NWA Fishing Report

BEAVER LAKE

Black bass fishing with top-water lures has improved, said James Whittle at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers.

First light to sunrise is the best window for top-water action. Go with plastic worms or jig and pigs 10 to 15 feet deep after sunrise. Spinner baits may also work.

Crappie are biting minnows 15 to 20 feet deep around brush. Striped bass are biting brood minnows between points 7 and 5. Troll a nightcrawler rig for walleye 20 to 25 feet deep.

Average water temperature is 78 to 80 degrees.

Garland Villines at Hickory Creek Marina said crappie can be caught with jigs or crank baits. Villines and his brother, Willie Villines, caught 16 keeper-sized crappie with jigs last week. Fish 15 to 25 feet deep.

Trolling crank baits continues to work for crappie. Bandit 300 series crank baits are good to use.

Catfish are biting stink bait or big minnows.

BEAVER TAILWATER Natalie Howe at Beaver Dam Store said trout are biting well on Power Bait in bright colors. Her personal favorite is chartreuse with glitter.

In the lure category, small spoons or jigs are good to use. Fly fishermen report success with midges.

LAKE FAYETTEVILLE David Powell at the lake office reports little fishing activity and slow fishing.

Try crickets or worms along points for bluegill. For crappie, troll Bandit 300 series or Flicker Shad crank baits. Go with plastic worms for black bass.

LAKE SEQUOYAH

Mike Carver at the lake bait shop said catfish are biting well on liver or stink bait. Black bass fishing is fair with plastic worms. Bluegill are biting worms one to four feet deep. Crappie fishing is slow. BELLA VISTA Harvey Horne at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said top-water lures are working at first and last light at Loch Lomond. Try bass fishing with plastic worms at midday or use spinner baits in the evening at Lake Windsor.

Bluegill are biting crickets or worms at varied depths at all Bella Vista lakes. Use night crawlers or cut bait for catfish.

SWEPCO LAKE Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs recommends using plastic worms 20 feet deep for black bass. Try a top-water lure at first and last light.

ILLINOIS RIVER Stroud recommends using small plastic worms, grubs or tube baits for black bass.

EASTERN OKLAHOMA The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports fair catfishing at Fort Gibson Lake on shad. Black bass fishing is slow.

TABLE ROCK LAKE Missouri Department of Conservation reports fair catfishing with nightcrawlers, live crawdads or cut bait. Black bass fishing is slow. Try buzz baits in the backs of coves at first light.