Beaver Lake
Schools of threadfin shad are migrating to the backs of creek arms and are attracting all species of game fish.
James Whittle at Hook, Line and Sinker said white bass, striped bass, black bass, catfish and walleye are among the species that may be caught fishing near the shad schools. Use lures that imitate shad such as a white jig, shad-colored crank bait, spoon or small top-water lure.
Try top-water lures for black bass early along points or at the mouth of creek arms. Use spinner baits or plastic worms later in the day.
Crappie are biting minnows or jigs five to 15 feet deep around docks and submerged timber. Fishing is best on the south half of the lake.
Average water temperature is 52 to 56 degrees.
Mike Whitehouse at Hickory Creek Marina said striped bass fishing is good with shad or brood minnows on the southern one-third of the lake. Stripers are 15 feet deep or shallower.
Whitehouse said this is one of the best autumns he has seen for striper fishing. Good numbers are being caught, including big stripers to 40 pounds.
Crappie fishing is fair with minnows or jigs 12 to 14 feet deep around docks and submerged timber.
Beaver tailwater
Lisa Mullins at Beaver Dam Store said larger than average rainbow trout were stocked recently by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
Good numbers of trout are being caught with Power Bait tipped with a waxworm while drift-fishing from a boat. Some walleye have been caught with nightcrawlers.
The best lures are small spoons in gold and silver or red and gold. Good flies to try include pheasant tails, midges, hare's ears and San Juan worms.
Lake Fayetteville
David Powell at the lake office said black bass fishing has improved. Use top-water lures early. Switch to spinner baits later in the day.
Crappie are biting jigs, minnows or a jig tipped with a minnow. Fish six feet deep over water that is 20 feet deep.
Average water temperature is 54 degrees.
Lake Sequoyah
Mike McBride at the lake bait shop said black bass fishing is fair with spinner baits. Crappie fishing is fair with minnows or jigs eight feet deep. Try liver or shad for catfish.
Swepco Lake
Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said black bass fishing is good with plastic worms. Try top-water lures early or on cloudy days.
Illinois River
Stroud recommends fishing for black bass with grubs, tube baits or jerk baits.
Eastern Oklahoma
Stroud said black bass at Lake Eucha are biting jerk baits or jig and pigs.
Bella Vista
Nick Gann at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said jig and pigs or crank baits are the best lures to catch black bass. Use Power Bait or small spoons for trout at Lake Brittany.
Table Rock Lake
Pete Wenners at Pete's Professional Guide Service said black bass fishing has improved. Good numbers are being caught on jigging spoons or jig and pigs. Fish 10 to 25 feet deep along gravel points and flats.
Wiggle Wart crank baits are also working along gravel points in the main lake.
Sports on 12/05/2017