As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 656.49 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 659 msl).

Ken Minsky of Ken Minksy’s Loch Leven Guide Service said the water in the mid-lake area has warmed to 84 degrees on the surface, with a well defined thermocline established at the 30-foot level, and the fish are very much relating to it. Shad remain scarce; however, there have been a few sightings of small schools of small shad near the mouths of larger creek arms. Concentrate your efforts in the early mornings and evenings fishing deep structure near primary points. Crappie, walleye and catfish can all be found at 35 to 55 foot level over cribs and standing timber in 60 to 100 feet of water. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are making a showing in shallower water near brushy shoreline structure and points in the mornings and evenings, providing it has immediate access to deep water. Spotted bass are holding near bottom at the 55-foot range near the sides of primary points.

Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock said fish have moved into summer patterns. The lake is dropping slowly, but there is still plenty of brush around the shoreline. In the morning, topwater lures are working fairly well. But during the day, look for bass between 20 to 30 feet, where the thermocline has formed. Carolina-rigged lizards, brush hogs and french fries have worked well. Watermelon, pumpkinseed, and green pumpkin have all been good colors. Soft plastic tubes and jigs fished along the bottom also have worked well. When you come across some brush on the bank, be sure to fish a spinnerbait if it’s windy. A few crappie are being caught in 20 to 35 feet of water on 1/32-oz jigs and small minnows and spoons. White bass are way up the creeks in anywhere from 0 to 15 feet of water. There are reports of surfacing white bass schools around the lake during the day. White jigs, Rooster Tails, spoons, Roadrunner jigs and Rapalas are working well. Walleye are still biting fairly well on nightcrawlers split-shotted or drug on a bottom bouncer in 30 feet of water.