NWA Fishing Report

BEAVER LAKE

Fishing should improve now that the lake turnover is nearly over, said fishing guide Jon Conklin.

Try for crappie 12 to 20 feet deep around brush with minnows or jigs close to the bottom. A good area to fish is from Horseshoe Bend park upstream into the War Eagle River arm.

Striped bass fishing is fair to good from Prairie Creek park to Beaver Dam. Shad, brood minnows or small sunfish are good baits. Stripers will begin a migration to the upstream portions of the lake soon, Conklin said.

Black bass fishing is good one day, poor the next. Fish from 1 to 20 feet deep with spinner baits, plastic worms, crank baits or any lure an angler likes to use. Walleye are scattered now. Trolling nightcrawler rigs behind a bottom bouncer weight may still work. Soon walleye will be hitting jerk baits and crank baits as the water cools. Average surface water temperature is in the low to mid 60s depending on time of day and location.

BEAVER TAILWATER

Austin Kennedy, fishing guide, said trout fishing has been on and off. Prepared trout baits such as Berkley Power Bait have been good. Pautzke Fire Worms should get trout to bite.

The walleye bite has been up and down. Try trolling mid-diving crank baits at the towns of Beaver or Holiday Island. Power generation at Beaver Dam has been minimal, creating good low-water conditions for wade fishing.

LAKE FAYETTEVILLE

Lake Fayetteville Marina said bluegill are biting crickets or worms. Worms are the best catfish bait. Try plastic worms for black bass.

LAKE SEQUOYAH

Angler Mike McBride recommends fishing for black bass early with top-water lures. Crappie are biting fair on minnows or jigs. Use any catfish bait to catch catfish.

BELLA VISTA

Nick Gann at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said black bass are biting jig and pigs or plastic worms at all Bella Vista lakes. Crickets or worms should work for bluegill.

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 plastic worms, plastic lizards or tube baits. Try top-water lures at dawn and dusk.

ILLINOIS RIVER

Stroud said black bass fishing is good in low water with 4-inch plastic lizards or tube baits in dark colors. Buzz baits or Rebel Wee R Crawdad crank baits may also work.

EASTERN OKLAHOMA

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports black bass fishing is good at Grand Lake with crank baits or plastic worms in coves, creek channels or around docks and timber. Crappie fishing is fair with jigs or minnows around brush.

At Lake Tenkiller, black bass are biting well on crank baits, jigs, plastic worms or top-water lures around docks and brush. Crappie are biting well on minnows or jigs around docks or brush on the main lake. Bluegill are biting well on worm or small jigs around docks and rocky banks.

TABLE ROCK LAKE

Focused Fishing Guide Service said black bass fishing has slowed, but fish can be caught. Try a small plastic worm on a drop-shot rig or a jigging spoon 30 to 50 feet deep. Jig and pigs are working around brush or rock piles 18 to 30 feet deep. Top-water fishing is sporadic.