BEAVER LAKE
Black bass, striped bass and crappie are biting at Beaver Lake.
James Whittle at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said black bass can be caught with jerk baits, crank baits, swim baits and Alabama rigs. Points, bluff ends and rocky banks are good areas to try.
Crappie are biting on the south half of the lake from the Arkansas 12 bridge south into the White and War Eagle tributaries. Use minnows or jigs 10 to 15 feet deep.
Fishing is good for striped bass and white bass with shad or brood minnows in the Prairie Creek area and near Point 12. Schools of white bass are breaking the surface most mornings, he said.
Mike Whitehouse echoed the good striper fishing news. Point 12 is the hot spot on the south end of the lake, he said.
Crappie fishing is good in the Hickory Creek area with minnows or jigs fished on a tight line or under a bobber. Lots of limits are being caught.
BEAVER TAILWATER
Lisa Mullins at the Beaver Dam Store said trout are biting Power Bait in bright colors. The top flies are pheasant-tails, midges, hare’s ears and San Juan worms. Good lures include small spoons in gold and silver or red and gold.
Whittle said walleye are biting between Beaver town and Holiday Island. Minnows or nightcrawlers are good baits.
LAKE FAYETTEVILLE
David Powell at the lake office said black bass are biting spinner baits. Bass to 7 pounds have been caught recently. Crappie and white bass are biting minnows or jigs. Trolling is the best way to fish.
LAKE SEQUOYAH
Mike McBride at the lake bait shop said crappie are biting jigs or minnows five feet deep. Black bass are biting spinner baits. Try liver for catfish.
LAKE ATALANTA
Whittle said trout are biting Power Bait, Trout Magnets or small spoons.
SWEPCO LAKE
Kenny Stroud in Siloam Spring said black bass are biting a variety of soft plastic baits fished two to 20 feet deep. Try top-water lures around timber on cloudy days. All areas of the lake are fishing well.
ILLINOIS RIVER
Stroud recommends using tube baits and other soft plastic baits to catch black bass.
BELLA VISTA
Nick Gann at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said black bass are biting swim baits, spinner baits or plastic worms rigged wacky style. The best lakes are Windsor, Avalon and Ann.
Bluegill are biting at all Bella Vista lakes on crickets or worms fished 15 to 20 feet deep near brush.
Crappie are biting minnows or jigs at lakes Ann and Windsor. Trout at Lake Brittany are biting Power Bait and small spoons.
EASTERN OKLAHOMA
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports good crappie fishing at Grand Lake five to 15 feet deep around docks and brush. Catfishing is fair with shad on the main lake. Paddlefish snagging hasn’t heated up yet.
TABLE ROCK LAKE
Pete Wenners at Pete’s Professional Guide Service said black bass are biting swim baits 10 feet deep along flat gravel points and along bluff ends.
Try shad-colored jerk baits or crawdad-colored crank baits on windy days. On calm days, work a jig and pig or Ned rig along points.