NWA Fishing Report

LAKE FAYETTEVILLE

Angela Perea at Lake Fayetteville Marina said bluegill are biting best. Crickets or worms are the top baits. They’re biting on all areas of the lake. Use plastic worms or spinner baits for black bass. Crappie are shallow and biting minnows or jigs.

BEAVER LAKE

Anglers can find any water clarity they like. The south half of the lake is stained to muddy while the north half is clear.

Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said black bass may bite any lure an angler likes to use. Some bass remain deep, some are as shallow from a foot to 5 feet. Some bass have started to spawn. Jones recommends trying shallow water first.

The same goes for crappie. Some are deep at 15 feet. Others are 6 feet deep or shallower. Minnows or jigs should work. In dirty water, Jones recommends dark colors such as licorice-pearl in the Bobby Garland brand of soft-plastic jigs. In clear water, use light blue with black specks, called monkey milk by Garland lures.

Striped bass are scattered from Prairie Creek park south into the White and War Eagle tributaries. Live shad or brood minnows are the best baits. Locate shad schools with electronics and stripers may be near the school.

The white bass spawning run hasn’t materialized and may not, Jones speculated. Good flows in the White and War Eagle river tributaries that is needed for a good run may have come after most white bass had already spawned, Jones figures. A good walleye spawning run never happened this year either, he noted. Low flow in the tributaries during March is likely to blame.

Flathead catfish are biting well on sunfish. An angler brought a 47-pound flathead by the shop last week, Jones said. Average surface water temperature is in the low 60s.

BEAVER TAILWATER

Austin Kennedy, fishing guide, said there’s been no change in the trout fishing from last week. Trout are biting best between Spider Creek and the U.S. 62 bridge. Prepared trout baits or small spoons should work.

Kennedy said he’s caught a few white bass here and there, but hasn’t encountered any big schools.

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

LAKE SEQUOYAH

Angler Mike McBride said the best fishing is for black bass. Spinner baits are the best lure. Catfish are biting well on liver. Crappie fishing is slow.

BELLA VISTA

Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista recommends fishing for black bass with plastic worms, jig and pigs or swim baits. Catfish bite best after substantial rain. Catch them with liver, nightcrawler, stink bait or any catfish bait. Go 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 said black bass are biting a variety of soft plastic lures. Square-billed crank baits may also work. Try for crappie with minnows or jigs around wood cover.

SILOAM SPRINGS, CRYSTAL LAKES

Stroud recommends fishing for crappie with minnows. Try crickets or worms for bluegill. Go with plastic worms for black bass.

ELK RIVER

Big Elk Floats and Camping said black bass fishing is good with top-water lures, bone-colored jerk baits or small plastic worms in peanut butter and jelly color.

EASTERN OKLAHOMA

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports good fishing at Lake Tenkiller for white bass with jigs or in-line spinners in river arms. Black bass fishing is good with crank baits, plastic worms or spinner baits. Crappie are biting fair on minnows or jigs around brush and docks on the main lake.

At Grand Lake, crappie fishing is good with jigs, minnows or spoons. Catfish are biting cut bait, stink bait or liver. Black bass fishing is fair with crank baits, jerk baits, plastic worms or spinner baits.

At Lake Eucha, black bass fishing is fair with crank baits, jerk baits or plastic worms around brush and docks. Catfish are biting fair on liver, cut bait or worms.

TABLE ROCK LAKE

Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce recommends fishing for largemouth bass in the backs of creek arms. Smallmouth and spotted bass prefer deeper water closer to the main lake. Spinner baits, plastic worms and swim baits are good to use. Head for the Shell Knob area, Long Creek arm or James River arm to catch crappie with minnows or jigs.