NWA fishing report

Beaver Lake

Autumn is near, but summertime tactics still rule the fishing roost. Average water temperature remains about 80 degrees.

Mike Whitehouse at Hickory Creek Marina said crappie are biting jigs or minnows 15 to 20 feet deep around brush. Trolling crank baits for crappie may also work. Bandit 300 series crank baits are popular. Lures with some chartreuse in the pattern are a good choice.

Aaron Jolliff at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said jigging spoons are a productive lure for white bass and walleye. Best fishing is from Point 9 to Point 5. Find schools of shad on a depth finder then jig a spoon near the shad.

Trolling crank baits continues to work for crappie. Troll in creek arms with timber.

Nighttime is best for catching black bass with spinner baits and plastic worms in dark colors. Try top-water lures at first light.

Beaver tailwater

Lisa Mullins at Beaver Dam Store reports rainbow trout are biting well on Power Bait in bright colors. Fly fishermen report catching trout on midges.

Wade-fishing conditions are good in the morning. Power generation takes place mainly in the afternoon.

Lake Fayetteville

Angela Perea at the lake office said white bass, catfish and crappie can be caught by trolling with jigs or crank baits. All other fishing is slow.

Lake Sequoyah

Mike Carter at the lake bait shop said channel and blue catfish are biting fair on stink bait. Catfish to 10 pounds have been caught.

Crappie fishing is fair with jigs or minnows six feet deep. Black bass are biting fair on plastic worms.

Bella Vista

Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista reports bluegill are biting crickets or worms 10 to 15 feet at all Bella Vista lakes.

Try top-water lures for black bass at first and last light. Go with deep-diving crank baits or plastic worms at midday.

Swepco Lake

Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs recommends fishing for black bass 15 to 25 feet deep with plastic worms. Try top-water lures at first and last light.

Illinois River

Stroud recommends using small tube baits or grubs for black bass. Buzz baits may also work.

Eastern Oklahoma

Stroud recommends using deep-diving crank baits or plastic worms at Lake Eucha for daytime fishing. Go with dark-colored spinner baits or plastic worms at night.

Table Rock Lake

Missouri Department of Conservation reports catfish are an angler's best bet. Fishing is good with nightcrawlers or cut bait.

For black bass, try jigging spoons 30 feet deep along points. Plastic worms may also work along points 20 to 30 feet deep.

-- Compiled by Flip Putthoff

Sports on 09/11/2018

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