Beaver Lake: Anglers report good fishing for black bass, crappie and catfish.
James Whittle at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said the black bass spawn is winding down. Bass are biting top-water lures, jigs and plastic worms. Try points and shorelines with gravel and chunk rock.
Crappie are biting on the south half of the lake on minnows or jigs five to 20 feet deep around timber. A good jig color is a black or red body with a chartreuse tail.
Catfish are biting a variety of baits including stink bait, nightcrawlers and small sunfish.
Striped bass are biting near the dam on shad or brood minnows. Average water temperature is 66 to 70 degrees.
Steve McClelland at Hickory Creek Marina said crappie are biting spider rigs baited with minnows four to 25 feet deep. Striped bass are biting near Point 12 on shad, brood minnows and umbrella rigs.
Trotlines, jug lines, limb lines or rod and reel are all working for catfish. Use small sunfish to target flatheads or nightcrawlers to catch channel catfish.
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.
On the lake side of the dam, white bass are biting in the bay. Try spoons or white jigs. When whites are surfacing, use a small top-water lure.
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 fair with spinner baits or top-water lures. Catfish are biting liver or shad.
Lake Elmdale: Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said crappie are biting minnows or small jigs at the public fishing dock. Bluegill are biting crickets one to two feet deep.
Black bass are biting plastic lizards. Best color is green with black flakes. Catfish are biting liver or minnows. Key reminds anglers that Lake Elmdale is a no-wake lake.
Swepco Lake: Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said black bass are biting plastic worms shallow or deep. Try top-water lures at sunrise or on cloudy days.
Illinois River: Stroud said channel catfish are biting stink bait. Flathead catfish are biting crawdads or sunfish. For black bass, fish with small tube baits, jig and pigs or Rooster Tails.
Bella Vista: Justin McClelland at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said bluegill fishing is fair with worms or crickets two to 10 feet deep at all Bella Vista lakes.
Black bass are biting plastic worms or jig and pigs. Catfishing is fair with shrimp or liver.
Eastern Oklahoma: The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports fair crappie fishing with minnows or jigs around docks or along shorelines with brush. White bass are biting minnows or shad in the Elk River arm.
Table Rock Lake: The Missouri Department of Conservation reports good bluegill fishing with worms. Crappie fishing is fair with minnows or jigs six feet deep in coves with brush.
Pete Wenners at Pete's Professional Guide Service said black bass are biting top-water lures in clear water areas. Good lures include Zara Spooks and jointed Red Fins.
Sports on 05/17/2016