NWA FISHING REPORT

Beaver Lake: Trolling crank baits over flats is a good way to catch walleye at Beaver Lake.

John Hodge at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said Hot ‘N Tots or Flicker Shads are good crank baits for trolling.

Choose a lure that runs 5 to 15 feet deep.

Crappie are biting 10 to 15 feet deep around brush on jigs or minnows. A good jig color is a black body and chartreuse tail.

Black bass are biting topwater lures at sunrise and sunset. Try spinner baits on cloudy or windy days. On clear days, try a jig and pig or plastic worm for bass 10 to 20 feet deep.

Garland Villines at Hickory Creek Marina said people are thinking deer more than fish.

Few anglers are out, he said.

Try a jig and pig for black bass. Use jigs 5 to 20 feet around brush for crappie. Good jig colors are a black or red body with a chartreuse tail.

Jason Piper at J.T. Crappie Guide Services said crappie are staged near the bottom 25 to 40 feet deep near brush. Jigs or minnows should work. Good jig colors are black/chartreuse or pink/white.

Good areas to fish includeHorseshoe Bend, Monte Ne, Pine Creek and Eden’s Bluff.

White River below Beaver Dam: Lisa Mullins at the Beaver Dam Store said the top flies for trout are red or olive midges or egg patterns.

The best lure is a 1/125thounce orange/olive PJ’s Finesse Jig tipped with a waxworm.

Other good lures are size 9 floating Rapalas in rainbow or brown trout patterns, gold/red Buoyant spoons.

The top bait is orange or white Power Bait tipped with a waxworm. Nightcrawlers are also good.

Lake Fayetteville: Dollie Black at Lake Fayetteville boat dock said black bass fishing is slow, but a few have been caught with crank baits or Rat-L-Traps.

Bluegill are scattered. Try crickets 10 feet deep for crappie.

Lake Sequoyah: Mike McBride at Lake Sequoyah bait shop said few people are fishing.

Try minnows or jigs for crappie, fished slowly 5 feet deep. Use plastic worms for black bass or liver for catfish.

Lake Elmdale: Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said few people are fishing.

He recommends usingplastic worms or chartreuse/ white spinner baits for black bass. Troll medium-diving crank baits for crappie.

Swepco Lake: Kenny Stroud at BW Outdoors in Siloam Springs said black bass are biting plastic worms 1 to 20 feet deep. Try top-water lures at sunrise.

Illinois River: Stroud said black bass are biting small plastic worms, grubs, jigs or tube baits.

Bella Vista: Harvey Horne at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said black bass fishing is fair at lakes Ann, Windsor and Loch Lomond on crank baits, plastic worms or soft jerk baits.

Bluegill fishing is good at all Bella Vista lakes with crickets or worms 8 feet deep.

Trout fishing at Lake Brittany is excellent with spinners or spoons.

Eastern Oklahoma: The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports good largemouth bass fishing at Grand Lake with plastic worms or crank baits.

At Lake Eucha, crappie fishing is fair with minnows or jigs 14 feet deep. Largemouth bass are biting fair on crank baits.

  • COMPILED BY FLIP PUTTHOFF

Outdoor, Pages 7 on 11/08/2012

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