NORTHWEST ARKANSAS - Weekly Fishing Report

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Randy Zellers (501)223-6406, e-mail: rdzellers@agfc.state.ar.us

This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's fishing report

November 7, 2013

Beaver Lake - As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,118.44 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).

(Updated 11-06-2013) Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said the surface water temperature is in the low to mid-60s. Stripers are on scattered but are biting throughout the day with peaks at dusk and dawn. They are using secondary points as they make their way toward the creek arms. Beaver lake striper are taking topwater lures now! Fishing is good on topwater lures, 8- to 12-inch live shad fished on down lines 0-35 feet deep, trolled umbrella rigs with white grubs, and Rapalas, Bomber 15a-16as or spoons on downriggers set 0-35 feet deep near timber, bluffs and rock piles. Also try large Rat-L-Traps at night around the islands on the mid- and lower portions of the lake. There are stripers along secondary points near the dam, points 1, 3, 4 and 5, and Indian Creek, but the following areas are hot spots: Lost Bridge South (the flats and bars between LBS and Fish Trap Hollow); Point 6 (the Van Hollow Area near Twin Coves and the channel and tree tops from 25-35 feet deep); Rambo Creek Arm (striped bass are moving toward main lake structures); Rocky Branch (the channel between the front of the marina and the road bed that extends to the island), and Larue (Check Cedar Creek, Ford Creek and Goat Island).  In the upriver part of the lake, be sure to check Prairie Creek and Coose Hollow, as the stripers are starting to gather in these areas. Most walleye are being caught about 10-30 feet deep and can be caught using a variety of methods. You can downrigger troll with Cotton Cordell Spots, Hot-n-Tot's, Wiggle Warts, Rapala Tail Dancers, Shad Raps, Reef Runners or Ripstiks in natural blue or black back combos in clear water or chartreuse/orange and clown colors in stained water. Slow death rigs featuring orange and chartreuse beads are working very well on a bottom bouncers. Jigging spoons fished 25-30 feet deep around brush and rock piles are also producing.

(Updated 11-06-2013) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said bass fishing is getting better on topwater lures, spinnerbaits and soft-plastics in shallow water. Bream fishing is fair on crickets. Crappie are fair on trolled crankbaits and minnows under a slip-float. No report on catfish.

(Updated 11-06-2013) Jason Piper of JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass have been biting very well. A spinnerbait or topwater plug has worked well early and late in the day fished along sloping banks with timber or brush. During the day, try a shaky head or Texas-rigged lizard or finesse worm under docks or a Carolina-rigged lizard or worm over points with timber. Point 12, Monte Ne, Rambo and Little Clifty have all been good places to fish. Other than during spring, this is the best time of year to chase crappie. Most crappie have been suspended above brush piles or around timber close to a creek or run off channel in 20 to 45 feet of water. Fish are feeding very aggressively and will hit soft plastics hard. Best baits and techniques have been to let a curly tail grub or tube on a 1/16-oz. jig head slowly fall to the bottom, then retrieve slowly back to the boat in these areas. Best colors have been pearl/chartreuse, electric chicken, black/chartreuse and yellow/white. Piney Creek, Hickory Creek, Monte Ne and Horseshoe Bend have all been good places to fish. White bass have been schooling on the surface throughout the day and holding over points and flats when not actively feeding. Once a school is found, a ½-oz. Kastmaster spoon or 3-inch curly tail grub on a ¼-oz. jig head has done the trick. Catfish have been biting liver, worms and cut bait from the bank at Prairie Creek, 12 bridge, Monte-Ne, Hickory Creek and the 412 bridge access.

Beaver Tailwater - (Updated 10-30-2013) Beaver Dam Store had no report this week.

Lake Elmdale - (Updated 11-06-2013) Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat  said so far, trolling has been the best way to catch crappie lately. They’re scattered, but when you do find them, they light up the screen! Orchid/white/yellow streak Crappie Crankers that run 12-feet deep are the best lure. You can also use red/chartreuse, white or grasshopper-colored jigs on Troll Tec crappie rigs. Bass fishing is fair on white and white/chartreuse spinnerbaits. Redear and bluegill are still biting on redworms near the bottom about 4 feet deep. No word on catfish, but liver and cut bream are always good bets.

Lake Fayetteville - (Updated on 10-23-2013) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is clear and at normal level. The surface water temperature is 60 degrees. Bream are fair on crickets. White bass are biting very well on jigs tipped with minnows. Bass are biting well on crankbaits, jerk baits and slow-rolled spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair near the dam and off the piers. 

Lake Sequoyah - (Updated on 10-30-2013) Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said fishing is slow, but is starting to pick up a bit. The water is at normal level and is clear, but that could change with the coming rain. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is still a little slow, but is starting to pick up on minnows and jigs. Black bass are responding best to soft-plastic worms and crankbaits. White bass are biting very well on anything resembling shad. Catfishing is good on live green sunfish, small bluegill and goldfish.

Prairie Grove Lake - Dennis Kruse (479-444-3475) said the lake is closed until March 2014.