BEAVER LAKE
Black bass are hitting top-water lures at dawn, but the window of catching opportunity is short.
James Whittle at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said black bass are hitting buzz baits and top-water plugs the first hour of daylight. Action slows after that, he said. Try points and chunk rock banks, especially if they contain submerged timber. Use a finesse worm on a drop-shot rig for midday bass fishing.
Spinner baits are working well for bass on the south end of the lake, Whittle said.
Crappie fishing is good with minnows in the midlake area six to 12 feet deep around brush and docks. Trolling crank baits is a good tactic for crappie and an occasional walleye. Catfish are biting all varieties of catfish bait.
Erica Crafford at Hickory Creek Marina said crappie fishing has improved. Use jigs 15 feet deep around brush piles and standing timber. Catfish are biting liver.
BEAVER TAILWATER
Tom Steinke at Beaver Dam Store said fly fishermen are catching trout with nymphs, scuds, midges and micro jigs.
“They key is, if you’re catching them, don’t move. If you’re not catching them, move,” Steinke said.
There is low water for wade fishing in the morning. Power generation is mainly in the afternoon. Effective lures for trout include small spoons and inline spinners. Power Bait is the top bait.
LAKE FAYETTEVILLE
Angela Perea at the lake office said crappie fishing has improved. Use jigs or minnows 18 to 20 feet deep. Black bass are biting spinner baits, crank baits and plastic worms. Every day is different, she said.
Use crickets or worms for bluegill. Stink bait is best for catfish.
LAKE SEQUOYAH
Mike McBride at the lake bait shop said black bass are biting most any lure including top-water plugs, crank baits and plastic worms.
Crappie are fair with jigs or minnows eight feet deep. Some good-sized crappie to 14 inches long have been caught recently. Use crickets or worms close to shore for bluegill. Go with liver or shad for channel catfish.
SWEPCO LAKE
Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said black bass are biting soft plastic lures two to 20 feet deep. Try top-water lures at sunrise, sunset and cloudy days.
ILLINOIS RIVER
Stroud recommends small tube baits, grubs or craws for black bass. Small Rebel crawdad crank baits may also work.
BELLA VISTA
Justin McClelland at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said black bass are biting well on top-water lures or jigs in shallow water at all Bella Vista lakes. Bluegill are biting worms or crickets 12 to 15 feet deep. Use shrimp or nightcrawlers for catfish.
EASTERN OKLAHOMA
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports good fishing at Fort Gibson Lake for white bass with crank baits, jigs and Rooster Tails. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.
TABLE ROCK LAKE
Pete Wenners at Pete’s Professional Guide Service said black bass are biting finesse worms on a drop-shot rig on all areas of the lake. Gravel points are the best places to fish.
Top-water lures are effective for bass the first two hours of the day, but the bite is hit or miss.