March Is Walleye Time At Beaver Lake

Editor's note: Walleye and white bass are the first fish out of the starting blocks when spring fishing starts at Beaver Lake. This week we'll explore the ways of walleye and how to catch them. Next week, we'll look at white bass.

It isn't warm weather and dogwoods that have fishermen fired up when it's almost spring. Mid March is walleye time at Beaver Lake.

Catch A Walleye

Live bait and artificial lures both work for walleye. Kevin Eubanks, Game & Fish wildlife officer, said most anglers use lures such as minnow-type crank baits or small spoons.

Aaron Jolliff at Hook, Line and Sinker fishing store in Rogers said popular live baits are a nightcrawler rigged on a bottom bouncer or a minnow threaded on a jig head.

— Staff report

The first days of spring are when walleye make their spawning run up the White and War Eagle tributaries on the south end of Beaver Lake. Now is the time to catch them.

Walleye also migrate up the White River below Beaver Dam from Table Rock Lake. On both waterways, fishermen welcome them with offerings of live bait or tasty-looking lures.

Walleye fishing should be prime for the next three weeks, said Jon Stein, area fisheries biologist with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

Male walleye started migrating up the tributaries a week or two ago, Stein said. Larger female walleye should be in the tributaries soon.

Seasons Change

Longer days and warming water kick-starts the walleye spawning run, he said. A water temperature of 48 to 50 degrees gets the run in high gear. Stein and I found the water 49 to 50 degrees when we fished for walleye at Beaver Lake last Thursday afternoon on the White River arm near the U.S. 412 bridge.

Walleye are fairly new to the fishing scene at Beaver. Walleye were native to the White River before Beaver Lake filled, but mostly vanished after that. The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission stocked walleye in the lake for several years. Now walleye spawn on their own and are thriving. Research this winter proves it.

Stein and fisheries biologist Kevin Hopkins trapped walleye in gill nets during January and February. They jot down the length and other information before releasing them.

"This year we did 15 net nights," Stein said. "We got a lot of 18-inch fish. Some were 20-25 inches long and three measured 26 inches. In 2010, we didn't see fish this big."

Walleye must be 18 inches or longer to keep at Beaver Lake. The daily limit is four.

"What's really nice is there's a lot of walleye smaller than 18 inches," Stein continued. "The ones that are 15 to 17 inches now will be legal size next year."

Two areas of Beaver Lake offer good walleye fishing at spawning time. The White and War Eagle tributaries are prime. Walleye are also caught on gravel points and humps near Beaver Dam. Fishing near the dam is best at night, Stein said, when walleye move into shallow water.

On the White River below Beaver Dam, area between Houseman Access and the town of Beaver can be a hot spot.

Ready And Waiting

Game & Fish wildlife officers Kevin Eubanks and Clay Hungate keep tabs on the walleye fishing through the spawn. Both men said Saturday that they've yet to see anyone catch a walleye.

Biologist Stein and I didn't catch any walleye during our trip Thursday, but did land three keeper-sized crappie and a small striped bass. We trolled with chartreuse Flicker Shad crank baits.

If this March is like last, lots of anglers will smile, Eubanks said. "Last year I saw several fish in the 25-inch class or better ,and one 30-incher."

Spring begins on Friday. What better way to start than with a walleye on the line.

Flip Putthoff can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAFlip

Sports on 03/19/2015

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