NORFORK LAKE FISHING REPORT

Last week saw a lot of Norfork Lake stripers caught. My son and I landed multiple limits of stripers daily. The striper bite right now is almost entirely live bait. Some are being caught trolling using umbrella rigs and spoons. However, if you want to catch numbers right now, hire a live-bait guide. That is your best chance of catching your limit and a big fish.
On Sunday I zigged twice before I zagged and found a new spot with lots of active stripers. My current spot has been good, but it has slowed, and other guides have found me and moved in on the spot. My son and I spend most off days fishing for new spots with active stripers. A lot of people look for the guides then move in thinking that’s the best opportunity to catch a striper. This seems to happen a lot in the summer and is one of my pet peeves. On Sunday we went over two hours without a bite, but the last two hours made up for it. The stripers were shallow next to a buff and deep water. We were catching them in 50 feet with our lines set at 40 feet. We also caught fish off the buff in 80 feet of water with our lines set at 50 feet.
If you find some fish suspended in 40 to 50 feet of water, no matter how deep the bottom is, go ahead and start fishing. Most likely a school will come around. Find a shaded buff next to a channel, and you will find active stripers.
The evening bite has started again. Look for stripers in water starting at 40 feet and move out until you find them. On Saturday evening they were feeding heavy at 44 feet on the bottom. The bite will last up until dark. The stripers are on the points with sloping flats near the dam. Stripers are still being caught from Diamond Bay off point 2 in the channel, Georges Cove, Koso Point, Hudson, Hand Cove, Dam Cove and Thumb Point.

Ozark County Times

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Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
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