NWA fishing report

Beaver Lake: Crappie and striped bass are biting on the south end of the lake.

Mike Whitehouse at Hickory Creek Marina said striper fishing is good in the area of Point 12 and at Hickory Creek park. The best lures are Roadrunners and top-water plugs. Best baits are shad or brood minnows. Lots of 20-pounders are being caught, he said.

Schools of white bass are surfacing in the same areas. Use small top-water lures, spoons or jigs. Crappie are biting minnows or jigs six feet deep. Catching has slowed a bit, but lots of limits continue to be made.

John Newlun at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said fishing is excellent for black bass, crappie and striped bass.

Black bass are biting on anything a fishermen likes to use, he said. Good choices are spinner baits, plastic worms or jig and pigs. Bass are spawning at all areas of the lake.

Crappie fishing is good on the south half of the lake and in the Prairie Creek area. Minnows or jigs are working two to eight feet deep. Try gravel shorelines and bays that have bushes or timber.

Beaver tailwater: Lisa Mullins at the Beaver Dam Store said good numbers of trout are being caught on all areas of the river. Fly fishermen are doing well with egg patterns, nymphs, hare's ears and pheasant-tails.

Bait anglers are using Power Bait in bright colors. Combine it with a waxworm or nightcrawler for best results. The best lures are Flicker Shads, countdown Rapalas and small spoons.

Lake Fayetteville: Angela Perea at the lake office said bluegill fishing is excellent with crickets or worms. Fishing is good from the public dock or from a boat.

Crappie are hit or miss. Try minnows or orange jigs. Black bass are biting spinner baits or bass minnows.

Boats may now be rented at the lake. Rentals include canoes, kayaks, pedal boats and fishing boats.

Lake Sequoyah: Mike McBride at the lake bait shop said crappie are biting close to shore and away from shore. Use minnows or jigs two to eight feet deep.

Black bass are biting spinner baits, crank baits or plastic worms. Use shad, liver or nightcrawlers for catfish.

Lake Elmdale: Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said crappie fishing is good with minnows 10 feet deep. Rick Ford of Springdale caught several crappie with minnows at the public dock. One crappie measured 18 inches long.

Black bass are biting plastic lizards. Best color is brown with black flakes. Bass to 5 pounds have been caught recently.

Channel and blue catfish are biting cut sunfish. Use live sunfish for flathead catfish.

Swepco Lake: Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said black bass are biting plastic worms or swim baits shallow and deep. Try top-water lures at sunrise or on cloudy days.

Crystal Lake: Stroud said black bass are biting square-billed crank baits or plastic worms.

Illinois River: Stroud said black bass are biting plastic lizards, tube baits, grubs and chartreuse or black Rooster Tails.

Bella Vista: Justin McClelland at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said black bass are schooling on the surface at all Bella Vista lakes. Try a small top-water lure or jig.

Bluegill are biting worms or crickets. Catfish are biting nightcrawlers or shrimp.

Eastern Oklahoma: Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said white bass and black bass at Lake Eucha are biting small swim baits. Plastic worms or spinner baits are also working. Catfish are biting cut shad or nightcrawlers.

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports excellent crappie fishing at Grand Lake on minnows around docks and in coves. Paddlefish snagging is good in the Neosho River.

Table Rock Lake: Pete Wenners at Pete's Professional Guide Services said black bass fishing is excellent on the upstream end of the lake. Top-water lures, flutter spoons, swim baits and plastic worms are working.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reports good bluegill fishing with worms or crickets. Crappie fishing is fair around docks and brush with minnows or jigs two to 10 feet deep.

Sports on 05/03/2016

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