NWA Fishing Report

BEAVER LAKE

Fishing is in transition from winter to spring tactics.

Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said striped bass fishing is good in the Prairie Creek area with brood minnows or shad. The spring striper migration is weird this year, he said. Some stripers are migrating from Prairie Creek to areas downstream such as Rocky Branch, while stripers are also making their typical movement to the south end of the reservoir. Locate schools of shad with electronics or look for gulls feeding on shad. Stripers should be prowling nearby.

Crappie are moving into shallower water and holding near wood cover. Jigs or minnows are good to use five to 15 feet deep. Try minnow-like lures for black bass, Jones advised. Jerk baits, spinner baits, crank baits, plastic worms or Alabama rigs are good to use.

No reports of a white bass spawning run up the White or War Eagle tributaries, but anglers report catching white bass around shad schools farther downstream.

BEAVER TAILWATER

Austin Kennedy, fishing guide, said trout are biting well on Pautzke Fire Worms and Pautzke Fire Bait fished on light line.

Walleye fishing has been up and down. Kennedy said the Army Corps of Engineers is not projected to generate much electricity at Beaver Dam any time soon. The low flow makes walleye fishing tough. Try trolling crank baits between the towns of Beaver and Holiday Island.

Power generation at Beaver Dam has been minimal, creating good conditions for wade fishing.

LAKE FAYETTEVILLE

Angela Perea at Lake Fayetteville Marina said fishing is good for all species. Jigs work best for crappie. Larger size crappie are being caught. Bluegill are biting worms or crickets. Try for white bass with any minnow lure or live minnows. Fish for black bass along the dam with plastic worms.

LAKE SEQUOYAH

Angler Mike McBride said catfish are the best bet when the water is muddy. Any catfish bait should work including stink bait, nightcrawlers or liver. When the water is clearer, try for crappie with minnows or jigs. Use plastic worms to catch black bass.

BELLA VISTA

Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista recommends fishing for bluegill with crickets. Use worms to catch redear. Try 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 white bass with Alabama rigs, jigs or incline spinners in river arms. Use crank baits jigs or plastic worms for black bass. Crappie are biting well on minnows or jigs around docks or brush on the main lake.

At Grand Lake, crappie fishing is fair with jigs, minnows or spoons. Catfish are biting cut bait, stink bait or liver.

TABLE ROCK LAKE

Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce recommends fishing for black bass with plastic worms, spinner baits or top-water lures. Fish for crappie in the Long Creek or James River arms with minnows or jigs around wood cover. Try for bluegill along any shoreline. Use worms or a piece of hot dog.