NWA Fishing Report

BEAVER LAKE

Fish for crappie near any timber or brush, but the largest crappie are suspended over flats.

Jon Conklin, fishing guide, recommends fishing along flats adjacent to the main river channel. High quality electronics are helpful in locating these crappie. Good places to try include flats near Point 12, in the War Eagle River arm near Camp War Eagle and in front of War Eagle Marina.

Walleye or white bass spawning hasn’t started in the White or War Eagle River arms. Conklin advises anglers not to launch boats at the Twin Bridges ramp where Arkansas 45 crosses the White River. Shoals above and below the ramp are hazards. Best bet is to launch at U.S. 412 ramp and motor upstream.

Striped bass are all over the lake. Use brood minnows or shad.

BEAVER TAILWATER

Austin Kennedy, fishing guide, said walleye fishing is steadily improving. Fish deep water and deep holes. Try Pautzke Fire Minnows and work them from shallow into deep water.

The best area for trout fishing is between Parker Bottoms and Spider Creek. Prepared trout baits or small spoons should work.

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. Go for black bass with plastic worms worked around rocks. Cold snaps, typical in March, can slow down the fishing, she said. No reports on catfish or bluegill.

LAKE SEQUOYAH

Angler Mike McBride said fishing has picked up for all species. Crappie are moving to shallow water and biting minnows or jigs. Black bass are biting crank baits, spinner baits or plastic worms. Catch catfish with liver.

BELLA VISTA

Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista reports crappie are biting minnows 15 feet deep. Fish for black bass at any Bella Vista lake with Alabama rigs, crank baits or plastic worms. Trout are biting prepared trout baits or small spoons at Lake Brittany.

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

SWEPCO LAKE

Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs recommends fishing for black bass with soft plastic lures rigged Carolina, wacky or shakyhead style.

SILOAM SPRINGS LAKE

Stroud recommends fishing for crappie with minnows.

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. White bass are biting fair on the main lake. Use Alabama rigs, inline spinners or any small lure.

At Grand Lake, crappie are biting fair on Alabama rigs, or jigs around brush and docks. Catfish are biting fair on liver, cut bait or shad on the main lake. The white bass run has started up the Spring and Neosho rivers.

At Lake Eucha, largemouth bass fishing is fair with crank baits, spinner baits or plastic worms. Catfish are biting fair on cut bait. Bluegill are biting well on worms or grubs around docks.

TABLE ROCK LAKE

Focused Fishing Guide Service said black bass can be caught with swim baits or Alabama rigs around wood cover. Alabama rigs work best if there is a breeze. Try jerk baits or crank baits along 45-degree sloping banks that have some timber or brush.