NWA FISHING REPORT

Beaver Lake: Jerk baits are the top lure for black bass at Beaver Lake.

John Hodge at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said jerk baits in shad colors are working well. Fish them around points or bluff ends with submerged timber. An occasional walleye may bite as well.

Alabama rigs or crawdadcolored crank baits are also working for black bass.

Crappie are biting minnows or jigs fished around timber in the White or War Eagle river arms. Hodge said he’s caught crappie in the Rocky Branch area along bluffs that have cedar trees. Fish a tube jig or grub 6 to 8 feet deep.

A few stripers have been caught in the Prairie Creek area by trolling umbrella rigs.

Garland Villines at Hickory Creek Marina said crappie fishing is tough on the south end of the lake because of wind. Few anglers are out.

He recommends using minnows 12 feet deep.

Try jerk baits for black bass along rocky banks and points.

Jason Piper at J.T. Crappie Guide Services said crappie fishing is best in the afternoon. Look for crappie suspended around bluffs and pole timber or large docks.

Use a small swim bait or grub a few feet deep.

Good areas to fish include White River arm, Pine Creek, Eden’s Bluff and Monte Ne.

White River below Beaver Dam: Lisa Mullins at the Beaver Dam Store said trout are biting nightcrawlers injected with air. Orange or yellow Power Bait is working, she said.

The top lures are gold spoons, Flicker Shads or micro jigs.

Fly fishermen are catching trout with olive or red midges, gray sowbugs or scuds and black woolly buggers.

Some anglers are trying for walleye near the town of Beaver with minnows on a jig head, Mullins said, but mostly spotted bass and crappie have been caught.

Lake Fayetteville: Dollie Black at Lake Fayetteville boat dock recommends fishing deep with jigs for crappie.

Lake Sequouyah: Mike McBride at Lake Sequoyah bait shop said crappie fishing is good with jigs 3 to 5 feet deep.

Crank baits in shad colors are good lures for black bass.

Lake Elmdale: Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said black bass are biting green jig and pigs 15 to 20 feet deep.

Jason Cossey caught several bass to 5 pounds with jig and pigs on Sunday.

Swepco Lake: Kenny Stroud at BW Outdoors in Siloam Springs said black bass are biting weightless Zoom Flukes fished over 10 feet of water.

Plastic worms rigged shaky-head or Texas style arealso working.

Bella Vista: Kyle McClelland at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said black bass are biting at all the Bella Vista lakes on jerk baits, jigging spoons or Alabama rigs.

Trout fishing is good at Lake Brittany on small spoons or Power Bait.

Upper Table Rock Lake: J.D. Fletcher at Eagle Rock, Mo., suggests using tube baits, jig and pigs or jerk baits along rocky banks and point and in pockets.

Eastern Oklahoma: The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports fair crappie fishing at Lake Eucha near the dam with minnows or jigs. Largemouth bass are fair on plastic worms. The lake is 14 feet low.

At Grand Lake, catfishing is excellent with cut bait in deep water. Black bass are fair on plastic worms or jigs.

Outdoor, Pages 7 on 01/31/2013

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