BEAVER LAKE
Black bass and striped bass are hitting top-water lures.
James Whittle at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said early morning is the best time to catch black bass on top-water lures on all areas of the lake. Striped bass are taking top-water lures early in the Rocky Branch area.
Both species are likely to be schooling on the surface at any time of day, Whittle said.
Black bass are biting small plastic worms on a drop-shot rig all day. Fishing at night with jig and pigs has been productive, he said.
Crappie can be caught with minnows or jigs, and by trolling crank baits. Fishing is best from the Arkansas 12 bridge south to Hickory Creek park.
Work jigs or minnows 15 feet deep around brush and docks. Troll in creek arms with crank baits that run 10 feet deep. Bandit 300 series crank baits are a favorite with fishermen, Whittle said.
Darrin Wahl at Hickory Creek Marina said trolling with crank baits remains a good way to catch crappie. No report on other species.
BEAVER TAILWATER
Lisa Mullins at the Beaver Dam Store said trout fishing is good. Low water levels in the morning are ideal for wade fishing.
A variety of flies are working, including midges, scuds, nymphs and soft hackles. The top lures are small spoons and Flicker Shad crank baits. The best bait is Power Bait in bright colors.
LAKE FAYETTEVILLE
Angela Perea at the lake office said fishing is good for black bass, crappie and catfish.
Use spinner baits, chatter baits and crank baits for black bass. Crappie are biting jigs or minnows 15 feet deep. Catfish respond best to glow worms. Try crickets or worms for bluegill.
LAKE SEQUOYAH
Mike McBride at the lake bait shop said black bass are biting well on spinner baits and crank baits. Use liver, shad or small sunfish to catch catfish.
Crappie fishing is fair with jigs or minnows eight feet deep.
SWEPCO LAKE
Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said black bass are biting Rat-L-Traps. A variety of soft plastic lures are also working for bass. Fish them two to 20 feet deep.
ILLINOIS RIVER
Stroud suggests using small tube baits or small crank baits for black bass.
BELLA VISTA
Justin McClelland at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said black bass are biting fair on top-water lures at dawn. Use plastic worms or jig and pigs later in the day.
Bluegill are biting worms or crickets 12 to 15 feet deep.
EASTERN OKLAHOMA
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports fair fishing for black bass at Lake Tenkiller with crank baits or spinner baits. Bass are biting on the main lake and in coves.
At Fort Gibson Lake, crappie fishing is good with minnows or jigs around docks, brush and rocks 12 to 15 feet deep. Black bass are biting fair on crank baits and spinner baits. Blue catfish are biting fair on shad.
TABLE ROCK LAKE
Pete Wenners at Pete’s Professional Guide Service said black bass fishing is slow. Try crank baits in the James River arm, or work plastic worms or jig and pigs 15 to 30 feet deep along main lake points on all areas of the lake.