In cooperation with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), the Lake Norfork Striper Club collects data and publishes a report documenting the concentration of Dissolved Oxygen and the Water Temperature v.s. Depth at two locations on Lake Norfork.
These locations are at the Norfork Dam, and just downstream of the Highway 62/412 Bridge that crosses the Lake at Henderson. The readings are taken close to the deepest water in these locations, over the old River Bed.
Data is collected and published as close practical to the 15th of each month from April through December, and on the 1st of the month May- October.
We may collect and report at other times and locations.
The Twin Lakes Walleye Club conducts similar efforts on Bull Shoals Reservoir, and the two Clubs share their reports.
AGFC and the Water Management Division of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) use this data for the study of these Lakes and their Fisheries.
The Club uses it to help predict where Fish most likely be found. Stripers need between 5-6 ppm Dissolved Oxygen to be active, and are most comfortable in Water Temperatures of 60-70° F. Lake Norfork develops a Thermocline (technically called a metalimnion in Lakes) in early Summer and this traps water with the right Oxygen and Temperature below it - concentrating the Stripers. (see the separate article -n this section.)
Having access to this information is a huge advantage to Club Members to help them find Stripers.
These locations are at the Norfork Dam, and just downstream of the Highway 62/412 Bridge that crosses the Lake at Henderson. The readings are taken close to the deepest water in these locations, over the old River Bed.
Data is collected and published as close practical to the 15th of each month from April through December, and on the 1st of the month May- October.
We may collect and report at other times and locations.
The Twin Lakes Walleye Club conducts similar efforts on Bull Shoals Reservoir, and the two Clubs share their reports.
AGFC and the Water Management Division of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) use this data for the study of these Lakes and their Fisheries.
The Club uses it to help predict where Fish most likely be found. Stripers need between 5-6 ppm Dissolved Oxygen to be active, and are most comfortable in Water Temperatures of 60-70° F. Lake Norfork develops a Thermocline (technically called a metalimnion in Lakes) in early Summer and this traps water with the right Oxygen and Temperature below it - concentrating the Stripers. (see the separate article -n this section.)
Having access to this information is a huge advantage to Club Members to help them find Stripers.
Typical distribution of Dissolved Oxygen & Temperature before the Thermocline forms
|
Typical distribution of Dissolved Oxygen & Temperature after the Thermocline forms. This example is in a 'High Water' year when heavy rains have washed a lot of Debris in the Lake. Decay of this Debris consumes a lot of the Dissolved Oxygen Stripers need to survive.
|