Beaver Lake: Striped bass are biting well at night on Beaver Lake.
John Newlun at Hook, Line and Sinker said customers report good striper fishing after dark with Rat-L-Traps over flats in the middle portion of Beaver.
A 1-ounce Rat-L-Trap, chrome with a black or blue black, is working best. Anglers report catching 10 to 15 stripers per trip. A 45-pounder was caught last weekend near the Arkansas 12 bridge, Newlun said.
During the day, try for stripers in deeper water with shad or brood minnows 20 to 30 feet deep.
Black bass are biting jig and pigs, or finesse worms on a drop-shot, rig 10 to 25 feet deep. Bass are biting crawdad-colored Wiggle Wart crank baits in shallower water, Newlun said.
Crappie are biting jigs 5 to 20 feet deep.
Average water temperature at Beaver is 52 degrees.
Garland Villines at Hickory Creek Marina said crappie fishing is good with jigs in the War Eagle arm around all types of wood cover.
Best jig color is red or black with a chartreuse tail. Fish 2 feet deep under a float, or on a tight line, in water that is 5 feet deep.
Black bass are biting crank baits and jigs around points and along bluffs.
Striped bass are biting shad or brood minnows from Hickory Creek park to Point 12.
Jason Piper at J.T. Crappie Guide Services said crappie fishing is good near brush piles or standing timber close to a channel. Fish jigs or minnows 15 feet deep in water 15 to 35 feet deep.
Sunny afternoons are the best times to fish. Productive areas include the mouth of the White River arm, Eden’s Bluff, Monte Ne and Horseshoe Bend.
White River below Beaver Dam: Lisa Mullins at the Beaver Dam Store said trout are biting orange or chartreuse Power Bait tipped with a red worm or waxworm.
The top lure is a size 8 or 10 Husky Jerk in a rainbow-trout pattern or silver with a black back.
Effective flies include Little Lucy midges or peach-colored eggs.
Power generation is typically in the morning.
Lake Fayetteville: Dollie Black at Lake Fayetteville boat dock said black bass are biting crank baits. Tim Freeman caught several bass to 4 pounds on crank baits during a recent trip.
Brad Robins caught nine bass on Sunday with a crank bait.
For crappie, troll with jigs 12 to 20 feet deep.
Lake Sequoyah: Mike McBride at Lake Sequoyah bait shop said black bass fishingis good with plastic worms or crank baits fished near the dam.
Crappie fishing is good with minnows or jigs 5 to 10 feet deep around brush.
Lake Elmdale: Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat suggests using a jig and pig 7 to 12 feet deep for black bass.
Lake Atalanta: John Newlun at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said trout fishing is excellent with green Power Eggs. Trout up to 20 inches have been caught recently.
Troll small crank baits 12 feet deep for crappie. Go with worms 5 feet deep for bluegill.
Swepco Lake: Kenny Stroud at BW Outdoors in Siloam Springs said black bass are biting soft plastics 1 to 25 feet deep. Rig them any style.
Try spinner baits on cloudy days.
Siloam Springs Lake: Stroud suggests using jigs for crappie 8 to 10 feet deep.
Illinois River: Stroud recommends using tube jigs for black bass.
Upper Table Rock Lake: J.D. Fletcher at Eagle Rock, Mo., recommends using a jig and pig or tube bait along rocky main-channel shorelines.
Eastern Oklahoma: The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports fair crappie fishing at Lake Eucha on minnows or jigs 14 feet deep around brush.
Largemouth bass are fair on plastic worms.
At Grand Lake, crappie are biting well on minnows or jigs 15 feet deep. Black bass are fair on plastic worms or crank baits.
Outdoor, Pages 6 on 12/20/2012