BEAVER LAKE
Some heavy striped bass are biting on the south end of the lake.
Mike Whitehouse at Hickory Creek Marina said stripers to 43 pounds have been caught recently. Some have been caught with top-water lures. Best live baits are shad or brood minnows. The Point 12 area is a good section to try.
White bass fishing is excellent in the same area. Small top-water lures are working for white bass.
Crappie action has slowed, but crappie are still biting 6 to 8 feet deep around brush. Use minnows or jigs. A good jig color is red or white body with a chartreuse tail.
The marina’s Tuesday night jackpot bass tournaments have started. Fishing is from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Entry fee is $35 per boat.
James Whittle at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said crappie fishing is good 2 to 12 feet on the south half of the lake. Bobby Garland Baby Shads are the top lure in the monkey milk (light blue) color, Whittle said.
Walleye are biting around Deer and Bear Islands north of the Arkansas 12 bridge. Troll along the island points with nightcrawler rigs or crank baits. Black bass are biting top-water lures, jig and pigs or soft plastics.
BEAVER TAILWATER
Lisa Mullins at the Beaver Dam Store said fly fishermen are catching trout with hare’s ears, pheasant-tail nymphs and egg patterns.
The top bait is red, chartreuse or pink Power Bait combined with a waxworm. The best lures are countdown Rapalas or Flicker Shads.
LAKE FAYETTEVILLE
Angela Perea at the lake office said bluegill fishing is good with crickets or worms. Black bass are biting a variety of lures including spinner baits and crank baits. Crappie are biting small jigs or minnows. An occasional catfish is caught by anglers fishing for other species.
LAKE SEQUOYAH
Mike McBride at the lake bait shop said black bass fishing is good with top-water lures, spinner baits or most any lure. Crappie are biting jigs or minnows 4 feet deep or less.
Bluegill are biting worms or crickets. Catfish are biting liver or shad.
LAKE ELMDALE
Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said crappie fishing is off and on. Anglers report decent crappie fishing from the public dock or in the spillway area of the dam. Try small white jigs 10 feet deep.
Black bass are biting plastic worms in pumpkin pepper color. Bluegill are biting crickets 12 feet deep. Good catfish baits are nightcrawlers or cut sunfish.
SWEPCO LAKE
Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said black bass are biting soft plastics two to 20 feet deep.
CRYSTAL LAKE
Stroud recommends using top-water lures or square-billed crank baits for black bass.
ILLINOIS RIVER
Stroud said black bass fishing is good with small-sized soft plastics, Rooster Tails or small Rebel crawdad crank baits.
BELLA VISTA
Justin McClelland at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said black bass are biting at all Bella Vista lakes on plastic worms or jig and pigs. Bluegill are biting crickets or worms 3 to five 5 deep. Catfish are biting nightcrawlers or shrimp.
EASTERN OKLAHOMA
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports good snagging for paddlefish at Grand Lake in the Neosho River arm. White bass fishing is also good in the same area with spoons or white jigs. Crappie are biting minnows in shallow coves or around docks.
TABLE ROCK LAKE
Pete Wenners at Pete’s Professional Guide Service said black bass are hitting top-water lures and swim baits around timber. Ned rigs and single-tail grubs are also working.
The Missouri Department of Conservation reports good bluegill fishing on worms. Crappie are fair on minnows or small white jigs around docks and timber.