mojorig

May is a great time for early morning top water action for striped bass and hybrid striped bass in the mid to lower end of the lake. Walleye should be in those locations listed. Crappie will be done spawning. It appears it is going to be an early spring so things might be ahead of schedule by the time you come to Norfork.

Here is the pool history through from 1960 through 2014. I guess I need to add to 2015 and 16, lol!!

The top picture is a long pincer crayfish. It is endemic to the upper White River. They are pretty cool and get big!!

All, I have attached the AGFC D-2 Fisheries 2016 second biannual newsletter. The newsletter highlights some of the activities that have occurred during the second half of 2016 in D-2. If you would like to be added to the newsletter email list, feel free to email me at Jeremy.Risley@agfc.ar.gov Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. Feel free to contact us with an questions. Thank you for fishing Norfork Lake!!! Thanks 2016_-_2nd_biannual_newsletter_District_2_.pdf

All, I have attached the AGFC D-2 Fisheries 2016 second biannual newsletter. The newsletter highlights some of the activities that have occurred during the second half of 2016 in D-2. If you would like to be added to the newsletter email list, feel free to email me at Jeremy.Risley@agfc.ar.gov Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. Feel free to contact us with an questions. Thank you for fishing Bull Shoals Lake!!! Thanks, 2016_-_2nd_biannual_newsletter_District_2_.pdf

We conducted our fall bass sampling last week and found bass in similar areas as Micropterus described around the lake.

Fishes of Arkansas says drum spawn in April and May.

Yea, we saw tons of bluegill fingerlings (around 1 inch) while diving in Norfork, too.

Likely a sunfish sp. of some type. It could be silverside fry too.

Yes, Yellow Perch have been in Bull Shoals Lake since at least 2005, when we (AGFC) first received reports of them being caught in the mid lake area. The original picture of this post is an Ozark Bass which is endemic to the White River. Thank you to Abkeenan for posting my post showing the various types of "sunfish" in Table Rock Lake. I was trying to find it to repost it, lol!!

Walleye fishing on Bull Shoals and Norfork has been fantastic this summer. We've received numerous daily fishing reports from members of the Twin Lake Walleye Club. A lot of fish are being caught on bottom bouncers, right now. The high water does wonders for the walleye populations, too!!

All, I have attached the AGFC D-2 Fisheries 2016 first biannual newsletter. The newsletter highlights some of the activities that have occurred during the first half of 2016 in D-2. If you would like to be added to the newsletter email list, feel free to email me at Jeremy.Risley@agfc.ar.gov Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. Feel free to contact us with an questions. Thank you for fishing Norfork Lake!!! Thanks, Jeremy 2016_-_1st_biannual_newsletter_District_2.pdf

All, I have attached the AGFC D-2 Fisheries 2016 first biannual newsletter. The newsletter highlights some of the activities that have occurred during the first half of 2016 in D-2. If you would like to be added to the newsletter email list, feel free to email me at Jeremy.Risley@agfc.ar.gov Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. Feel free to contact us with an questions. Thank you for fishing Bull Shoals Lake!!! Thanks, Jeremy 2016_-_1st_biannual_newsletter_District_2.pdf

Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock has found them in 80 + feet of water around their marina. Currently, the highest concentration is from 20 to 35 feet. The warm water has killed a lot of the shallow ones.

We would encourage anyone interested in walleye fishing in Bull Shoals Lake and Lake Norfork to join the Twin Lakes Walleye Club. They have a bunch of active members. They also collected monthly or bi-monthly DO and Temperature profiles that they send out to their members. They also circulate fishing reports from their members.

Yep, the December 2015 Flood really changed the river.

Yes, spearfishing is allowed for walleye. They are only allowed to keep half the daily limit of walleye (2 walleye).

I totally realize this is taken at a different location on TR and also a week old now but here is the Do profile for TR taken at the dam (http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/pages/reports/remote/profiles/tabpro.htm ). I hope this helps this discussion. Also, sudden cooler, rainy days can be problematic with the current conditions.

We actually just met with the Twin Lakes Walleye Club over here to discuss lack of catching fish and consideration of a slot limit on Bull Shoals and Norfork. The next day after the meeting, spearfishing season began. Divers reported seeing lots of walleye shallower than normal. It appeared the walleye group wasn't fishing in the right place. After we passed the info along, the TLWC members are catching walleye. That shows the importance of fishing in the right place at the right time.

I just wanted to chime in quickly on this discussion. As a biologist and tournament fisherman, I do care about the bass and the anglers. During the summer, temperature control is important. However during night time summer tournament, there is something else that many anglers forget about. At night, the oxygen level is reduced and continues to decrease though the night. Plankton, that normally produces oxygen during that day, is using the oxygen as well at night since no photosynthesis is occurring. When you combine the reduction in oxygen and high metabolic rate of the fish due to the warmer water, there is a need to run your aerators often, if not constantly. We see people run their live wells like they do the rest of the year. Some night that works and other nights, that can cause trouble.

We have been trying to figure out a way to effectively sample catfish. One of the biologist in the office knows a guys that does really well trotlining Bull. He uses hot dogs. He places hot dogs in a zip lock bag. It also puts red Kool-Aid and garlic powder in the bag. He soaks the hot dogs for a couple of days and puts them on the line. I know that sounds crazy but he has been effective catching catfish lately. The fish have been in shallow pocket and the line is ran down the middle of the pocket. You might try the same method but using it on a Carolina rig.

The AGFC is building a new boating access at the mouth of George's Creek.

It will likely be July before the project is completed.

Unfortunately, there was another drowning down the lake this weekend too.

It was crazy busy on the lake, Sunday afternoon. Of course, the wife thought it would be a great time to go on the lake, lol!!