BEAVER LAKE
Striped bass and black bass are hitting top-water lures at sunrise and sunset.
James Whittle at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said stripers and bass are chasing shad on the surface and can be caught in the Rocky Branch area early. Good lures to use include Whopper Floppers, Rat-L-Traps and jerk baits.
Crappie fishing is fair with minnows or jigs 8 to 25 feet deep. Trolling crank baits in creek arms is another way to catch crappie.
Walleye can also be caught by trolling crank baits over flats in the Beaver Shores and Monte Ne areas.Hickory Creek Marina reports little fishing activity. Fishing is fair for crappie by trolling crank baits.
BEAVER TAILWATER
Hayden Christians at the Beaver Dam Store said fly fishermen are catching trout with midges and olive-colored woolly buggers.
Good lures include micro jigs, small spoons and Rapalas. The top bait is Power Bait in white, red or chartreuse.
LAKE FAYETTEVILLE
Angela Perea at the lake office said black bass fishing is good with chatter baits, spinner baits and crank baits.
Catfish are biting well on glow worms. Bluegill are biting worms or crickets. Crappie fishing has improved. Try minnows or jigs 15 feet deep.
LAKE SEQUOYAH
Mike McBride at the lake bait shop said fishing is fair for crappie with minnows or jigs 6 to 8 feet deep. Black bass fishing is good with top-water lures, spinner baits or plastic worms. Catfish are biting liver or shad. Use crickets or worms shallow to deep for bluegill.
SWEPCO LAKE
Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said black bass are biting top-water lures at sunrise. Try plastic worms later 2 to 20 feet deep.
ILLINOIS RIVER
Stroud recommends using small grubs or tube baits for black bass. Rooster tails or small jig and pigs may also work.
BELLA VISTA
Nick Gann at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said black bass are biting top-water lures at sunrise at all Bella Vista lakes. Try plastic worms or crank baits later in the day. Catfish are biting fair on shrimp or nightcrawlers. Use crickets or worms for bluegill 15 to 20 feet deep.
EASTERN OKLAHOMA
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports good crappie fishing at Lake Tenkiller with minnows or jigs around docks and brush. Black bass are biting fair on top-water lures or plastic worms. Use stink bait, worms or shad for catfish.
TABLE ROCK LAKE
Pete Wenners at Pete’s Professional Guide Service said black bass fishing is slow and varies from day to day.
The most consistent tactic is to fish the backs of creek arms with top-water lures, spinner baits or jig and pigs. Plastic worms in dark colors are also working.