Norfork Lake - Bass

[Ham]

Weather looked optimal for a crankbait bite. Socked in clouds with occassional rain. I left the sunscreen at home.

Wind was light and variable. Very low light for the preceding three days. Air temp started in the low 30's and got up to low 40's. Water temp was in the mid 50's. It really wasn't bad at all. I had the area I fished to myself = no other boats on the water.

Fished in Panther Creek and Float Creek. Looked great. Fished a variety of banks. Fist size to chunk to big boulders. Started out near main lake and went all the way back. Water was clear (duh). Some water running in, but no stained water was seen.

We caught a handful of fish and the size was better than what I expect to be the average, but overall I was disappointed.

I hear that Lake Norfork has shad, but I can't ever seem to find any. I really expected a good day and it just did not happen.

The few fish we caught were barely hooked and the "hits" very very iffy. The fish sort of loaded on the bait rather than a good jarring hit.

In retrospect, I wish I had just gone back down to Quarry Park to launch. I want to at least lay my eyes on every bit of the lake atleast once, but I can boat ride in ethe summer. This was a fishing trip and I wanted to catch fish.

The worse part of it is that I don't think I understand why I did not catch em. If I at least knew what I did wrong, I could hope to do better next time.

Most of the fish came on crankbaits, I got one on a spinnerbait. Hula grub got minimal throws and NO bites at all. We caught all three species.

[Larry Richards]

Did you try the bluff banks.I have been doing well with Jerkbaits and watermelon red baby brush hogs.The lake has been on one day and off the next.By the way Walker Hollow is full of shad and the bass have been busting them most every morning around the first boat dock.

Good Fishing

Larry

[Ham]

Thanks for the reply Larry.

I've been catching some fish on bluff banks with SB's and Hula grubs, but I wanted to try to get some crankbait fish.

I don't know where that spot is, but I'll sure the heck try to find it. If for nothing else to see the rare and elusive Lake Norfork Shad.

[Steady99]

Walker Hollow on HotSPot map. NE of Henderson Marina. ed...

[Ham]

Thanks Steady. I have found it on the map and had actually fished there earlier in the year and caught a few in that area.

[Larry Richards]

Did you try the bluff banks.I have been doing well with Jerkbaits and watermelon red baby brush hogs.The lake has been on one day and off the next.By the way Walker Hollow is full of shad and the bass have been busting them most every morning around the first boat dock.

Good Fishing

Larry

Fished yesterday morning for 2 hours before my DR. appointment.6 fish 1 under 5 overs casting pointer 100 to bass busting baitfish in Walker hollow.