Hot weather leads to hot fishing…

Big bites still to be had in Northwest Arkansas

Arkansas Wildlife Editor While water temps eased back up along with the hot air temperature of this week, there were still a few good reports of fishing for bass, crappie, walleye, bream and more throughout the state. Check out all the details on the Northwest Arkansas waterways from all of our regular contributors below.

Beaver Lake —Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake is inching down each week to normal level. Right now it is around 3 feet above normal levels. Water temps are in the 80s. The all-important thermocline has set up in most areas of the lake. It ranges from 30 feet on north end and somewhat shallower up in river arms.

It is not set up throughout the lake, though.

“I have talked before on how to find it on sonar if you do not know,” Jon says. “Turn your gain up until you start to see a line form on the screen somewhere from the bottom up.

It is a very important feature because that is where the oxygen levels are the most ideal. Pulling baits on a troll, you want to be around that level.

“So on to the reports.

Stripers have slowed down a notch or two. Look from Point 6 up to the dam. Shad and bream are working as of late. I used a hand-sized bream to put a client on a Beaver Lake trophy striper that another weighed 32 pounds last Saturday (see photos). Those fish are rare. Guides are catching anywhere from two to nine fish per day. I always tell clients and for all that want to fish Beaver Lake striper that Beaver is a trophy lake and not massive numbers lake. With that said it has some of the biggest freshwater stripers in the country. It is also a very beautiful lake. I get comments weekly on just the sheer beauty!

“Walleye are hit and miss, with shorts being caught for the most part. Look from Rocky Branch towards Horseshoe Bend and around the Point 12 area. Trolling crawlers and

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cranks will work. Crappie are on deep brush and suspended in the thermocline.

Arkie cranks and Picos in pink colors are working well. Catfish remain good on all methods. Bream are there for the taking.

“Be safe stay hydrated! It has been hot! Fall will be here soon, believe it or not!”

Visit Jon’s Facebook page for latest updates, Fish On Guide in Goshen AR.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) reports that white bass are active in the morning and the late afternoon schooling on shad.

Bream added redworms to their cricket diet of late and the bite is fair this week.

Crappie are fair on minnows, and anglers are having fair success trolling deep-diving crankbaits while some are still spiderrigging around brushpiles.

Black bass are fair on topwater baits in the mornings and the evenings. Also try worms and jigs. Catfishing is fair on juglines. Beaver Lake has a clear clarity and is a couple of feet above normal level now in a slow but steady fall.

(479-244-0039) said the trout bite below the dam has still been pretty good.

Most are being caught with various dough baits, fished with light terminal tackle.

Quarter-ounce spoons and shallow-diving crankbaits have also picked up quite a few fish.

“When we have these clear skies, try to fish some shaded areas. This week’s hot spot has been between Spider Creek and Bertrand Access. There are still some walleye to be had downriver toward Beaver town. Pulling Flicker Shads have been the ticket this week.

“I hope you all are staying cool and hydrated in this heat. Have fun, stay safe and catch some fish!”

Follow Austin on his Facebook page (Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service).

— Loy Lewis of War Eagle Creek Outfitting had no new reports.

Visit the War Eagle Creek Outfitting LLC page on Facebook or call 479-530-3262 for up-to-date information.

— Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) is open for fishing, but it had no new reports.

— Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said water is clear and at a normal level. Bream are fair on redworms and crickets.

Crappie fishing is good, particularly using minnows and fishing toward the old bridge; also use jigs around the lake.

Black bass are fair on plastic worms and topwaters (Pop-Rs are popular) in the early morning. Also try a jig. Catfishing is good using nightcrawlers.