NWA FISHING REPORT

Beaver Lake: Crappie fishing has improved as the lake cools. Garland Villines at Hickory Creek Marina reports good crappie fishing on the south end of Beaver Lake.

The best fishing is far up the War Eagle River arm, he said. Motor as far upstream as possible, then fish jigs or minnows around stumps, trees and brush.

Villines prefers a black or red tube jig with a chartreuse tail, fished 2 to 3 feet deep under a float.

He and his brother, Willie Villines, caught 15 crappie on Friday in the War Eagle arm.

Chip Reynolds and John Eoff caught 30 crappie on Sunday.

Black bass are biting jigs or crank baits. Striped bass are biting shad or brood minnows near Point 12, Villines said.

John Hodge at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said white bass, striped bass and hybrid stripers are biting jigging spoons, Alabama rigs or shad in the Big Clifty arm.

Jigging spoons are working for spotted bass 20 to 25 feet deep in the Rocky Branch and Clifty areas. Hodge said he caught several with jigging spoons on Friday.

Walleye are biting crawdadcolored crank baits fished 5 to 15 feet deep along rocky points. The same crank baits should work for black bass along chunk-rock shorelines and transition banks.

Average water temperature at Beaver Lake is 54 degrees.

Jason Piper at J.T. Crappie Guide Services said crappie are biting Arkie Sexee Shad crank baits 5 to 10 feet deep around pole timber close to bluff walls in water 20 to 35 feet deep.

Curly-tail grubs black or white with a chartreuse tail are effective. Work them slowly from the bottom toward the surface.

Good areas to try include Pine Creek, Eden’s Bluff and Horseshoe Bend.

White River below Beaver Dam: Lisa Mullins at the Beaver Dam Store said the top flies for trout are size 10-12 black bead-head woolly buggers fished in deep pools.

Little Lucy midges and peachcolored eggs are also working.

The top lure is a size 8 or 10 Husky Jerk in rainbow-trout pattern or silver with a black back.

Orange or chartreuse Power Bait tipped with a red worm is the best trout bait.

Power generation takes place at Beaver Dam on chilly mornings, Mullins said.

Lake Fayetteville: Dollie Black at Lake Fayetteville boat dock said few people are fishing. She recommends using small jigs for crappie, worms for bluegill and jig and pigs for black bass.

Lake Sequoyah: Mike McBride at Lake Sequoyah bait shop said black bass fishing is good with crank baits or soft plastics worked near the dam. Local angler Jim Thomas has caught several bass this week.

White bass are biting jigging spoons 12 feet deep.

Crappie fishing is good with minnows 5 to 12 feet deep around brush.

Lake Elmdale: Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat recommends using a brown or green jigs 7 to 12 feet for black bass.

Try trolling a crank bait 12 feet deep for crappie. For bluegill, try worms 5 feet deep.

Water temperature at Lake Elmdale is about 49 degrees.

Fish during the warmest part of the day for all species, Key advised.

Outdoor, Pages 7 on 12/13/2012

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