Anglers on Norfork Lake may notice some Striped Bass floating on the surface in the coming weeks as Norfork Lake experiences another natural die-off event. During the summer months, Striped Bass seek refuge in deep water near the dam, where temperatures and oxygen levels are more tolerable.
However, in years with high water levels, such as this one, the oxygen in these deeper spots can quickly deplete. This happens because of high biological oxygen demand and water-level-related (hydrological) factors, which can ultimately lead to fish mortality. These events have been documented on Norfork Lake in 2002, 2004, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020, and the fishery has successfully rebounded each time.
Most affected fish are larger individuals over 20 inches, while smaller Striped Bass typically survive. This actually creates opportunity for younger fish to grow more quickly, often replacing the lost fish within a couple of years. Though witnessing a die-off isn’t pleasant, historical data show these events rarely cause significant long-term impacts to the overall population.
There’s also a silver lining to high water conditions. While they stress Striped Bass, high water years boost forage fish populations (shad) throughout the lake, creating abundant food supplies that ultimately benefit all sportfish, including bass, crappie, and walleye.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will continue to monitor the situation closely.