NWA Fishing Report

BEAVER LAKE

Crappie are moving into shallow water as the weather warms.

Jon Conklin, fishing guide, said crappie are suspended at different levels in the water column. Flats are good places to look for suspended crappie. They are also around brush and lay-down trees five to 15 feet deep.

Good areas to try are on the south end of the lake and include Nelson Hollow, Camp War Eagle area on the War Eagle River arm and Neill’s Bluff on the White River arm. Minnows or jigs should work. A good jig color is a red or black body with a chartreuse tail.

Striped bass are roaming between Hickory Creek park and Camp War Eagle. Once the water reaches the 60s, stripers will make a spawning run, but their eggs don’t hatch. Eggs must be suspended in current for 24 to 36 hours to hatch, but at Beaver eggs sink to the bottom and die.

Walleye are inconsistent, Conklin said. It’s hard to reach their spawning areas by boat when flows are low. Some anglers are walking into those areas and catching a few. A big rise in the rivers is needed to improve walleye fishing and create good conditions for a white bass spawning run.

Try for black bass with jerk baits along points.

BEAVER TAILWATER

Austin Kennedy, fishing guide, said walleye fishing is slow. Little power generation is taking place at Beaver Dam and more flow is needed to improve fishing. Try for walleye with 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, creating good conditions for wade fishing.

LAKE FAYETTEVILLE

Lake Fayetteville Marina reports crappie moving into shallow water and biting jigs. Bluegill are also moving shallow and biting worms. Try for catfish with stink bait or liver along the dam.

LAKE SEQUOYAH

Angler Mike McBride said catfish are biting the best. Liver is the top bait. Black bass are biting soft plastic baits. Crappie are scattered, but biting jigs or minnows. Cold fronts slow down the fishing temporarily. Wind has kept anglers away from the lake.

BELLA VISTA

Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista reports good numbers of small bass can be caught at any Bella Vista lake with a small plastic worm on a drop-shot rig. Bluegill and redear are biting worms at lakes Ann and Loch Lomond. Fish for trout at Lake Brittany with prepared trout bait 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 fishing for black bass with soft plastic lures rigged Carolina, wacky or shakyhead style.

SILOAM SPRINGS, CRYSTAL LAKES

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 minnows, jigs or spoons around brush and docks. Catfish are biting fair on liver, cut bait or shad on the main lake.

At Lake Eucha, largemouth bass fishing is fair with crank baits, spinner baits or Alabama rigs. Catfish are biting fair on cut bait or hot dog chunks. Crappie are biting fair on jigs or minnows around brush or docks.

TABLE ROCK LAKE

Focused Fishing Guide Service had no report. Last week’s report 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.