NWA Fishing Report

Editor’s note: Flip Putthoff, who compiles the fishing report, is on vacation this week. Here is last week’s report.

Beaver Lake: Trolling for walleye or white bass has been productive this week.

James Whittle at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said anglers are trolling for walleye with nightcrawler rigs behind bottom bouncers or with Flicker Shad crank baits. Trolling crank baits has produced walleye and white bass. Flats are the best places to troll.

Striped bass are on the prowl in the morning around Point 5. Try top-water lures early, the use shad or brood minnows later in the morning.

Black bass fishing has improved, but is still slow, Whittle said. The south end of the lake is producing best. Try spinner baits, jigs, plastic worms or crank baits.

Beaver tailwater: Nancy Rose at the Beaver Dam Store said trout are biting orange or white Power Bait, nightcrawlers or worms.

The top lures are small jigs, Trout Magnets and small spoons. The best flies are woolly buggers and Clouser minnows.

Lake Fayetteville: Dolly Black at Lake Fayetteville boat dock said bluegill are biting best. Crickets are the best bait.

Try buzz baits early for black bass or plastic worms later in the day. Crappie fishing is slow.

Lake Sequoyah: Mike McBride at Lake Sequoyah bait shop said fishing is good for crappie, black bass and catfish. All fishing is best early or late.

Try spinner baits or crank baits for bass. Catfish are biting liver or shad. Crappie are biting minnows or jigs 8 feet deep along the edge of the channel.

Lake Elmdale: Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said a few bluegill are being caught with worms 3 feet deep. Black bass fishing is slow. A few are being caught with spinner baits at night. Best bass fishing is from 1 to 8 a.m.

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 12 to 18 feet deep during the day. At night, try dark-colored spinner baits or crank baits.

Bluegill are biting crickets or worms 10 to 15 feet deep. Catfish are biting shrimp.

Eastern Oklahoma: The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports catfish at Grand Lake are biting shad 30 feet deep on the main lake. Noodling for flathead catfish is fair. Crappie are slow, but biting minnows or tube jigs 5 to 10 feet deep around brush and structure.

Upcoming Events