I Want To Learn How To Fish Lake Norfork.

[CartneyAccess]

Grew up fishing in Florida, so I know fishing basics, But I moved to The Twin Lakes area and I am lost fishing these lakes. I have a boat and would like any help catching bass and walleye mainly.

But later stripers and specs. Does anybody have any advice besides hire a guide ?

[Ham]

Spend some time on the Internet reading fishing reports (here and some of the resorts) and then spend time on the water. Basically, when you hear about a good bite, immediately go and try to make that work for you.

You might want to get a notebook and write down seasonal patterns.

Norfork is long drawn out creek arms that dish very differently from the main lake areas. You'll need to pick out a few areas and learn to fish those. Get a real good feel for their features, but remember the lake usually varies 20 foot or so in depth most years ie +/- 10 foot of water. Obviously, this complicates things a bit.

There is a striper fishing club and those guys work together to figure the fish out.

There is a Twin Lakes Walleye Club.

With time, you'll make some fishing buddies and fish with them which helps a lot.

[CartneyAccess]

Thanks, I am reading the reports like you recommended and will look into these clubs.

I definitley need to meet someone who know's the lake and where to go in my area.

[Ham]

We are moving into what I consider to be the worst part of the year for our lakes. I like to fish all day and the lakes right now are getting to be a very early bite or a shortly before dark until as long as you can stand it bite.

I fisn the lakes in late fall / early winter and then again early spring until summer. Others may know how to fish them 365, but not me.

Hiring a guide could really help move you along the learning curve a lot faster, but I understand the hesitation to do so. For sure though, if you get an invite with a knowledgable person to take you out, INSIST on paying for all the gas, etc. A great way to burn bridges is to be a cheap skate. and many people end up doing that without realizing it. It is VERY expensive to run a big boat and drag it all over to launch it. Non boat owners seem oblivious to that fact at times.

[CartneyAccess]

I know about the cheap skates, some of my friends seem to forget there wallet every other trip back in Florida.

I have a boat and would be looking for someone who is boatless but knows how it's done.