Headed down for the first week of July

[semble]

Going to be down next week on vacation in the Bidwell area. I'm looking forward to checking the lake out and will primarily be targeting largemouth in the AM. I assume I will also be taking a couple of the kids in our group out for some bluegill in the afternoon.

I've been pouring over maps and have to admit I'm a little out of my element on this type of lake. I'm NOT looking for anybody's spots or brushpiles but any help in approach would be greatly appreciated.

I assume I will be fishing deep but hope there is a shallow bite early. I've been focusing on bluff ends, main lake points on channel swings, pockets and coves on channel side.

What depth does the thermocline normally setup at?

Whats the traffic like on the lake? I'll be fishing out of a 17' aluminum.

Thanks in advance to any replies!

[Riverwhy]

There are a lot of Lake Norfork fishermen that are much better than me but your strategy would mirror my approach.  Spooning suspended fish is also a very good option right now.  I often find the big bluegills in about 20 feet of water in bluff cut ins.  Bidwell area almost always gives you a bonus fish while you are dropping crawlers.  Flatheads are a common fish in the same area as the blue gills.

[semble]

spot on what I was thinking for gills.

I'm not a huge fan of vertical presentations but you do what you gotta to get on fish. I was thinking dropshotting might be good for one of the more experienced kids. Maybe get him on some spots.

Any reason to check out docks?  Seems like shade is a rare commodity on the lake.

Thanks!

[Dewayne French]

The mid lake area you are talking about will be the busiest of the whole lake from (Jordan to the dam, the dam to Red bank, and the dam to Fouts area) is the most traversed on the weekends by the skiers, tubers, and just having a good time crowd.  The Friday night tournaments go out of panther bay across the lake from Bidwell area so there is always fish in that mid lake area, just getting the timing the non-fishing crew will be your only  problem in the daylight hours.  I would go with the very early like 30 mins to a hour before daylight time frame in the buzzard roost area-cranfield-fouts as a starting point. 

 

A drop shot with a crawler is deadly this time of year anywhere on that lake.

I haven't been out in the early morning hours on Norfork much this year, that 4 letter word (work!!), but hey it feeds my fishing....

The night bite on bluffs and channel swings with a worm has been good after dark30.

I haven't been out with a lite over the side of the boat yet (deeper water channel areas with bait), but that is my intentions very sooner than later.. 

 

[semble]

Thanks for the input!  We are headed out tomorrow morning.  Hopefully I figure out enough to get on some fish.

Any good places to eat in the area?

[Brand]

You are close to Fred's Fish House.

[semble]

Got to fish 4 mornings and found fish everyday. Caught them on topwater early and then moved out to main lake points or brush piles as the sun topped the trees. No pigs but I caught at least 1 over 3lbs everyday and my average fish was 2-2.5lbs. I fished the Bennents arm one morning and above the 101 bridge the others. Norfork is a gorgeous lake and a great fishery, I'm looking forward to fishing it again someday.

[semble]

On 6/30/2018 at 7:51 PM, Brand said:

You are close to Fred's Fish House.

Ate at Fred's one night. The place was busy and for good reason, the catfish was great. My wife loved their hushpuppies.

[semble]

Forgot to mention, we also had some great Ice cream in Mountian Home at Paradice Cream.