NWA Fishing Report

BEAVER LAKE

Black bass and crappie are biting.

Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers recommends fishing for black bass in the White or War Eagle river arms of the lake. Good lures include jig and pigs, Alabama rigs, crank baits and jerk baits.

Crappie are biting best in the south half of the lake around standing timber, brush piles or over gravel flats 10 to 25 feet deep. Minnows or jigs are good to use. A good jig color is a red or black body with a chartreuse tail.

No reports on walleye or striped bass.

BEAVER TAILWATER

Austin Kennedy, fishing guide, recommends fishing for trout with prepared baits such as Berkley Power Bait, Power Eggs or Pautzke Fire Bait. Small spoons or small jigs may also work.

Water flow has increased, but boating remains difficult above Spider Creek.

Walleye are starting to show up in the White River arm of Table Rock Lake. Pautzke Fire Minnows and Fire Tubes are good walleye baits. Fish the Fire Minnows on a 1/16th ounce jig head.

Power generation at Beaver Dam has been minimal, but may take place on chilly mornings and also in the evening. This creates higher water and swifter flow.

LAKE FAYETTEVILLE

Angela Perea at Lake Fayetteville Marina recommends fishing for black bass with plastic worms. Minnows or jigs are always good for crappie.

LAKE SEQUOYAH

Angler Mike McBride said catfish are biting well on a variety of baits including liver, nightcrawlers and stink bait. Black bass and crappie fishing have improved. Use plastic worms or crank baits for black bass. Minnows or jigs are good to use for crappie.

BELLA VISTA

Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista reports little fishing activity, which is typical for February. Black bass are biting jerk baits at all Bella Vista lakes. Good numbers are coming in, but the size is small. Try for trout at Lake Brittany with prepared trout baits or small spoons.

Please note that fishing in Bella Vista is open only to POA members and their guests.

SWEPCO LAKE

Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs recommends using any soft plastic lure for black bass. Big swim baits or square-billed crank baits are worth a try.

EASTERN OKLAHOMA

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports good fishing at Lake Tenkiller for black bass with crank baits, jig and pigs or plastic worms along points or rock. Crappie are biting well on minnows or jigs around docks or brush on the main lake. Fishing is slow for catfish.

At Grand Lake, crappie fishing is fair with jigs, minnows or spoons around docks or brush. Catfish are biting fair on liver, cut bait or shad on the main lake.

TABLE ROCK LAKE

Pete Wenners at Pete’s Professional Guide Service said black bass are biting jerk baits or finesse jigs with a small crawdad trailer. Work them along points or gravel and rock banks 12 to 18 feet deep.

— Compiled by Flip Putthoff