BEAVER LAKE
Night is the best time to catch black bass at Beaver Lake. James Whittle at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said black spinner baits are working for bass at night. Fish along points and rocky banks.
Daytime bass fishing is tough. Try a small plastic worm on a drop-shot rig 10 to 25 feet deep. Work points and rock banks.
Jigging spoons are picking up a mixed catch of fish, including white bass, walleye and catfish. Look for schools of shad on a depth finder and fish the spoon around the school. Best depth is 25 to 35 feet deep.
Trolling with crank baits is the best way to catch crappie. Troll baits that run 10 to 15 feet deep. Flats are good places.
All methods of catching catfish are working. Use live bait such as small sunfish for flathead and blue catfish. Go with nightcrawlers or liver for channel catfish.
Mike Whitehouse at Hickory Creek Marina reports little fishing activity. Trolling for crappie and catfish with crank baits has been working the past couple of weeks.
BEAVER TAILWATER
Lisa Mullins at Beaver Dam Store said conditions are excellent for wade fishing in the morning. Fly anglers are doing well with olive or red midges and olive microjigs. Spin fishermen often tip the jig with a waxworm and fish it under a float.
The top bait is Power Bait in the sunrise color. Combine it with a waxworm for best results.
LAKE FAYETTEVILLE
Angela Perea at the lake office said bluegill are biting worms or crickets. Try stink bait or goldfish for catfish. Crappie are scattered but biting jigs or minnows. Black bass are biting minnows, spinner baits and plastic worms.
LAKE SEQUOYAH
Mike McBride at the lake bait shop said black bass are biting top-water lures early. Buzz baits are good to use. Catfish are biting small sunfish, shad or liver.
Try jigs eight feet deep for crappie. Use crickets or worms close to shore for bluegill.
SWEPCO LAKE
Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said black bass are biting a variety of soft plastics two to 20 feet deep. Try top-water lures early.
ILLINOIS RIVER
Stroud recommends small tube baits or grubs for black bass. Small Rebel crawdad crank baits work well.
SILOAM SPRINGS LAKE
Stroud recommends using square-billed crank baits, top-water lures or plastic worms for black bass.
BELLA VISTA
Nick Gann at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said black bass are biting fair 10 to 25 feet deep on plastic worms. Try top-water lures between first light and sunrise.
Bluegill are biting crickets or worms 15 to 25 feet deep. Use shrimp or nightcrawlers for catfish.
EASTERN OKLAHOMA
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports fair fishing for catfish at Lake Eucha with liver. Try plastic worms 15 to 25 feet deep for black bass.
TABLE ROCK LAKE
The Missouri Department of Conservation reports good bluegill fishing with crickets or worms over gravel banks and in pockets. Try a Ned rig or plastic worm for black bass 10 to 25 feet deep along points and rocky banks.