NWA fishing report

Beaver Lake: Black bass and crappie are spawning at Beaver Lake.

John Newlun at Hook, Line and Sinker in Roger said both can be caught shallow. Try top-water lures or a plastic lizard for black bass. Go with minnows, jigs or Roadrunners for crappie.

Striped bass are biting in the midlake area on shad or brood minnows.

Garland Villines at Hickory Creek Marina said crappie have moved off the banks and can be caught 10 to 15 feet deep around brush with minnows or jigs.

Black bass are biting square-billed crank baits or plastic lizards in shallow water. Walleye can be caught with nightcrawler rigs.

Beaver tailwater: Nancy Rose at the Beaver Dam Store said the top flies for trout are olive or black midges or orange scuds. The top lures are small chartreuse/orange jigs, small spoons and Trout Magnets.

Best trout baits are Power Bait, waxworms and nightcrawlers.

Lake Fayetteville: Dolly Black at Lake Fayetteville boat dock said black bass are biting crank baits. Bluegill are biting worms.

Lake Sequoyah: Mike McBride at Lake Sequoyah bait shop said crappie are biting well on minnows or jigs 2 to 7 feet deep. Black bass fishing is good on all types of lures. Catfish are biting liver or shad.

Lake Elmdale: Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said crappie are scattered. Use minnows or jigs 2 to 10 feet. Try spinner baits for black bass.

Crystal Lake: Jake Knoedl at Outdoor Tech in Hiwasse said black bass are biting soft plastics 3 to 10 feet deep. Bluegill are biting well on worms. Crappie are biting minnows or Bobby Garland baby shads.

Swepco Lake: Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said black bass are schooling and biting Rat-L-Traps. Plastic worms are working for nonschooling fish.

Illinois River: Stroud recommends using tube baits or grubs for black bass.

Bella Vista: Justin McClelland at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said black bass fishing is good on all Bella Vista lakes with jigs or crank baits. Bluegill are biting worms or crickets 2 to 5 feet deep. Trout are fair at Lake Brittany on spoons.

Eastern Oklahoma: Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said black bass at Lake Eucha are spawning and can be caught with plastic lizards or square-bill crank baits.

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports good largemouth bass fishing at Grand Lake with jigs, crank baits and jerk baits. Crappie are good on minnows or jigs around docks and structure.

-- Compiled by Flip Putthoff

Sports on 04/23/2015

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