BEAVER LAKE
Crappie fishing is excellent on the south end of the lake.
Steve McClelland at Hickory Creek Marina said crappie are biting two to 10 feet deep on minnows or jigs. Spawning crappie are shallow and crappie ready to spawn are deeper.
Black bass are biting spinner baits or crank baits, but reports are few because nearly everyone is fishing for crappie.
Striped bass are biting shad or brood minnows from Point 12 south into the White and War Eagle River arms.
James Whittle at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said the best crappie fishing is on the south end of the lake. Minnows are working best, but jigs work, too. Crappie are 10 feet deep in the morning and shallower in the afternoon.
Black bass are biting spinner baits and crank baits. Striped bass are biting shad or brood minnows from Point 12 south into the river arms. Customers also report catching stripers between points 5 and 6.
The white bass run has been slow, Whittle said.
BEAVER TAILWATER
Lisa Mullins at the Beaver Dam Store said walleye are biting between Houseman Access and the town of Beaver. Try trolling crank baits in shad or crawdad colors.
The best bait for trout is white or yellow Power Bait. Combine it with a nightcrawler or waxworm for best results. Good lures include small spoons or countdown Rapalas. Top flies are midges or green-colored hare’s ears.
LAKE FAYETTEVILLE
Angela Perea at the lake office said fishing for black bass is good with plastic worms. Crappie fishing is good with minnows or jigs.
LAKE SEQUOYAH
Mike McBride at the bait shop said crappie are biting four feet deep on minnows or jigs. Black bass are biting spinner baits or crank baits. Redear are biting small jigs. Try liver or shad for catfish.
SWEPCO LAKE
Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said black bass are biting plastic worms or swim baits two to 20 feet deep. Bass should start hitting top-water lures soon.
ILLINOIS RIVER
Stroud recommends using grubs or tube baits for black bass.
BELLA VISTA
Justin McClelland at Hook, Line and Sinker said black bass are biting plastic worms, crank baits or jig and pigs at all the city lakes. Bluegill fishing is fair with crickets or worms 10 feet deep. Catfish are fair on shrimp. A few trout were caught at Lake Brittany with Power Bait or small spoons.
EASTERN OKLAHOMA
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports excellent crappie fishing at Grand Lake with minnows or jigs 10 to 15 feet deep around docks. White bass fishing is excellent in the Spring and Neosho river arms with minnows or minnow-style lures.
LAKE ELMDALE
Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said crappie are biting on and off. Use a white jig 12 feet deep in water that is 16 feet deep. Try a crawdad-colored jig and pig for black bass 10 to 15 feet deep.
TABLE ROCK LAKE
Pete Wenners at Pete’s Professional Guide Service said black bass are biting spinner baits, grubs and crank baits.