Beaver Lake: What’s more romantic than a Valentine’s Day fishing trip? Pack along some jerk baits and crank baits for black bass, or minnows and jigs for crappie.
Aaron Jolliff at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said jerk baits or Alabama rigs are the top bass lures. Crawdad-colored crank baits come in at No. 3.
An occasional walleye is being caught by anglers pursuing black bass.
Crappie fishing is fair on sunny days around boat docks and timber. Go with minnows or jigs 10 to 20 feet deep.
Average water temperature is 43 to 45 degrees.
Garland Villines at Hickory Creek Marina said the south end of the lake is muddy.
A few black bass have hit Alabama rigs or shallow-diving crank baits.
Fishing is better downstream where the waterclears. Villines recommends using jigs or minnows for crappie 10 to 15 feet deep.
Jason Piper at J.T. Crappie Guide Services said crappie fishing is best on sunny afternoons. Use minnows or jigs 3 to 8 feet deep over 15 to 30 feet of water.
Fish around docks, under bluff overhangs and around trees. Good areas to try include Pine Creek, Eden’s Bluff and Monte Ne.
Chris Johnson at Cabela’s said black bass are biting Alabama rigs or Shad Rap crank baits. Crappie are biting best in the White and War Eagle tributaries on tube baits or Bobby Garland baby shads.
White River below Beaver Dam: Lisa Mullins at the Beaver Dam Store said trout are biting Power Bait in bright colors tipped with a waxworm.
The top flies are midges or black woolly buggers. Top lures include microjigs and Colorado spoons.
Lake Fayetteville: Dollie Black at Lake Fayetteville boat dock said a few crappie and white bass have been caught on jigs 12 to 15 feet deep. The water is stained.
Lake Sequoyah: Mike McBride said the lake is muddy, but could clear by the weekend.
Catfishing is good with liver or shad. When the water clears, try jigs or minnows for crappie 3 to 5 feet deep. Go with crank baits or jerk baits for black bass.
Lake Elmdale: Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said black bass are biting plastic worms or jig and pigs.
Water temperature is in the mid to upper 40s.
Swepco Lake: Kenny Stroud at BW Outdoors in Siloam Springs said largemouth bass fishing is good with plastic worms orsoft jerk baits.
Siloam Springs Lake: Stroud said crappie are biting minnows or jigs 6 feet deep around brush.
Bella Vista: Justin McClelland at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said black bass fishing is good at all the Bella Vista lakes with jigs or jerk baits.
Bluegill are biting at Loch Lomond and Lake Windsor on worms 12 to 18 feet deep.
Upper Table Rock Lake: J.D. Fletcher at Eagle Rock, Mo., said walleye have been caught by trolling a jig tipped with minnow between Houseman Access and the town of Beaver.
Try crank baits for black bass around points and rocky banks.
Outdoor, Pages 6 on 02/14/2013