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Going on vacation to Norfork first 2 weeks of July. Any ideas how to target summer crappie? Usually hit or miss off the resort dock at night. Would like to find some action around dusk out on the lake. We stay in the Tracy area.
Would appreciate any help.
Wish I could help you as far as July crappie fishing at Norfork!. We have always gone down there in March or early April. (except for this year it was a lot earlier and we did not do well with the 39 degree water temperature)
The only time we fished there in July we were not able to catch any crappie. We only caught catfish, but if you want crappie, you will have to fish in the VERY early part of day or LATE, or fish at night.
Best bet would be to talk to the resort owner(s) or a bait shop.
Good Luck!
Resort owner is primarily a striper fisherman. Have had some luck trolling 30 ft down or right on top of the thermocline at night with shiners. Just wondering if anyone had some other suggestions.
Thanks!
I have been to Norfork in July and August, you will need to fish early AM and fish docks, not just resort docks, the crappie will be in the shade. what resort are you staying at?? There is a little bait shop on the highway past the Cranfield Junction turnoff about 5 miles, it is in a little trailer park, you willsee the sign on the right, the man that runs it is also a guide, and I hear a good crappie guide, he gives a lot of tips on summer crappie fishing at lake Norfork.
Northfork is supposed to have some brush piles placed by the fish and game that are marked. I never have fished for anything on the lake. But, you can have a good time on the White river that time of the year. An 8 hour guided trip for 2 runs about $200 out of Norfork River Resort. Steve can probably fix you up with someone that guides on the lake too.
norforkriverresort.com
Spend another $15 per person and get a shore lunch. It is the only time I will eat trout.
DP
We stay at Fish & Fiddle Resort in the Tracy area. IMO the best resort on the lake. Have stayed there 25+ years now and never a complaint! Crappie have usually been hit or miss at that time of year. Have had good luck pulling bass off of the bridge pilings midday and walleye and striper at dusk. Looking for new techniques to try this year.
Also want to try pulling cranks for crappie. What is best speed? Depth? Time of day?
Thanks.
If you want to try a nightstalk theres a place up above Gamaliel Boat ramp. You go above the boat ramp aways until you come to a long point on your left called Cemetary Point, go around it and on your left you'll see a bluff, about half way up it you can anchor out about 15 or 20 yards and set up your lights. We use to catch alot of crappie and a few cats fishing there in the summer under lights.
I just got back from Norfork! We always stay at Teal Point. I have been fishing the lake for about 14 years and the last 5 years we have been going down in June. That is the latest I have fished it in the summer. We also went down in April. Sorry to say but the guides will tell you this year has been the worse crappie year for a long time. We gave up on the crappie midweek and started trolling for white bass. I love that lake and we have done very well catching crappie in June before, but this is not the year. I heard the weather got really cold this spring right before the spawn and the crappies just dropped their eggs and did not go into spawn. They still seem to be scattered and messed up. Hopefully they get it back together before you go down in July.
the name of the guide service is Hard Times Guide, it is highway 5 east of MOuntain Home, I always stay at Sunrise Point resort, boat slips are included in cabin price, and it is nice and very clean, Jeff andDenise are great people. Hope you have a great trip. pretty part of the country.