creek, Cranfield, around the bridges and so on. These are confirmed catches so you can see the fish are scattered with some schooling, but still a lot of fish just cruising the lake. I will keep plugging away at the stripers and will eventually find a consistent bite.

 As I mentioned above the white bass bass bite is getting very good. I fished two afternoons this week and have found schooling and feeding fish in 30 - 40 feet of water. I have been vertical jigging with a 3/4 ounce to 1 ounce spoon. When I find them schooled and in a feeding frenzy the color of spoon doesn't seem to matter. Last evening they were hitting the spoon on the fall. You have to be ready to set the hook as soon as you feel the fish attack the bait. I have been using my standard green or chartreuse and white spoon and also a blue and silver spoon. I have found the fish on flats in the mouths of coves. You will also find them on main lake flats from 30 - 50 feet. Electronics are sure nice in the search for the fish. The bite has seemed to stop as soon as the sun gets below the trees. I ended up landed 8 whites between 5 and 6PM. It was pretty windy so each time I caught a fish I would be blown off of my spot and then have to locate the fish again. It sure would be nice to have the wireless trolling motor with the anchor button on it. Some day! In with the whites are hybrids and striped bass. I caught a 20 inch striper last evening and released it to grow bigger.

The crappie bite has also improved. I have had the best luck on the bigger fish in the mornings. I find the fish in brush that is 30 - 45 feet deep. I have been using a 1/4 ounce white spoon. The crappie have been inside of the brush so you do get snagged up a lot, but if you just quickly twitch the spoon it typically frees up.

Smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass are getting aggressive. They are starting to move back to the banks to feed with this cooler water, but I have found the bigger largemouth out in deeper water, 35 - 50 feet down. I have vertical jigged up bass and have also gotten them on live bait when I am striper fishing. The bigger boys have been hitting my large gizzard shad with a vengeance. Rogue fishing slowed for me last week with the rise in the water temps, but this week it started to pick up again with the cold front that rolled though our area. As the water continues to cool the bass will be on the banks more and more. I have thrown my jig & pig a little and usually pick up a few smallies. I find the smallmouth on rocky bluff line points.

Catfishing is also picking up. I landed this nice 13.5 flat head on a 1/4 ounce spoon with 4 pound test. It was a good fight, but I finally won the battle. I was checking out some new areas off of bluff line points spooning in 45 feet of water when this guy engulfed the bait then the up and down battle began. The rod was doubled over and I thought it was going to break. Jug fishing is also picking up some very nice fish.

This time of year I vertical jig quite a bit. It is fun because you never know what type of fish you are going to catch. All species will hit the bait.

 

Again as the water cools the night bite will start. Striped bass, hybrid bass and walleye will be in very shallow water off of points that have flats off of them with deep water nearby. I use a Smithwick Rogue for this type of fishing. Cast your bait as close to the rocks as possible then reel back to the boat very very slowly and hang on. I will start to test those waters this week after dark.

 

Norfork Lake's level is falling slowing a currently sits at 543.77. The surface water temperature is around 63 degrees. The main lake is clear and the creeks and covers are somewhat stained. Partial generation is sporadic, but generation has increased with the cooler nights.

                                                                              

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

Norfork Lake is shaping up to be a great place for fall fishing. The lake temperature has dropped into the upper 60's. The lake appears to have turned-over or at least the thermocline has dropped to 50 - 60 feet. The lake is clearing up. Top water action is starting. Fish are starting to feed in very shallow water. Fish are moving back onto brush piles. These are all typical signs of the beginning of the fall bite and the top water action really excites me! Over the last couple of weeks the stripers have been very hard to find and today I have found out why. They have started their fall move to the mid and upper portions of the lake. I was in the mid lake area this morning vertical jigging off of a main lake point in 35 feet of water. I had landed a nice walleye and several nice bass off of this point when I started to hear a lot of splashing going on. I looked out over the lake and saw one of my favorite fishing sights, striped bass were jumping out of the water all over the place. They kept coming closer to me and I picked up my spook rod and started to cast and walk-the-dog back to the boat. The spook got slammed several times and each fish missed then all of sudden another strike, I set the hook and off to the races we went. Ten minutes later I landed the above 14 pound striper. I quickly got my spook out of the fishes mouth and casted again. A second fish hammered it and off it ran. This fish was giving a good fight and I finally was making headway. I bent down to get the first striper out of the net and I must have given the fish a little slack and it came off:( I know better.) By this time the top water action had stopped and the fish were gone.There were hundreds of fish in this school making this a great sign of future fishing fun. I sure hope it keeps up and gets better. I could have been spooning as well as casting a spook. When I looked at the graph it showed all kinds of fish feeding under the boat.



















Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fishing is also improving daily. Fish can be caught in a variety of methods. I have been vertical jigging a spoon in 25 - 40 feet of water, throwing a jig & pig, and have started to cast a suspending rogue. I have been catching most of the fish off of the jig & pig. These fish are anywhere from on the shore to 25 feet deep. Jerk bait fishing (I use a rouge) is starting to heat up. I landed three nice spotted bass on a rogue yesterday morning. I have been working the bait as a jerk bait, by this I mean: I cast the bait to the shore, let it sit for a few seconds and give it a couple quick jerks, stop and let it sit, then give it a couple more jerks. I continue this method back to the boat. Live bait will also work, worms, shiners, shad and crawdad are all good live bait choices. I have mainly been concentrating on bluffs lines and points of the bluff lines. I have not really checked back in the major creeks, but secondary points in the creeks should be holding fish.

I have found walleye on the same rocky points as the bass. I caught all my walleye with a spoon vertical jigging in 30 - 40 feet of water.

Crappie are starting to move back onto brush piles that are in 20 - 40 feet of water. Vertical jigging a small spoon, casting a grub tipped with a minnow or just a minnow with a slip bobber will do the trick. Main lake brush has been the better areas, but keep checking the major creek brush, they will be on them soon. The fish will vary their depths depending on the time of day and how much sun light there is. Keep changing your depths until you find the fish.

Catfish are still hitting trotlines and jugs baited with live minnows. Guests are catching some nice fish while floating with crawlers on the bottom.

The Norfork Lake level is falling slowly and currently sits at 544.29. The surface water temperature is also falling and was at 68 - 69 degrees this morning. The lake is becoming clearer with a slight stain back in the creeks and coves.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.

Norfork Lake Fishing Report

 

 

  

 

 

Whether you are fishing in the spring, summer, fall or winter, Norfork Lake offers plenty of different fish species to entice any angler. Fishing methods may change depending on the time of year and fishing depths are also be a key factor. When you are new to Norfork Lake it is always advisable to take a guide out to help learn the lake. If that is not possible talk to your resort owner or one of the local tackle shop owners for helpful tips on the current methods of fishing. We are almost at the end of the summer fishing season and are going into the fall cooler water fishing. Techniques for successful fishing have already started to change and will continue to change over the next couple of weeks as the lake continues to cool.

 

With the cooler water temperature it appears the fish are starting to head to underwater brush. This is a typical fall occurrence. Over the last couple of days I have worked several of my brush piles and have found some nice bass. A couple days ago one of my guests who was fishing with me used a wiggle wart to catch a nice 15 inch crappie by going across the tops of the brush. I have also spooned up a couple of walleye, but both were undersized. Brush pile fishing will continue to improve as the water cools. Catching the crappie was a really good sign.

 

Since my last report on 9/15/12 the black bass bite has been improving. I have had and still have guests that only fish for black bass. All have found fish in 20 - 30 feet of water and they have been working the bottom. Baits of choose have been Texas rigged lizards and crawlers in green pumpkin and strawberry red colors and pig and jigs using pork chunks instead of plastics. They have been working bluff lines and the points off of bluff lines. I have been favoring vertical jigging with a spoon and so far color has not made a big difference. I tend to use white and green or just white as my primary go to colors. Yesterday I was using a blue and silver that worked really well. Top water bass fishing has been starting to get better and better. Last week I found good top water action back in the Bennett's area and yesterday in the Cranfield area. Most of the top water bass are on the small size, but you can have a lot of fun catching many fish on a Zara Spook Jr. I also caught a couple of nice largemouth bass on a green crawdad colored Wiggle Wart. Yesterday was a fantastic day of fishing. The fish were biting on just about anything I threw at them. I have mainly been fishing off of bluff line points and I have started to go half way back into major creeks and fish points.

 

I got into a huge school of white bass. I was sitting in 50 - 60 feet of water off of a main lake bluff line point and the fish were in a feeding frenzy from 20 - 50 feet down. I was dropping a spoon through the school and they were hitting it on the fall. The bite lasted about 30 - 45 minutes then I lost the school. I actually found the fish by accident. I was throwing my spook at some top water fish and I glanced down at my fish finder and saw the school. It sure helps having electronics. I am spoiled! The schooling whites is another exciting sign of fall fishing.

 

The striped bass bite has been really erratic all summer long. One day the bite is great and the next the bite would be non existent. Currently stripers are being caught in the Dam area roaming in the deep water channel. I fished a couple of days last week and caught a 12 and 13 pounder, one each day. I found the fish in 165 feet of water and they were suspended 35 - 40 feet down. It will not be long until the stripers start to move up to the mid lake area. I think we will need the water temperature to drop a few degrees, but it should happen in the next week or so.

Catfish are hitting crawlers in 20 - 30 feet of water. Trotlines and jugs are working really well using live shiners, shad or bluegill.

 

The current Norfork Lake water level is 544.65 and is rising very slowly. Power generation has been minimal over the last couple of days. The lake surface water temperature yesterday morning was 74.3 degrees. The thermocline has dropped to 40 - 42 feet. The lake is still stained, but is starting to clear.

 

I am starting to get really excited about cooler water fishing.

 

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.

 



Norfork Lake Fishing Report

I am finally able to get out on Norfork Lake and fish a little more than I have the last couple of months. This means that I will be reporting a little more frequently than what you have seen lately. The resort business has been good this year so it has been keeping me  busy. Fall business continues to be steady. This is a good thing, but I have missed being out on the lake. This past week I have been on the lake 3 times, which is still off from my 5 - 6 times a week. Today is a non-fishing day since well needed rain has come again.

I have found that the best bite on the lake is largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass. Last Wednesday I headed back into the Fouts area and found alot of top water action. The bite didn't start until around 7:30AM, but when it did the fish were erupting everywhere. I used two different baits, my favorite top water bait, the Zara Spook Jr.(white body with chartreuse head) and I also started to use a Kastmaster blade bait (silver with white hair on the treble hook). I fished for a couple of hours and landed a dozen fish. The biggest one 19 inches long. I let the Kastmaster sink a little, but still kept it close to the surface. The fish would hit this bait no matter how I retrieved it. There were alot of small fish but it was really fun. I think I would have hooked up more if I had down sized my spook to a puppy. Thursday I headed up river a little and fished Stewart Point looking for walleye. I was dragging a crawler harness, but only caught 2 short fish. I switched to vertical jigging a spoon and found some nice sized bass. I found fish in 30 - 35 feet of water on the bottom, off of bluff side rocky points. I should have landed five  4 - 5 pound largemouth bass, but I guess I have forgotten how to land a fish with a spoon. Every time I hooked a fish I managed to get it up to the boat, then when I tried to lip the fish it would give a nice tail dance and spit the hook out, or when it got to the surface it would give a big head shake and there goes the hook. When the fifth fish did the same and swam off I just started to laugh and shake my head. I guess I need to practice much more. Yesterday was more of the same, I started on points up river and also headed back into the Cranfield area and worked rocky points with a spoon. Same results, I hooked up some very nice fish but they would get their freedom quicker than I really wanted them too! I was always planning to catch and release, but I did want a few photos! I have a guest who is strictly bass fishing and he has been landing many fish using soft plastics. Tony has been casting worms and lizards. Most of his success has been to stay in around 20 feet of water with his boat, cast parallel to the shore then bring the bait slowly back to the boat along the bottom. He has been catching smallmouth bass on the lizard and largemouth bass on the worm.

I haven't fshed for striped bass for a couple of weeks, but from what I hear, things have not changed much over this time. The biggest change is that they have gone just a little deeper, Look in the 30 - 40 feet water depths, both on the main lake points on the bottom as well as suspended in the deep water. When you are looking for the fish in deep water concentrate on the old river channel. Trollers are still catching fish, but you must get your baits down. Live bait fisherman are also catching fish by using the larger gizzard shad (5 - 7 inch) as bait.

Catfish are being caught by pole fishing using nightcrawlers and also on jugs and trotlines. I am seeing many nice 4 - 7 pound fish coming into our dock.

As the water cools crappie will start to migrate back to the brush piles in the 30 feet deep range. Keep checking the brush it will not be long.

The Norfork Lake level is holding fairly steady and sits at 544.74. There has been very little power generation over the last couple of days. The lake surface water temperature is falling slowly and is in the upper 70's to very low 80's. The water clarity is still very stained, but I am starting to see a little clearing.

Happy fishing and see you on the lake.