Beaver Lake
Scratch the surface for black bass.
Bass fishing using topwater lures has improved, said Rhys Jones of Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers. Popular pelagic lures on Beaver Lake include Zara Spooks, Pop R’s and buzz baits. The best fishing is between first light and sunrise or between sunset and darkness.
Try plastic worms, Ned rigs, or other soft plastic lures to catch bass between sunrise and sunset.
Fish with crankbaits to catch crappie, walleye and catfish. Wander slowly over the flats and into the arms of the creek. Walleye and catfish can be caught by trolling a nightcrawler behind a bottom bouncer 25 to 30 feet deep. Fish small minnows or live shad in the northern half of the lake to catch striped bass. Use crickets or worms in the gills.
Southtown Sporting Goods in Fayetteville said the best way to catch black bass is at night or early in the morning. At night, use jigs and pigs, spinnerbaits or dark-colored plastic worms. Try topwater baits early.
Beaver backwaters
Anglers move a lot to find trout, said Austin Kennedy, a fishing guide. Trout seem to travel in schools. Once you locate them, it is possible to catch large trout 18 inches or larger. A prepared trout bait such as Berkley Power Bait or Pautzke Fire Bait may be effective. The river between Parker Bottoms Inlet and Bertrand has been fishing well.
Fly anglers have reported success with white midges. Power generation at Beaver Dam was minimal.
Lake Fayetteville
At Lake Fayetteville Marina, Angela Perea said the catfish bite has improved. Worms or stinkbait are the best bait. Black bass are biting well on plastic worms or crankbaits. Crappie fishing is fair using minnows or jigs.
Lake Sequoia
Black bass are biting topwater baits early or plastic worms later, angler Mike McBride said. The bluegill bites crickets or worms. Hunting is difficult for both species. Crappie fishing has picked up a bit. Try minnows or jigs.
Beautiful sight
Black bass are biting a variety of soft plastic baits around docks and seawalls in all Bella Vista lakes, said Nick Gunn of Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista. He tried fishing for bluegills with crickets or worms 10 feet deep, but the fishing slowed down. Catfish are biting all types of bait in all Bella Vista lakes.
Please note that fishing at Bella Vista is only open to POA members and their guests.
Elk River
Big Elk Floats, Camping and Lodging reports that black bass are biting topwater lures like Jitterbugs, Pop R’s or small Zara Spooks. White Zoom Flukes work. It is a good idea to use dark colored tube baits. Anglers are reporting good numbers of fish but larger fish are rare.
Lake Swepko
Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs recommends fishing for black bass using a soft plastic bait day or night. Try topwater baits at dawn and dusk.
Illinois River
Black bass fishing is good using 4-inch plastic jigs or dark-colored tube baits, Stroud said. Small Torpedo topwater lures are good to use. Buzz baits or crankbaits may also work.
Eastern Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reported fair fishing on Grand Lake for largemouth bass using crankbaits, plastic worms or topwater lures along rocks, wood or weeds. Crappie are biting fair on jigs or minnows around brush or structure.
At Tenkiller Lake, black bass are biting fair on topwater baits, jigs and pigs, crankbaits or plastic worms along points or brush. Crappie are biting fair on minnows or jigs around docks or timber on the main lake. Try cut bait, worms, or stink bait for catfish.
At Lake Eucha, black bass fishing is fair using topwater baits or spinnerbaits in the coves and near weed beds. Crappie fishing is fair using minnows or jigs around brush. Bluegill bite fair on crickets or worms.
Table Rock Lake
No report this week from Focused Fishing Guide Service. A report last week said black bass were biting small plastic worms on shooting rigs. Fish vertically along gravel and rock points 22 to 32 feet deep. Long tapering points are best.
The green or brown jig and pigs were running 18 to 25 feet deep in the main lake or 12 to 20 feet deep in the arms of the creek. Plastic worms were working at those depths as well.