NWA Fishing Report

BEAVER LAKE

Anglers are eager for walleye and white bass spawns, but crappie are biting now.

Jon Conklin, fishing guide, said crappie can be caught from brush in water that’s 30 to 40 feet deep. Fish a jig or minnow 15 feet deep above the brush. Fish may be shallower on warm afternoons.

A shad kill during cold weather in January has made striper fishing tough because stripers had so much bait fish to eat. Fishing with shad or brood minnows should improve in the next week or two.

Walleye have not moved into the White or War Eagle river tributaries in good numbers yet. The spawn will be on in the next couple of weeks, Conklin said.

Try for black bass with suspending jerk baits or Alabama rigs along main lake points. Average water temperature is in the middle to upper 40s.

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 crappie with jigs. Larger crappie are being caught now. White bass are also biting jigs. Try for black bass with plastic worms. Perea said most bass caught are on the small side.

LAKE SEQUOYAH

Angler Mike McBride said crappie fishing is steadily improving as the water warms. Jigs are working best. Cold snaps will slow the fishing. The old White River bridge is a good area to try. A few black bass are being caught with plastic worms. Use liver for catfish.

LAKE ATALANTA

Anglers at the lake say trout are biting fair on small jigs in dark colors.

BELLA VISTA

Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista recommends fishing for black bass with jerk baits or jig and pigs at any Bella Vista lake. 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 jerk baits for black bass in pearl or bone colors. Try for black bass with plastic worms in dark colors on a shaky-head rig. Plastic lizards are best fished on a Carolina rig.

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

Focused Fishing Guide Service reports black bass are biting Alabama rigs best on windy days around wood cover and docks. Swim baits work better on calm days.

Jig and pigs are good to use in creek arms around channel swings 15 feet deep or shallower. Fish around wood cover. Crank bait may work on breezy days. Jerk baits are good on windy days as well.