NWA FISHING REPORT

Beaver Lake: Crappie can be caught on the south end of the lake for anglers willing to work at it.

Garland Villines at Hickory Creek Marina said two fishermen reported catching 15 crappie on jigs, but they fished for about eight hours.

Villines recommends using minnows or jigs 5 to 15 feet deep around timber.

Black bass and walleye are biting jerk baits and Alabama rigs, he said. One angler caught a 25-inch walleye while bass fishing, Villines said.

John Hodge at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said black bass are bitingjerk baits and Alabama rigs worked along rocky banks that slope 45 degrees.

Crappie are biting minnows or jigs around timber 5 to 10 feet deep in the Horseshoe Bend area or the White and War Eagle tributaries.

Ventris and Coose hollows are good places to try for crappie with minnows or jigs around docks that are over deep water.

Average water temperature at Beaver Lake is 43 to 46 degrees.

Chris Johnson at Cabela’s said black bass are biting well in the midlake area on Alabama rigs, shad-coloredgrubs and swim baits worked along main-lake points.

Try crank baits in red or chartreuse colors for black bass in stained water

Jason Piper at J.T. Crappie Guide Services said cold fronts have slowed the crappie fishing. Look for crappie holding close to cover 5 to 15 feet deep over water that is 20 to 35 feet deep.

Good areas to fish include the White River arm, Pine Creek, Eden’s Bluff and Horseshoe Bend.

White River below Beaver Dam: Lisa Mullins at the Beaver Dam Store saidthe top flies for trout are red midges in size 18 or black woolly buggers.

Productive lures include orange Rooster Tails or size 9 floating Rapalas in the brown trout pattern.

For bait fishing, try Power Bait tipped with a waxworm.

Lake Fayetteville: Dollie Black at Lake Fayetteville boat dock recommends using jigs 10 to 15 feet deep for crappie.

Lake Sequoyah: Mike McBride at Lake Sequoyah bait shop said crappie fishing is fair with jigs or minnows 4 to 8 feet deep. Catfishing is good with liver or shad.

Some small black bass have been caught with crank baits.

Lake Elmdale: Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat reports little fishing activity.

Try a shaky-head worm or jig and pig for black bass.

Swepco Lake: Kenny Stroud at BW Outdoors in Siloam Springs said black bass fishing is excellent with plastic worms, soft jerk baits in light colors or Alabama rigs.

Siloam Springs, Crystal lakes: Stroud said crappie are biting small jigs 6 feet deep.

Bella Vista: Nick Gann at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said black bass are bitingjerk baits at Loch Lomond and Lake Windsor.

Fish along main-lake or secondary points.

Upper Table Rock Lake: J.D. Fletcher at Eagle Rock, Mo., recommends using jerk baits or crank baits along main-lake rocky shorelines.

Eastern Oklahoma: Kenny Stroud at BW Outdoors in Siloam Springs reports good fishing for black bass at Lake Eucha on jerk baits in clown or shad colors. Crappie are biting jigs.

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports good largemouth bass fishing at Grand Lake on Alabama rigs.