NWA Fishing Report

BEAVER LAKE

Black bass are biting jerk baits, jig and pigs and Alabama rigs, reports James Whittle at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers.

Jig and pigs and Alabama rigs worked well for anglers in the New Year’s Day Polar Bear bass tournament. The winners, Drew Sagely and Will Lancett, both of Rogers, used jig and pigs 25 feet deep in the midlake area.

Their jig was green pumpkin in color with a red craw trailer.

Crappie can be caught 10 to 25 feet deep around brush with minnows or jigs. Try for stripers in the Prairie Creek and Rocky Branch area using brood minnows or shad for bait.

Garland Villines at Hickory Creek Marina said muddy water hampered fishing last week. If the water clears this week, fishing for stripers should be good with brood minnows or shad. Fish from the Hickory Creek area upstream into the White and War Eagle tributaries.

Try for crappie 15 to 20 feet deep with minnows or jigs around brush.

BEAVER TAILWATER Beaver Dam Store reports trout fishing is good with Power Bait, worms or nightcrawlers.

Good lures to use include small jigs, spoons and countdown Rapalas. Try nymphs or midges for fly fishing.

LAKES FAYETTEVILLE,

SEQUOYAH

The lakes will reopen on Jan 15.

BELLA VISTA

Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista recommends fishing for trout at Lake Brittany with Power Bait or small spoons.

Try for bluegill on any Bella Vista lake with worms 10 to 15 feet deep.

SWEPCO LAKE Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said black bass fishing is good with any soft plastic lure fished two to 20 feet deep. A 4-inch lizard or Zoom Baby Brush Hog should work particularly well. Try top-water lures on cloudy days.

EASTERN OKLAHOMA The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports fair fishing for catfish and crappie at Fort Gibson Lake. Use minnows or tube jigs for crappie. Try for catfish with live shad.

TABLE ROCK LAKE Fishing guide Pete Wenners said jigging spoons worked deep around schools of shad are catching black bass.

Locate shad with a depth finder, then fish vertically with a jigging spoon 35 to 40 feet deep, but as deep as 70 feet.

Rapala ice fishing jigs or small swim baits are also good for vertical jigging. Bluff ends and channel swings are good places to try.