Lake Norfork

I posted a similar post last year, but didn't get many replies. I would like to try to find some others who fish Norfork, or could at least give me some information on fishing Norfork. I finally got me a boat last year, but because of the water level, I never did do any good with the crappie on Norfork last year. I read fishing reports from Blackburns and hear that people are catching crappie, I just haven't been able to figure them out. I will say that my primary method of crappie fishing prior to this had been casting shad soft plastics over beds to catch the crappie, but that was on KY lake fishing shallow and in considerably murkier water than what is at Norfork. I would like to be able to find some people that I could meet down there and fish with a few times to figure this lake out.

Any information would be appreciated.

I would be willing to try to meet someone at another lake some time and learn about some different techniques to catch crappie. I am pretty limited in my knowledge of different ways to catch crappie. If some of you guys wouldn't mind a "tag along" some time, maybe we could arrange something. I would just like to try to figure out how to catch some of these crappie.

Thanks in advance.

Matt

If I even knew where it was at, I would be happy to help you out :)

I have fished Norfork a few times with little success so I won't be alot of help. The ones I caught were on brush piles that were placed by the Corp. I would mark the brush then back away and either cast jigs with a slow retreive back or cast a minnow under a slip float just above the brush. This summer I started pulling Bandit crankbaits at Greer's Ferry and and had some pretty good days so I think they would work on Norfork but I have not tried them. Hopes this helps some. All my fishing has been on the lower end of the lake.

It has been years since I fished Norfork, but there was this one guide, older man, who was really good. I can't remember for the life of me what his name is or the name of his guide business. His rodholders were very unique, a turnbuckle cut in half and you just balanced the rod in them. When the tip drops snatch it up and set the hook. He always had breakfast at the cafe there on the left as you are going in to Mountain Home. I wished I could be more specific but without doubt if you can find him, he'll put you on the crappie.

I'd like to try and find the guy you mentioned. Do you remember what highway the cafe is on. I would think maybe 5S or 62E. We moved here from the Eufaula OK area a few months ago and heven't beem able to fish yet. The water here is so clear I'm sure the same tactics won't work.
Could the guys business have Crappies Only? I've seen an ad for a gude by that name.

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Originally Posted by Doodlesock

I'd like to try and find the guy you mentioned. Do you remember what highway the cafe is on. I would think maybe 5S or 62E. We moved here from the Eufaula OK area a few months ago and heven't beem able to fish yet. The water here is so clear I'm sure the same tactics won't work.
Could the guys business have Crappies Only? I've seen an ad for a gude by that name.

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The cafe was on 412/62 on the left as you are driving west into town from the lake. His guide service was something like Old or Ole Timers Crappie Guide (maybe). I ran a boat for a camera while we were shooting a TV show with him. That was 6-7 years ago. If you can't find him I would still recommend hiring any other guide that does do crappie trips on the lake. They should be able to get you started. Tell him up front the reason you want the trip is to learn how and where to crappie fish on Norfork. You'll be able to tell if he's going to be helpful or not.

If you can't find anyone there to help you, book a trip with me on Lake Greeson and I'll show you how we fish this deep, clear water reservoir. You can use the same techniques there. Here's a start too. If you use a GPS, email me, [email protected], and I will send you my OLD Norfork waypoint file, 75 spots from Robinson Point to Red Bank north. If you don't use one yet, you really need to. Here's another tip. One of the two best places I used to do well was the the Teal Point cove and under the Three Oaks dock (north bank half way between the 101 Bridge and Cranfield Island). There should still be some good stuff behind Bidwell Point as you go north. One last thing, don't discount Bull Shoals. It's a good crappie lake too.

Question: Is the lake still high from this last Spring's flooding? This can make a big difference in finding the crappie. If it's not, I might consider making a trip up there with my elder son to do a little fishing for fun after Christmas. According to 101 Bait and Grocery the lake is 552msl and generating heavily which dropped the lake 4ft. last week. This will affect the crappie bite too. If I remember correctly that would put the old AGFC habitats at 28' deep.

I appreciate the information. I do have an GPS unit and I will send you an email. The lake looks pretty good, but it is still a little high. I could use all the help I can get. I will try to figure out the guide service you are talking about. I have used a guide down there a couple of times, but it was for stripers - I believe he did crappie trips as well.

How far is Greeson from Norfork? I may try to get over that way this spring and book a trip with you. I'm not familiar with this clear water deep fishing. As I have said in earlier posts, most of my crappie fishing was on KY lake during the spawn fishing stake beds in 9-12 ft of water. We always cast shad soft plastics over the beds to catch fish. This trolling and vertical fishing is a whole new game for me.

Thanks for the information.

Matt

Here's a google map for Mountain Home to Kirby, AR - Mountain Home Arkansas - Google Maps - They say almost 5 hours but I think it would be closer to 4-4.5.

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Originally Posted by Darryl Morris

Here's a google map for Mountain Home to Kirby, AR - Mountain Home Arkansas - Google Maps - They say almost 5 hours but I think it would be closer to 4-4.5.

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I was retiring at Bull Shoals, but changed my mind. The guy who operates the Marnia at Bull Shoals, I spoke to him and he said in clear water you must learn to fish all over, I would talk to him. Greeson is properly a similar lake, clear water and and whatnot.

Myself at Millwood I fish in the brush and I do mean in it or right around the edges. I tight line with a weight on the bottom, this way I find the crappie depth quicker than using a cork unless you can see them on a depth finder.

Depth finder do not work up in the brush and a tree underwater can cover quite a large area. Wish you luck:)