NWA FISHING REPORT

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Beaver Lake: Some fishing took place before the latest round of winter weather arrived.

James Whittle at Hook, Line and Sinker recommends using jerk baits for black bass. Swimming a grub is another option. Water temperature is likely 40 degrees or colder so a slow presentation is key.

Anglers report catching stripers in the Prairie Creek area with brood minnows.

Fish 30 feet deep over water that is 100 feet deep.

Jason Piper at J.T. Crappie Guide Services recommends fishing for suspended crappie 10 feet deep over water that is 20 to 50 feet deep. Work docks, bluff walls and timber lines with a tube jig or Bobby Garland baby shad. Fishing is best on sunny days.

Good areas to try include the War Eagle Marina area, Eden’s Bluff and Horseshoe Bend.

Beaver Tailwater: Lisa Mullins at the Beaver Dam Store recommends fishing for trout with Power Bait tipped with a waxworm.

Worms or nightcrawlers aregood to use.

Good lures to try include small spoons or microjigs tipped with a waxworm.

Good flies to try are olive or black woolly buggers, scuds or midges.

Lakes Sequoyah, Fayetteville: Both lakes are closed for the seasonal shutdown. They will reopen on Jan. 15.

Swepco Lake: Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs recommends using plastic worms, grubs or other soft plastics 2 to 20 feet deep.

Top-water lures may work in low-light periods.

Lake Atalanta: James Whittle at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said trout are biting well on Little Cleo spoons and Power Bait.

Fishing is good, he said.

Bella Vista: Harvey Horne at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said the best fishing opportunity is for trout at Lake Brittany. Try Power Bait or small spoons.

For black bass, try jerk baits or Alabama rigs at any Bella Vista lake.

Upper Table Rock Lake: Jeff Fletcher at Eagle Rock, Mo., said bass fishing was good during a tournament held Saturday. The winning catch was six bass that weighed 24 pounds. Try Alabama rigs or jerk baits over submerged timber. Work bluff ends, main-lake andsecondary points.

Eastern Oklahoma: The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports fair fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass at Lake Tenkiller. Use soft plastics or crank baits along steep bluffs.

All fishing is reported slow at lakes Grand and Eucha.

Outdoor, Pages 6 on 01/09/2014