Norfork Lake Arkansas Fishing Reports

08/01/06:

blackburnsresort@centurytel.net wrote:

The fish are definitely in their summer pattern with the water temperature being in the high 80's for several weeks. The lake has been dropping slowly for two months and is a couple of feet low for this time of year. We have received timely rains all summer to keep everything very green and beautiful. There is a thermocline at 32-34 feet.

The fishing in general is in what Bink's Guide service calls the August slaughter. You can read all of the reports about live shad being the best bait but it is not. Jigging spoons are deadly this time of year and you do not have to get up at 3 A.M. to cast for them. You can also stay right on top of the school with your trolling motor and get very much more contact time with them rather than trolling past them and trying to go back and find them. You will also get more reaction strikes with a spoon when the fish are not biting.

Summer spooning will also produce larger walleye than dragging nightcrawlers and you will not get hung-up on brush. I am not against live bait. I use a drop-shot rig with a live shiner straight down and spoon at the same time. In the spring I catch about equal numbers of fish on each pole. In the heat of the summer spoons are the way to go. Fish are on mainlake point brush at 28-34 feet and schooled back in the creeks at 40 ft. on the drop-offs. Looked for stained water. That is the most important thing.

Bass are on brush at 28-36 feet. You have to get down to them with a grub or worm. Night fishing with a black light, flourescent line and saltcraws is the best. They are on every main lake point.

Crappie are scattered. I know of two places where there are schools but not like normal. I am seeing very few.

Walleye are on both mainlake point brush and back in the creeks. Go back until you find stained water and the 40 foot drop-off. Follow the dropoff along the bank looking for fish on the bottom. Vertical jig allowing your spoon to touch bottom everytime you snap your line. Let your spoon fall on slack line. Early morning is the best bite.

Stripers are in 50 feet of water suspended up about 10 feet. There is a morning bite very early and quits about 9 A.M. They are in their normal places. Bink's spoons are the best. The color changes daily. I like white with a red eye.

Catfish are biting very good on live shiners, chicken livers, shrimp and cut shad. Jugs set about 16 ft. and trotlines in the creeks are producing nice fish.

White bass are along the bank just south of the 101 bridge by the swimming area and on Gamewarden point by the 62 bridge. Troll roadrunners or roostertails and vertical jig spoons. They are fun to catch.