Lake Norfork Arkansas.

[Matt Fly]

Anyone have any info on this lake for late March. BassCat Owners invitational is held in late March on Lake Norfolk.

Any info or prespawn patterns?

Thanks

Matt

[roadwarrior]

It can be difficult. The water is gin clear, deep and will still be cold. Generally, March in north central Arkansas is cold and wet. Your best bet is probably targeting Kentucky bass, deep on structure. With this approach you will still pick up a few largemouth, but fishing is tough.

[Matt Fly]

I have read how deep this lake can be.      Spooning and drop shot maybe ticket on first breaklines.

First breakline could be 40 ft deep.

Matt

[ring fry]

Matt, as with most of those Ozark style lakes that time of the year, rogue style baits with 8# p-line fishing points (main and secondary) should be a good choice.  Reddish or pinkish and white rapala or pointers is a must, as well as something with yellow.  Baby bass colors to.  I would also have tied on a bitsy bug jig n pig, senko and baby brush hog.  Make sure you get rid of your Texas line!  Go LIGHT line with green or clear.  

[Matt Fly]

Some of the reading I've done reminds me of Cali lakes, deep and clear.

Will downsize the line for sure.        I have always wanted to fish the BassCat Owners invitational on Lake Norfolk.  

Ozarks are beautiful.

Thanks for the tips

Hookem

[cart7t]

That lake is quite deep and clear.  I don't have much experience fishing the lower end but drop shots and rogues on lite line will probably be the ticket.  You could run and fish from Cranfield Boat dock on up into the Missouri portion of the lake..  Not as much water up there to fish but it holds its color better.  

[Matt Fly]

Carp7,   How far is this area from the Hwy 62 bridge?    How much of a boat run will that be?

Please all chime in.   Chris and I will probably fish the 2 day team OI tourney in late March.

2 day total.    Looking back at past result for 3 years.   Last two years, 25lbs and change has won it, 3 years ago, 29 won it.

What and where should Chris and I go to find a two day sack.

Can smallmouth make a difference??

Do you target LM?  at all?

Or as suggested, spots?

Hookem

[cart7t]

The twin bridges (101 & 62) are only about 5 - 6 miles down lake from Cranfield Marina.  I'm pretty sure that tourney takes out of Panther Bay marina (mm 12).  With 500 boats I wouldn't be surprised if there is spill over into Robinson point public use area just down a mile from PBM.  Cranfield is the last marina going up lake till you hit Udall.  The lake turns into more of a river about 3 or 4 miles south of Udall.  There is good fishing up there but you'll be running and gunning since there's less water available.  

A lot of guys will run up in Big and Fall creeks down lake along with Bennets Bayou which is around mid-lake.

Pigeon Creek behind Cranfield BD will also be busy.  With 500 boats, it'll be take a number is most of the better coves are creek arms.

I'm not suggesting in any way that you run up around the state line (mm 28) from the takeoff area (mm 12).  There is good water to fish up there in March but less of it.  I don't know how many guys will bother to run up there because of that.  Given 500 boats though I'm sure you'll probably be getting away from the big crowd only to deal with a smaller one.  I have caught LM up to 6 lbs up the lake.  The water has a better chance of being more off color.  In late March you could probably find a crankbait or spinnerbait bite going on up there.  If you fish down lake you'll be dealing with gin clear water and probably have to go with skinny line.  I also haven't fished the lower end below Cranfield much.  I'm only suggesting up lake because I'm familiar with it and know I can catch fish up there.  

[chasescott]

Matt, I am Larry's friend that lives in central Arkansas. I will be up there fishing the bass cat this year. Last year the Tourney was later in the year and for someone who had never fished the lake, it was tough. The two biggest fish i caught were smallmouths. I caught those on shakey heads.

It sure is something to see over 600 bass cats all in one area. I need to get your number from Larry, I would love to meet you.

-chase

[Matt Fly]

Nice Chase,   141 out of 640+.    

We will have to meet sometime on the trip.     At this time, we have numerous places on the list.    Just waiting on work to say its okay to take the week off.

Chris and I was planning on leaving here that Friday afternoon or getting up super early Sat. morning.   Wanted to prefish some and learn the lake.

Matt

[Matt Fly]

Anyone else gonna be at the BassCat Invitational?     Looking forward to the trip.

Chase and L Train are fishing Norfork as we speak.    

Hookem