NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Beaver Lake: Crappie and black bass are biting as the water slowly warms.
Garland Villines at Hickory Creek Marina said crappie are biting around stumps on the south end of the lake.
Use a tube jig 2½ feet deep under a float over 5 feet of water. The best jig colors are a black or red body with a chartreuse tail.
Black bass are biting shad-colored jerk baits or crawdad-colored crank baits along windy banks.
Bill Prophet at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said black bass are biting jerk baits, but the fishing is hit and miss.
The average water temperature at Beaver is 44 to 46 degrees, but water up to 50 degrees may be found in shallow coves on sunny days.
Jason Piper at J.T. Crappie Guide Services said crappie fishing is good on warm afternoons. Try a minnow or jig under a float 3 to 6 feet deep around pole timber, above brush or lay-down trees close to a river or creek channel.
Good places to fish include Neill’s Bluff or the area around War Eagle Marina.
White River below Beaver Dam: Jessi Eardley at the Beaver Dam Store said trout are biting lime-colored Power Bait tipped with a waxworm.
The best lures are small spoons or Rapalas. Fly fishermen are using midges in size 16-22.
Walleye have not shown up in the river yet.
Lake Fayetteville: Dollie Black at Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock reports little fishing activity due to windy conditions.
Lake Sequoyah: Mike McBride at Lake Sequoyah boat dock said crappie fishing is good. Several limits were caught over the weekend along stump rows 4 feet deep with minnows or jigs.
Lake Elmdale: Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said the water temperature is 48 degrees and the magic number is 50, so fishing should improve soon.
For bass fishing, he recommends using a green or brown jig tipped with an Uncle Josh pork chunk or similar brand made of real pork.
For crappie, try red/chartreuse jigs 10 to 12 feet deep over brush.
Bella Vista: Nick Gann at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said black bass are biting at all the city lakes with shad-colored jerk baits or crawdad-colored crank baits.
Fish are scattered, but largemouths of 4- to 6-pounds have been reported. Bass are biting shallow and deep.
Trout fishing is good at Lake Brittany with Rooster Tails, small spoons or Power Bait.
Swepco Lake: Angler Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said largemouth bass are biting darkcolored finesse worms on a Texas or shaky-head rig.
On sunny days, try a dark-colored Senko weighted very lightly so it sinks slow.
Upper Table Rock Lake: J.D. Fletcher at Eagle Rock, Mo., said fishing is “hit and miss.” He recommends working rocky shorelines for black bass or walleye.
Eric White of Cassville, Mo., caught four walleye and some small-sized black bass by working jerk baits along points in the Eagle Rock area.
David Blackford of Eagle Rock caught 10 white bass by trolling Shad Raps in the Holiday Island area.
Outdoor, Pages 6 on 02/24/2011