NWA fishing report

BEAVER LAKE

Summertime fishing is here and the catching can be tough. Many anglers are heading out early or fishing at night.

James Whittle at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said black buzz baits and black spinner baits may bring bites from black bass at night. Work them around flooded bushes and timber.

For early morning bass fishing, try top-water lures from first light to sunrise. Go with spinner baits, crank baits or plastic worms later in the day eight to 20 feet deep.

Striped bass are biting at first light between points 5 and 3. Use brood minnows or shad.

Walleye can be caught by trolling nightcrawler rigs or crank baits. All methods and baits are working for catfish. Use small sunfish to target flatheads. Go with liver, nightcrawlers or stink bait for channel catfish.

Mike Whitehouse at Hickory Creek Marina said trolling for crappie with crank baits is good on the south end of the lake. Bandit 300 crank baits are the lure of choice for trolling. Anglers have cleaned some limits of 15 crappie at the marina. Crappie at Beaver Lake must be 10 inches or longer to keep.

Crappie fishing with a spider rig baited with minnows is another option. Fish 20 feet deep.

Catfish are biting well on sunfish or hot dogs, Whitehouse said.

BEAVER TAILWATER

Tom Steinke at Beaver Dam Store said fishing with bait is the best way to catch trout. Power Bait in bright colors is working well. The tailwater level is still high and shore fishing opportunities are limited. It’s best to fish from a boat.

LAKE FAYETTEVILLE

David Powell at the lake office said bluegill fishing is good early four to six feet deep. Crickets are working best, but worms will work, too.

Catfish are biting along the dam on nightcrawlers or glow worms. Try plastic worms rigged wacky style for black bass. Crank baits may also work.

LAKE SEQUOYAH

Mike McBride at the lake office said black bass are biting well early on buzz baits and plastic worms. A few crappie have been caught eight feet deep with minnows or jigs.

Bluegill are biting on worms or crickets fished close to shore. Catfish are biting liver or shad.

SWEPCO LAKE

Kenny Stroud in Bella Vista said black bass fishing is best at night with big plastic worms two to 20 feet deep. Use dark colors.

SILOAM SPRINGS LAKE

Stroud recommends using top-water lures early. Try for bluegill with worms or crickets.

ILLINOIS RIVER

Stroud recommends using small tube baits, grubs or buzz baits for black bass.

BELLA VISTA

Nick Gann at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said bluegill are biting on all Bella Vista lakes 10 to 12 feet deep with crickets or worms.

Some schooling activity for black bass is happening on the city’s lakes early and late. Use small jigs or top-water lures to catch them. Try night fishing for black bass with big plastic worms or black spinner baits one to 15 feet deep.

EASTERN OKLAHOMA

Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said black bass at Lake Eucha are biting top-water lures early. Use plastic worms for day or night fishing.

TABLE ROCK LAKE

The Missouri Department of Conservation reports good bluegill fishing with worms or crickets. Black bass are biting fair on plastic worms along gravel points. Try deep-diving crank baits or jig and pigs in the James River arm.