Beaver Lake: Bass are moving to the south end of the lake.
Fishing guide Jon Conklin recommends striper fishing in the Prairie Creek and Monte Ne areas and further south in the tributaries of the White and War Eagle rivers. The arms of the river are loaded with walleye and that should attract stripers to these tributaries. Live baits or hatchlings are the best baits. The average surface water temperature is in the low to mid 60s.
Crappies are moving near brush and rocks near the main river channel. Fish with fish or cabinets 20 feet deep or less. Watch out for white bass and spotted bass chasing the surface. Catch them with small lures or topwater machines. Watch for hazards as the water level drops until some significant rain falls.
Southtown Sporting Goods in Fayetteville reports that black bass are biting fair on small crankbaits or jigs along rocky shoals. Fishing is fair around the brush. Catfish bite live baits such as nightcrawlers, worms or small sunfish.
Beavertail Water: Guide Austin Kennedy recommends fishing for trout with prepared trout bait. He has had good luck with Pautzke Fire Worms threaded on a 16-ounce jig head. Work the worm close to the bottom.
Try walleye in the Festes Island area fishing crankbaits or minnows.
Lake Fayetteville: David Powell with the lake office said the fish are biting 4 to 6 feet deep on minnows or minnows. Fish the same depth with crickets or worms. Black bass are biting spinnerbaits. Try catfish with liver.
Sequoyah Lake: Angler Mike McBride said black bass fishing is good on soft plastic lures. Try topwater lures for early bass. The catfish bites the liver. Fishing is slow. The lake is open from dawn to dusk.
Bella Vista: Chip Wiseman at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said black bass fishing is good on all Bella Vista lakes using crankbaits, swimbaits and Alabama rigs. Topwater lures work early.
Crappie can be caught 18 to 20 feet deep around the brush with minnows or jigs. Catfish are biting well on all types of catfish baits.
Please note that fishing at Bella Vista is only open to POA members and their guests.
Illinois River: Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs recommends fishing for black bass with tube lures or spinners. Anglers report catching spotted bass and smallmouth bass.
Swepco Lake: Stroud recommends fishing for black bass with any type of soft plastic bait, such as plastic worms or Ned rigs. Crankbaits and topwater baits can also work.
Eastern Oklahoma: The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports good bass fishing in Grand Lake on Alabama rigs and spinnerbaits around brush and docks. Crappie are biting fair on fish or tackle around docks and brush. Catfish nibble on chicken liver or halibut.
At Tenkiller Lake, all three species of black bass are biting fair on rigs, plastic worms, crankbaits and topwater lures around brush and points. Crappie are biting well on rigs or fish around brush and docks.
Table Rock Lake: The Focused Fishing Guide Service reports that black bass are biting the jig and hogs early on gravel or gravel rock points. As the sun rises, fish shady areas. Small plastic worms on a drop rig worked in the treetops or around rock piles, wood and docks 25 to 35 feet deep.