NWA Fishing Report

BEAVER LAKE

A high lake level with a little mud in the mix is a recipe for good catfishing.

Aaron Jolliff at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said catfish are biting well at Beaver Lake. All methods are working. Sunfish or cut bait are working on jug lines, limb lines, trotlines or rod and reel. Some nice-sized flatheads are being caught, Jolliff said.

Black bass can be caught from the flooded bushes with top-water lures and spinner baits. Anglers are catching walleye by trolling crank baits and nightcrawler rigs. Troll over gently-sloping gravel shorelines, Jolliff suggested.

Mike Whitehouse at Hickory Creek Marina said few anglers are fishing the south end of the lake because of muddy water. Anglers report catching walleye in the Rocky Branch area, Whitehouse said, by trolling nightcrawlers rigged behind bottom bouncers.

BEAVER TAILWATER

The floodgates at Beaver Dam will likely be closed by today, but 24-hour power generation should continue, said Alan Bland with the Army Corps of Engineers.

Drift-fishing from a boat is the best way to fish during power generation. Use Rapalas, Trout Magnets, jigs and other lures in seams where current and eddies meet.

LAKE FAYETTEVILLE

Dolly Black at Lake Fayetteville boat dock said black bass are biting plastic worms. Use live worms or crickets for bluegill. Catfish are biting worms or liver.

LAKE SEQUOYAH

The lake is muddy, but action for catfish is good, said Mike McBride at Lake Sequoyah bait shop. “It’s so muddy you could plant a garden out there,” McBride said. Try liver or shad for catfish. All other species slow.

LAKE ELMDALE

Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said crappie fishing is good one day, fair the next. Limits of crappie have been caught from the mouths of coves 4 feet deep on Shinee Hinee jigs tipped with a crappie nibble, or with minnows. Use crickets or worms 5 feet deep near the bottom for bluegill and redear. Go with top-water lures early for largemouth bass, or black/red spinner baits or plastic worms at midday.

SWEPCO LAKE

Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said black bass are biting plastic worms. The best bass bite is at night on large plastic worms.

SILOAM SPRINGS LAKE

Stroud said black bass are biting plastic worms or top-water frogs.

BELLA VISTA

Justin McClelland said black bass fishing is good with jigs or plastic worms 4 to 8 feet deep at all Bella Vista lakes. Bluegill are biting well on crickets or worms 3 feet deep. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers. Trout are biting spoons or Power Bait at Lake Brittany.

EASTERN OKLAHOMA

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports good crappie fishing at Grand Lake on Sassy Shads or jigs 2 to 10 feet deep near docks.

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