| 05/11/2012 |
Greg's Forecast
Large and small mouths as really hitting. Looking at the weather forecast for this weekend, the bite should remain strong. I'm expecting some cloud cover and short periods of rain in the evenings. Head to 1C in Big Creek and fish your way out. Do the same in Brushy. Barren creek behind Jordan is producing also. If you target bass, use a large spinner bait. The Jewel version is working great the last few weeks. We stock the complete line in all colors and weights. Tossing bass minnows to the shore is working good also. We brought in a load of #12's if you will be trying this. The crappie bite has been very good , once again in the creeks and near the docks. Minnows seem to perform the best this week. Watch for the white run to start. We have Rooster Tails on sale now for the whites. 10 for $20. Stock up now. |
| 05/10/2012 |
By Larry Olson
I fished 3 nights this week. Randy an I filled the live well with another nice load of bass. They are still hitting Jewel spinners with trailers. Red remains the color to go with. Tried different colors of craws and chunks. Darker colors all worked good. We caught a nice flathead with the same rig. It should be time for the whites to start hitting hard. I'm going after them next week.
|
| 05/08/2012 |
Greg's Re-Cap
The overall bite has been very good this last week. White bass have woke up again and are hitting in the creeks. Shoal Creek was on fire in the last few days. You will need Rooster Tails for the whites. A few bigger stripers have come into the dock. Steve Oloman boated a 35 pounder in Big Creek, A 39 was brought to the dock for weigh-in last weekend. A fair amount of 8 to 12's along with some hybrids are showing up boated on shiners and Spooks. The bass bite is as best as I've seen in 7 years. I've restocked our Jewel Jolt and trailer inventory for the 3rd time in 4 weeks for the bass bite. This is a new world record for HCR. The bass are tearing them up. Crappie are hitting on the brush piles and rock walls of the creeks on minnows and the new Mo Glo's. We are seeing a few walleye most days on minnows, worms, and smaller stick baits. Overall it seems like spring has re-started for a second run. |
| 05/07/2012 |
By Larry Olson
The bass have been hitting hard most evenings. They have worn out a few of my red Jewel Jolt spinners this week. I've boated at least 10 keeper large and small mouths each night in Big and Brushy Creeks. Make sure to add a trailer to your Jewel. I've used a red craw but think any color and style will work. Be sure to work the Big Creek area between Reynolds Island and 1C. In Brushy, the area opposite of Wild Cherry Prong has been productive. I had my boat is 5 to 6 feet of water over the pea gravel. See ya out there. |
| 05/06/2012 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The Norfork Lake level is 551.8 and the water temp is in the mid 70's early in the morning and gets to the upper 70's late in the day. Largemouth, smallies, Kentuckies, whites, hybrids along with a few stripers are surface feeding early in the morning. The stripers are not coming up in schools just one here and there. They are hitting Zara Spooks. White and clear colors are working the best. White bass and some hybrids are coming up just before dark. Look for them in coves. Look for some whites back in the creeks and throw a Rooster Tail and for the larger whites let the bait get down 5-10ft. Neal Mustard of Indiana caught a 35lb striper on a clear Zara Spook on the 5th while fishing with me using 10lb monofilament. |
| 04/30/2012 |
By Larry Olson
Was out 3 nights last week bass fishing. Caught nice limits every night, all 3 pounders or plus. The shorelines in front of the dam was the best on a red Jewel spinner with a salty craw. Bass fishing on Norfork Lake is as good as I can remember right now. |
| 04/30/2012 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The water temp is in the mid 60's early in the morning and late in the day it's in the upper 60's. The lake is staying within a inches of normal pool and the water is clearing up. Look for some surface activity early and just before dark on points. We seen a few whites coming up on a couple bluffs but couldn't get to them quick enough and they went down as soon as we got within casting distance. Thursday evening just before dark a school of hybrids came up on a point and we threw white Zara Spooks to them and we caught four before they stopped with the biggest being 11lbs and the smallest was 7lb. We went back the next night to the same spot and they weren't there. The fish are moving a lot and you need to find the baitfish and the fish will be close by. Bass are also coming up too. If you see a school feeding on the surface get to them fast because most of them disappear as just as fast as they come up. Bass are hitting top water baits, jigs, crank baits and swim baits. Throw a stick bait after dark on flats |
| 04/30/2012 |
By
Tom Reynolds
of STR Outfitters
Fishing continues to change due to the outflow of water. Last Wednesday the corp. shut the gates of the dam cutting the current and changed the position of the fish. Also the weather has turned cooler and the water temp dropped from 72 to 65 degrees. The fish I have been catching the last few days have gone deep, the average fish is being caught in 35 to 45 feet of water off the main lake points. The trollers are catching fish using Alabama rigs with weights to get the bait down to that level.
|
| 04/22/2012 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The lake is back at normal pool and the water temp is still in the mid 60's. Early in the morning there are still a little surface activity. Keep an eye out for surface activity just before dark also. It's better when there is no or a little wind. Mid week we got onto some nice hybrids and a couple of nice Kentucky's. The biggest Kentucky was 4lb and the biggest hybrid was 8lb. The fish were caught on a white Zara Spook Jr. We also threw a jointed red-fin and caught a few stripers and hybrids along with a 4" swim bait. We also got a couple smallies in the 4lb range on the swim bait. With the lake finally getting back to normal the bite should start picking up. I had a fellow fisherman tell me he caught some nice largemouth (3-5lb) at night on a single spin. The night bite was a little slow this week throwing rouges with the water still dropping.
|
| 04/20/2012 |
By
Tom Reynolds
of STR Outfitters
The stripers are off the points in the main lake, fish the points from Diamond to the dam and up to Brushy and Big Creeks. I have been catching most of the stripers dragging a split weight and gizzard & threadfin shad in 25 to 50'' of water. The Threadfin are spawning in the marinas so look for them on the points as the main lake warms. Fishing will continue to get better as the weather continues to warm.
|
| 04/16/2012 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The lake dropped 4 1/2ft. from last week to put the lake just 2ft. above normal pool level of 552. The water temp dropped also to the mid 60's. With the lake dropping so fast the bite was tough this week. The Corps is supposed to stop letting water out early this week. Then the lake will stabilize and fishing will get better. When the wind wasn't blowing there were some fish feeding on the surface early in the morning and just before dark. When it's windy they just don't come up. We caught a few nice largemouth on a white Spook busting baitfish out in 100ft. of water. We also caught some bass and whites on a 4" white swim bait. A few stripers were caught on points at night on rouges. |
| 04/09/2012 |
By
Tom Reynolds
of STR Outfitters
The stripers are off the points in the main lake. The Corps. has been lowering the lake with four gates and a generator going 24 hrs a day. This will continue until April 14th, the fish have moved from the creeks by the current from the dam. Fish the points from Diamond Bay to the dam and up to Brushy and Big Creeks. I have been catching most of the stripers dragging a split weight and threadfin shad in 25' of water. Today the best bite was after 10 am. The Threadfin started spawning in the marina so look for them on the points as the main lake warms. Fishing will continue to get better as the weather continues to warm.
|
| 04/08/2012 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The Corp. has been letting water out and the lake level is dropping 6" a day. The lake is 559 and last week it was 562.5. The water temp was around 70 early in the week and has dropped to the mid 60's. The water is still dirty. You can see down about three feet. There are a few stripers coming up chasing baitfish but they aren't schooling. Just a fish or two here and there. The hybrids are doing the same. Most of the fish this week have been caught on a swim bait. We did manage to catch a few nice hybrids on Spooks and Red Fins. A few bass are coming up too. We also got a few nice whites on Spooks and swim baits.
|
| 04/04/2012 |
Greg's Update
Harry and Steve had a nice morning yesterday. They boated 7 stripers and a nice assortment of large and small mouth, all on jointed Red Fins and Spooks. Rick had a great evening last night. He caught some big hybrids and a fair amount of bass near the dam. He boated 42 whites in Big Creek past 1C. He had good luck with swimming minnows. All were C&R with both boats. |
| 04/04/2012 |
By
Tom Reynolds
of STR Outfitters
The stripers have been moving a lot, we were catching fish up the creeks until the Corps opened the gates to release the water we received from the 7 inch rain. Some great top water started last weekend and has continued near the mouth of the major creeks and main lake points. I have been fishing main lake points and cuts in the Big Creek area. The water temp has continued to rise. Some places in the creeks it's in the high 70's. Fishing should continue to get better as the weather continues to warm.
|
| 04/02/2012 |
Greg's Weekend Update
Fishing is returning to more normal levels after our big rain last week. Bass is good along the main shorelines and flatter points. Crappie are more active up in the creeks as they clear. Fish shallow for both. Most crappie anglers are having their best luck with live bait. I'm seeing more walleye coming to the cleaning table. Try smaller stick baits in the evenings and worms for walleye right now. The night bite for stripers was not good this weekend but we had 2 boat limits with the morning top water action. As always, have a Spook ready to go for when you see the boils. To sum up, the fish are becoming less confused as a result of the big rain and change in shoreline location. The lake level is in the lower 560 range, just short of 10 feet over normal and dropping close to 2" a day. Another week should make a big difference. For you lake lovers, baring another significant rain event, I think there will be plenty of sand by mid-May. Would you believe the air temperature cracked 90 degrees at Hand Cove Resort yesterday? There were 2 groups of jet skis in our cove Saturday. We will cool down by the end of the week as will the lake temp.
|
| 04/01/2012 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The lake level is 562.5 and the water temp is in the upper 60's. The lake is still 10 1/2 ft. above normal. The stripers and hybrids are chasing baitfish to the surface early and just before dark. It's mostly just one or two fish and they should start schooling this week. You can catch the top water fish on Spooks, Bass Assassins and Red Fins. They are hitting swim baits too. At night throw a Rogue up to the brush. Remember to reel your bait real slow. The walleye should start hitting stick baits at night too. There are a lot of fish in the brush and just outside the brush where the bank is at normal pool. We still were catching some nice largemouth and smallmouth on a swim bait out off the brush. The lake is still dirty up lake but is getting better every day. The lower end of the lake has been clearer. About two to three foot of visibility. But the water is dirty the farther you get back in the creeks. |
| 03/31/2012 |
By
Tom Reynolds
of STR Outfitters
The stripers are near the points in stained water, I have been fishing the Big Creek area and fished the points and sides of points about 75 yards back. Small shad has been the trick, I have been using free lines back 60 to 80' with a small split shot and two sets of planner boards with one set with a small split shot and other nothing but the bait. I caught fish both yesterday and today after 9 am, the biggest was 20 lbs on a gizzard shad.
|
| 03/25/2012 |
Greg's Weekend Update
That 6 inches of rain we had the past week put the striper bite on pause this weekend. In spite of the lake rising 10 feet the white bass bite was strong this weekend when anglers found them. One boat brought in a well of 30 Saturday night on Rogues and another netted a nice mix bag of whites, largemouth, and smallmouth. Both came from near the entrance to Brushy Creek where the clear and muddy water met. A fair amount of nice size crappie were taken at the docks on Mr. Crappie gold hooks with live minnows and the new Mo Glo line of shad and grubs. Not a bad weekend considering the conditions. The forecast for the coming week and weekend is Norfork Lake will stabilize, continue to warm with clear skies and 80 degree air temps. Look for the bite to be "On" again by mid-week somewhere between the old shoreline and the new. |
| 03/25/2012 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The water temp dropped about 4 degrees (55-56) while the lake rose 10 1/2 ft. above normal. The lake level is 562.7. Most of the lake has dirty water which should start cleaning up in a couple days. A lot of fish will be up in the flooded brush and along the old bank. There are parts of the lake that has water that isn't as dirty or as off colored. The stripers and hybrids were starting to chase shad to the surface and will again as soon as the lake stabilizes and starts clearing up. A client caught a 10lb. hybrid on a Spook early in the week before the rain and we got a 18lb. striper on a swim bait in a main lake cove as the lake was coming up Wednesday. They also got some nice largemouth and a couple good smallies in the 4 lb range also on swim baits. We also caught them on Spooks. Look for fish moving up in the creeks. When the lake clears up throw a bass assassin. Throw a spinner bait up in the brush for some bass. At night throw a rouge close to the brush and reel it real slow. |
| 03/24/2012 |
By
Tom Reynolds
of STR Outfitters
We have had very heavy rains that will raise Norfork 10'. This will change the way the stripers relate to the shore. The bait will move into the buck brush and the fish will move to the old shore line. Early morning the fish will be chasing bait in the brush, during the day they will move off to the old shoreline. Windy days fish the banks making long cast that parallel the brush.
|
| 03/20/2012 |
By Larry Olson
Fished last night (Monday), the wind was a real challenge. Boated 3 stripers, a 20, a 15, and a smaller. Nailed 2 hybrids too, the largest a 10 pounder. Got them all in the Big Creek arm on Rogues again.
|
| 03/19/2012 |
Greg's Weekend Update
Had a good weekend. Crappies were hitting hard all weekend. Notable hot spots were on the brush in Brushy and Barren creeks. A few stripers were boated Saturday night along with some nice hybrids on the east end of Hudson. Rogues won the weekend again with the new Norfork Lake colors performing the best. Orange OB is your best bet followed by the new trout colors. White bass seem to have started their spring run. Look for them on the flatter channel points. To sum up, the night bite is on but intermittent. Bass remains strong, stripers are waking up, hybrids are starting. Crappie is very good on live minnows, no news on catfish. If you like to target blue gill, there are a number of big ones out there right now.
|
| 03/19/2012 |
By Tim Partin of
101 Grocery and Bait
Fishing Norfork Lake has been great this March. The bass, crappie, walleye, stripers, monster blue gills and white bass are all doing great what else can you say. |
| 03/18/2012 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The lake level is 552ft. which is normal pool and the water temp is in the upper 50's to the low 60's back in the creeks. The striper bite has been hit and miss but the bite should get good any day and the night bite will only get better in the weeks ahead. There are a few stripers and hybrids chasing baitfish to the surface in the morning. I had my wife out yesterday and she caught 4 bass that weighed a little over 16lb. They were caught on a SINGLE swim bait. She also lost a good striper on a swim bait. We also caught a few smallies ( 1 was 4 1/2lbs) on the swim bait and Bass Assassins. We found a pocket that had hybrids in it and they were caught on the same baits. Earlier in the week a client caught a 5-1/2 lb. largemouth and a 4 lb. smallie on a Bass Assassin. Remember that when you fish at night for stripers if you use a stick bait to reel it SLOW. Look in the back of the creeks for some activity. |
| 03/14/2012 |
By Larry Olson
Fished Monday and Tuesday nights this week in Hand Cove, Big Creek, and Brushy Creek. Monday we boated 5 stripers the biggest being 13lbs. Tuesday night we landed 6 with the largest at 15lbs all on suspending Rogues. Bone with orange belly, grape, and brown were the good colors. Water temperature was 58 in the creeks. |
| 03/10/2012 |
By
Tom Reynolds
of STR Outfitters
The recent rain has trigger the stripers to begin biting. The stripers are in deep water 50 to 80' but are in the 30' range, so stay in deep water but fish shallow during the day. Early daylight and evenings the stripers are moving to the shore feeding on crawdads. The past two days a 25, 18, 16 & two 12's were caught on shiners and shad.
|
| 03/10/2012 |
By Tim Partin of
101 Grocery and Bait
Norfork Lake fishing has been good for walleye and crappie. Sunfish are hitting worms fished around the brush in the back of most coves. Bass are hitting swim baits fished 15-25' deep. White bass are starting to show up in the shallow water up stream as are some stripers.
|
| 03/07/2012 |
Greg's Outlook
We have had a mild winter this year. Norfork Lake's surface water temperature did not dip below 45 degrees, much warmer than the past few years. Assuming no substantial change in weather patterns, here is our outlook for the next few weeks in the Hand Cove and Big Creek Arm areas of the lake.
The primetime spring fishing season is beginning a few weeks earlier than normal this year. The fair night bite is already starting. Watch for the top water to begin in the next week or two. The lake level has been near normal and the water temperature bouncing around the lower 50's already. Daylight crappie and bass fishing is very good right now.
|
| 03/04/2012 |
By Tim Partin of
101 Grocery and Bait
Norfork Lake fishing has been good for walleye and crappie. Sunfish are hitting worms fished around the brush in the back of most coves. Bass are hitting swim baits fished 15-25' deep. White bass are starting to show up in the shallow water up stream as are some stripers. Have Fun Go Fishin. |
| 03/02/2012 |
By Larry Olson
Fished the last 2 nights. Got into some nice walleye and bass between Woods Point and the Hudson area. Picked up a 10 pound striper and a 5 pound walleye behind Jordan in Berrien Creek. Water temperature was 49 and rising. |
| 02/19/2012 |
By Tim Partin of
101 Grocery and Bait
Live Bait fishing on the magnificent Norfork Lake has been good for Crappie, Walleye, Bass and Blue gills. The water level is great, around 552 msl and surface temp is on the rise. Striper fishing has been spotty as well as white bass. The walleye are moving upstream to spawn and the stripers should be right behind them to do their thing. We have had some great weather so get ready to get out there and fish. Be kind to the spawning fish and only keep what you're going to eat put some back for the next day. FYI it is ILLEGAL to bring live bait from any other lake or state to Norfork Lake you must buy it from a local bait shop or catch it from here. |
| 02/19/2012 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The water temp is in the mid to upper 40's and the lake level is 552.2. The stripers are still scattered and down with the baitfish around 60ft. You can usually see just a couple fish down around the balls of baitfish. Some walleye are moving up the river and the major creeks. Look for bass close to bluff ends and in pockets. If we get some warm rains the fish will head to the backs of the creeks. The whites will be stacked up in the creeks. Heard reports of crappie being caught in brush piles. |
| 02/18/2012 |
By
Tom Reynolds
of STR Outfitters
The warm weather & water has triggered the spring walleye run, we caught 13 walleye from 16 to 22 inches, we kept our limit. The fish were caught in 8 to 10' of water from the AR. state line pass Udall marina on creek clubs. It's a simple rig, small weight and #6 circle hook. The males have moved in first but one big female was caught, I expect the next several weeks we see a major run until the spring rains come.
|
| 02/06/2012 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The lake came up this week with the 1 3/4" of rain. The lake level is 553.1 (normal is 552) and the water temp is in the mid to upper 40's. Look for fish suspended 30-40ft. When I see them suspended I drop a jigging spoon. At that depth this time of the year you can catch anything from crappies ,bass, stripers, hybrids, and walleye. Throw suspending jerk baits along bluffs, bluff ends, over deep brush piles and in coves. Try a jig or a grub and throw to the bank and work it SLOW back to the boat. When the water is cold you have to fish slower. |
| 02/06/2012 |
By Tim Partin of
101 Grocery and Bait
Lake Norfork fishing has been good water level is around 553' msl with a surface water temp. range from 42 degrees to 47 degrees. Water is stained to clear with the recent rain we had. Fishing has been good for crappie and bass. Striper are hitting live bait and small jigging spoons. The best fishing depth has ranged from 30- 40' for most species. |
| 02/06/2012 |
By
Tom Reynolds
of STR Outfitters
The bass, crappie, & walleye are biting, striper fishing is slow. The warm weather has allowed the stripers to stay roaming looking for bait. The deep water pattern that is normal during the winter has not appeared. Unless we get some really cold weather the next couple of weeks there will not be a shad kill. This will help all fish in the lake. The bass & crappie are in the brush, minnows & and small spoons are working the best. Walleye have begun their spawning run in the river above Red Bank.
|
| 01/24/2012 |
By Tim Partin of
101 Grocery and Bait
Lake Norfork has some good blue gill fishing with worms around 20' deep along the bluffs. Crappie fishing has been fair. Bass fishing is good. Stripers are hitting live bait.
|
| 01/23/2012 |
By
Tom Reynolds
of STR Outfitters
The warm weather has continued to keep the shad shallow in 50' or less. The stripers have never gone into their full winter patterns. There are reports of major top water periods mid-day around the 6A area. Look for the bait and you will see stripers. They are feeding on very small shad so keep your baits on the small side. One good thing about the warm weather and water, we should not have a major shad kill this year. Once the weather begins to warm up I expect a great spring season. The stripers are in good shape and will be feeding heavy getting ready for their spring run.
|
| 01/22/2012 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The lake level is 551.2 and the water temp is in the upper 40's. Look for fish along the bluffs and on the end of the bluffs. Throw a suspending jerk bait, jig or a grub on a 1/4 oz.jig head. If you mark fish 30-50ft. drop a jigging spoon. Keep an eye on your graph for balls of bait and fish will be close by. Check the coves too. If there is some wind blowing throw a crank bait or a spinner bait along the banks with the wind on them. |
| 01/16/2012 |
By Tim Partin of
101 Grocery and Bait
Norfork Lake fishing has been good, crappie are hitting minnows and small plastic baits from 10'-20' deep. Bass fishing has been good using flukes and jerk baits. Stripers are hitting shiners and jigging spoons. White bass fishing has been slow. |
| 01/02/2012 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
Norfork Lake is at normal pool of 552 and the water temp is 50-52. Look for stripers suspended in 30-50ft. down during the day. Look along bluffs and creek channels. Early and late in the day some are moving up along the bank chasing shad. For the suspended fish drop a jigging spoon and throw a stick bait for the fish up on the bank. Throw a vibratail grub on a 1/4 oz. jig head to the bank and work it slow back to the boat also look for fish 35ft.deep on the bottom and drop a jigging spoon. Throw wiggle warts along the banks if the wind is blowing. |
| 01/02/2012 |
By
Tom Reynolds
of STR Outfitters
The stripers are in their winter pattern and are in 60 to 100' of water around shad in the mid lake area. Stripers are off mid-lake bluff walls and main lake creeks. There are large schools of feeding on small shad. I had baits set at 24 to 36' and all the different depths were bit. Float creek and Crystal Cove have been the best spots in the afternoon. Shiners have been the best bait. |
| 12/05/2011 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The lake level is
551.2 and
the water temp is in the upper 50's. Look for fish suspended 30-40ft.
and drop a jigging spoon. Bass are hitting crank baits, spinner baits
and jigs. Throw a jig around brush piles and work it slow. Try a drop
shot with a 4" worm or small minnow type bait. If you go out at night
throw a stick bait to the bank and reel it real slow. |
| 11/27/2011 |
By
Tom Reynolds
of STR Outfitters
The stripers have
moved to
their winter pattern, look for them in the main part of the lake
channels and creeks. They are roaming in big schools and very hard to
stay with them, most of the fish are in the 35' to 40' range in 50' to
80' of water. Shiners and small shad are working the best.
|
| 11/27/2011 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The water temp is
still
around 60 but will drop this week with the colder weather we are
expecting. Bass are still hitting on crank baits and spinner baits with
wind blowing in on the bank. For the deeper ones throw a jig and work
it slow. Check bluff ends for walleye. Stripers are in deeper water
during the day and moving up on flats at night. |
| 11/14/2011 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The water temp is in
the low
60's. The lake is still turning over and we need some colder weather to
hurry the process along which will make the bite get better. Look for
fish in bays and in the creek arms. There are a few bass coming up in
the creeks chasing baitfish. Keep a top water rod on deck. Bass are
hitting spinner baits and crank baits on banks with the wind blowing in
on them. Throw a jig (green pumpkin or peanut butter and jelly). There
are a few fish hitting stick baits at night. |
| 11/07/2011 |
By
Tom Reynolds
of STR Outfitters
The stripers are
beginning
their winter pattern, I found fish in 100' of water around shad that
were staging in 60' feet, the fish were in the mid lake area. There are
fish near or above the MO. state line. This is where I'm catching most
of my fish, they are in 20 to 30' of water following the bait. Stripers
will bite good one day and then the next day, nothing. It's been very
difficult getting a consistent bite, but as the weather and water cool
the bite will get better. |
| 11/06/2011 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The lake level is
549.2 and
the water temp is in the mid 60's. There are still a fish coming up on
points early and just before dark. Throw a Zara spook or a pop-r. There
are some fish suspended 30-40ft. deep. Bass are hitting jigs
from10-25ft. deep. If the wind is blowing fish the windy banks with a
crank bait or a spinner bait. The night bite is starting to get better
throwing stick baits. If you have some moonlight throw a light color
and if there is no moon and it's dark throw a dark color.
|
| 10/30/2011 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The lake level is
550.2 and
the water
temp is in the mid 60's. Some bass are still chasing baitfish to the
surface hitting top water baits early and just before dark. Watch for
the surface activity on points and in the back of bays. Throw a Zara
spook, pop-r, prop bait or a jerk bait. If the wind is blowing throw a
spinner bait or a crank bait along the bank. Try a swim bait and reel
it reel slow. Look for fish suspended and get your bait down to them.
The night bite should get going anytime. |
| 10/26/2011 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The water temp is in
the mid
to upper 60's and the lake level is 550.7. Throw a Zara spook jr.
(clear or white) on points. Bass are coming up in the back of some
creeks. If you have some wind throw a spinner bait or a crank bait
along the bank. Throw a jig up to the bank and drag it slow. Look for
fish at 30-40ft. and drop a jigging spoon or if you use live bait get
your bait down to them. The night bite should start to get going soon.
|
| 10/19/2011 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The lake level is
normal at
about 552.
The water temp is in the upper 60's and will drop this week with the
cooler weather predicted for the coming week. Stripers are still around
40ft. Drop a jigging spoon or get your bait down to their level. They
will start moving shallower with the cooler weather. Watch for surface
activity early and late in the day. Throw Zara spook jr., pop-r, x-rap
or soft jerkbait. Throw a jig (green pumpkin or peanutbutter &
jelly) to the bank and work it back to the boat. If the wind is blowing
throw a spinner bait or crank bait along the bank.
|
| 9/27/2011 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The water temp is
in the low to mid 70's and the lake level is 553.6. The stripers are
still down around 40ft. so you need to get your bait down to them. Look
for surface activity on points early and just before sunset. Bass,
whites and a few hybrids are coming up with the whites. Throw a spook,
pop-r, bass assassin or a jerk bait like a x-rap. After the top water
bite slows look for the fish suspended and drop a spoon. Throw a
spinner bait (chartreuse & white)or crank bait along the bank
for largemouth and smallies.
|
| 9/18/2011 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The lake is getting
close to
its normal level. The
lake is 554.4 and the water temp is in the mid 70's. The stripers are
down 40-60ft.so you still need to get your bait down to them. With the
water starting to cool down they will start moving up shallower. Bass
are coming up on points and watch for them in the middle of the creeks.
Throw a Zara Spook, pop-r, soft jerk bait or a suspending jerk bait
like a X-rap. After the top water stops throw a jig and drag it or give
it short hops back to the boat. Most of the bites are coming around
10-20ft.deep. We had more bites dragging the jigs. If the wind starts
to blow fish the windblown banks with a spinner bait or a crank bait.
There were a few whites coming up too. If you mark fish down
25-35ft.drop a jig. Keep your top water rod on deck. |
| 9/11/2011 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The
Norfork Lake
water temp is in the upper 70's (78-79) and the lake is 556.5 which is
just 4 1/2ft. above normal pool. Bass are hitting top water early on
points and whites are coming up in the creeks. Any top water bait will
work. They are chasing baitfish around 3". Throw a spinner bait along
the bank back in the creeks for some bass. After the top water stops
look for the whites down 30-40ft. and drop a jigging spoon. The
stripers are still down 60-80ft. I had a guy tell me he caught one down
96ft. on his downrigger dragging a lure. |
| 9/04/2011 |
By Steve Olomon of
Steve's Guide Service
The
lake level is
559 and the water temp is still in the mid 80's. With the cool weather
we are expecting this coming week the water temp will start slowly
cooling down and the bite will only get better. The stripers are still
down 60-80ft. Bass are chasing baitfish early. Watch for surface
activity on points and some of the deeper channel swings. They will hit
just about anything that you throw. After the top water is over throw a
jig, worm or a drops shot. Try a crank bait or a spinner bait back in
the creeks. |