BEAVER LAKE
Catfish are on the prowl as the water temperature warms.
James Whittle at Hook, Line and Sinker said all methods are working for catfish. Use live bait such as small sunfish or brood minnows to target flathead catfish. Go with nightcrawlers, liver or stink bait for channel catfish and blue catfish.
Striped bass are biting at dawn between Point 5 and the dam. Try top-water lures for surfacing fish. Use shad or brood minnows for bait 2 to 15 feet deep.
The south half of the lake is best for crappie. Try minnows or jigs 12 to 15 feet deep around brush and docks. Black bass are hitting top-water lures early. Use plastic worms or jig and pigs later in the day.
Mike Whitehouse at Hickory Creek Marina said crappie are biting 15 feet deep in the shade of docks. Minnows are working best. White bass are schooling on the surface in the Monte Ne area at dawn. Use small top-water lures, white jigs or spoons.
BEAVER TAILWATER
Wade Carter at Beaver Dam Store said the top bait for trout is white or chartreuse Power Bait. The best lure is a gold Colorado spoon. Midges are the best flies.
LAKE FAYETTEVILLE
Lake Fayetteville boat dock reports catfish are biting liver. No report on other species.
LAKE SEQUOYAH
Mike McBride at the lake bait shop said black bass fishing is good with top-water lures early or spinner baits later in the day. Bluegill fishing is good with worms or crickets fished close to shore. Catfish are biting liver or shad.
LAKE ELMDALE
Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said bluegill and redear are biting worms and crickets on the upstream area of the lake. Crappie are biting chartreuse and black jigs six to 10 feet deep. Try tipping the jig with a crappie nibble. Black bass are biting plastic worms in dark colors. Try top-water lures for bass at sunr ise and sunset.
Duck Camp Fishing Retreat is closing, Key said. The last day of business will be June
25.
SWEPCO LAKE
Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said black bass are biting top-water lures at dawn and plastic worms later in the day.
ILLINOIS RIVER
Stroud said black bass are biting a variety of lures including soft plastics, buzz baits, Tiny Torpedoes and small Rebel crawdad crank baits.
BELLA VISTA
Taylor Surly at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said bluegill are biting well in shallow water. Crickets are the best bait. Black bass are biting shallow-diving crank baits early and deep divers later in the day.
EASTERN OKLAHOMA
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports good crappie fishing at Grand Lake with minnows. Fish 10 feet deep around docks and brush. Catfish are biting cut bait fished on the bottom.
TABLE ROCK LAKE
The Missouri Department of Conservation reports black bass hitting top-water lures at dawn. Deep-diving crank baits are working around docks and shelf rock. Catfish are biting stink bait. Use minnows for crappie 20 feet deep.