Beaver Lake: Anglers ready to start the new year fishing should find the white bass, black bass and stripers eager to bite.
Chris Johnson at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said striper fishing is excellent 15 feet deep in the Coppermine and Prairie Creek areas.
Trolling umbrella rigs or Shad Raps is a good way to catch them. Shad or brood minnows are the best live baits.
Johnson said stripers are averaging 10 to 12 pounds.
Black bass fishing is good with crawdad-colored crank baits or shadcolored jerk baits. White bass are hitting jigging spoons 20 feet deep in the midlake area. The best colors are gold or white.
Walleye are biting minnows 20 feet deep.
Lee Winkler at Hickory Creek Marina said striper fishing is good in the Hickory Creek area 20 feet deep.
Try jerk baits or jig and pigs for black bass.
Jason Piper at J.T. Crappie Guide Services said crappie are located on main channel bends close to channel ledges. Work a jig-minnow combination from the bottom up until fish are located.
Good spots to fish include the War Eagle arm, Blue Springs and Monte Ne.
White River below Beaver Dam: Bryce Cadion at the Beaver Dam Store said there have been lots of low-water fishing opportunities.
That will likely change Monday when the drawdown of Beaver Lake is scheduled to begin.
Trout are biting white Power Bait in combination with some orange, pink or white. The best lures are small spoons in rainbow trout or brown trout patterns.
Effective flies include midges, scuds and woolly buggers in tan or olive colors.
Lakes Fayetteville, Sequoyah: Both Fayetteville city lakes are closed. They will reopen Jan. 15.
Lake Elmdale: Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said no one is fishing. He recommends jigging spoons worked 16 feet deep for black bass. Try micro jigs 10-12 feet deep for crappie.
Bella Vista: Justin McClelland at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said trout fishing is good with orange Power Bait at Lake Brittany.
Black bass are fair at all lakes with shaky-head worms 10-15 feet deep.
Crappie are fair at Loch Lomond with minnows or jigs 12-15 feet deep.
Swepco Lake: Kenny Stroud at the Siloam Springs Walmart said fishing is slow. The Flint Creek Power Plant is shut down again and will remain so until Jan. 9.
Try plastic worms 2 to 20 feet deep.
Crystal Lake: Stroud recommends using minnows or jigs for crappie 10-15 feet deep along the bluff and dam.
Siloam Springs City Lake: Stroud recommends using pink/white jigs for crappie 10-15 feet deep.
Illinois River, Flint Creek: Stroud suggests using smoke or chartreuse grubs for smallmouth bass.
Upper Table Rock Lake: J.D.
Fletcher at Eagle Rock, Mo., said no one is fishing. He recommends tube baits or jerk baits for black bass and walleye along points and channel bends.
Outdoor, Pages 8 on 12/31/2009