Norfork Lake
A large Army Corps reservoir on the North Fork River east of Mountain Home, with its upper end reaching into Ozark County, Missouri. It is known for striped bass, black bass, crappie and walleye in clear Ozark water.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Striped Bass
Follow shad schools in open water. Live bait and topwater at dawn are popular; fish go deep near the main channel in summer.
Largemouth Bass
Brush piles, chunk rock and flooded cover in the creek arms. Spring is the best shallow bite.
Crappie
Brush piles and docks in the creek arms. Shallower during the spring spawn.
Walleye
Gravel points and flats in spring, deeper main-lake structure in summer.
Channel Catfish
Cut bait or nightcrawlers on flats and in creek arms, especially at night in summer.
Boat launches
7 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Cranfield ParkPublicUSACE park with boat ramp, marina and campground east of Mountain HomeDirections ↗
- Bidwell Point ParkPublicUSACE park and campgroundDirections ↗
- Henderson ParkPublicUSACE park and campgroundDirections ↗
- Panther Bay ParkPublicUSACE park and campground; Panther Bay Marina nearbyDirections ↗
- Robinson PointPublicUSACE park and campgroundDirections ↗
- Quarry Park (Dam - Quarry)PublicUSACE park near Norfork Dam; Quarry MarinaDirections ↗
- Cranfield MarinaMarinaConcession marina with ship store and bait and tackleDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Norfork Lake are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Arkansas Game & Fish Commission ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Cranfield MarinaNearby2028 Cranfield Pl, Mountain HomeDirections ↗
Local tips
- The upper lake is in Missouri, where MDC rules differ (for example walleye 18 in and striped bass 20 in minimums); know which state's water you are in.
- Some USACE facilities charge fees; check the Corps or Recreation.gov before you go.
- The North Fork River below the dam is a cold-water trout stream, a separate fishery from the lake.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.
More Arkansas lakes
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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.