NWA FISHING REPORT

Beaver Lake: Black bass are biting jig and pigs, or finesse worms on a dropshot rig, 10 to 25 feet deep, reports John Hodge at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers.

Bass are biting crawdadcolored crank baits in shallower water, Hodge said.

Striped bass are biting well at night. Work one-ounce Rat-L-Traps over flats in the midlake area.

During the day, try for stripers in deeper water with shad or brood minnows 20 to 30 feet deep.

Crappie are biting jigs 5 to 20 feet deep.

Average water temperature at Beaver is 50 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.

The 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 with jigs or minnows fished 15 to 35 feet deep near brush piles or standing timber close to a channel.

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 rainbowtrout pattern or silver with a black back.

Effective flies include Little Lucy midges or peach-colored eggs.

Power generation is typically in the morning.

Lakes Fayetteville, Sequoyah: Both lakes are closed and will open Jan. 15.

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 Hodge at Hook, Line and Sinker inRogers said trout fishing is excellent with Power Bait.

Trout up to 20 inches have been caught recently.

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 8 on 12/27/2012

Upcoming Events