Fishing Report For Beaver Lake, AR

Current Report: Fair To Good

FALL. Now that Fall has arrived, bass here have moved shallow, following schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays around 5 to 15 feet of water. Bass in Beaver Lake tend to center much of their life around the many creek channels entering the lake. War Eagle Creek is reportedly one of the better creeks, but there are many good ones all around the lake. When the water is relatively clear, I prefer a mid-range crankbait. And, I prefer spinnerbaits in dirtier water, for shallow bass. Currently topwater, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits are catching most of the bass. Later in Fall, as deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons, jigs and drop shots are often good choices in 8 to 20 feet of water.

WINTER. Winter will isolate largemouth around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from 20 to 40 feet deep. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations are key to getting bites.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water nearby spawning areas. Vibrating jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 2 to 12 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 4 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water. They can move from the back of the creek, out to the middle, then to the main lake points at the corner of these creek coves. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms and swimbaits are catching bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they will be caught in 5 to 15 feet of water. Topwater, square-bill crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Largemouth bass here feed on gizzard shad, threadfin shad, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 15 to 30 feet deep.

Current Report: Fair To Good

FALL. In Fall, stripers return to shallower water. Early in the day wipers chase bait to the surface and feed aggressively, making this an excellent time for topwater action. They follow schools of bait, which are hanging out in 10 to 30 feet of water. Look for shallow water nearby deeper river channels, and fish them thoroughly. Live shad are a go to bait. Most any lure that resembles shad will catch striped bass at this time of year.

WINTER. In Winter, stripers again hang out in deeper water and feed close to the bottom, often as deep as 50 feet. Warm, sunny afternoons occasionally draw stripers shallower, to around 20 or 30 feet deep as they feed on roaming schools of threadfin shad and gizzard shad. The main lake basin, along deep channels, is holding schools of stripers, especially in the section of lake around the dam. Locate schools of bait, then look for stripers close by. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice stripers are caught while drift fishing with live bait or cut bait. Spoons, blade baits, and heavy hair jigs are also effective this time of year. Due to the stripers slower metabolism this time of year, anglers are triggering more strikes by working baits more slowly.

SPRING. While there are many reports of stripers being caught year round at Beaver Lake, March through early September is the best time for catching both quantity and quality. March signals the beginning of the spawn run up the rivers. Water temperatures are return to the mid 60's, and that's ideal for the stripers to spawn. In Spring, work the upper end of the lake, and the backs of coves, where there is inflowing water. If they spawn, this is where they will lay eggs in the moving water. They also move into transition zones on the main lake, in 5 to 25 feet of water, feeding on baitfish which are moving toward the shallows. Expect to locate them on mid-depth ledges, flats or points. The lake record is over 60 pounds, and many anglers believe there are plenty of big stripers to be caught.

SUMMER. Through the warmer months of Summer, stripers move into shallower water on the main lake to harvest baitfish and bulk up for winter. These stripers hang out in deeper water during the heat of the day, 30 to 60 feet deep, often at or just above the thermocline. Much of the time they are holding over deeper, open water. Morning often draws the stripers shallower, so look for them around the 15 to 20-foot range as they feed on roaming schools of baitfish. Being successful at fishing for stripers in Summer is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of stripers are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and sonar electronics, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice stripers are being caught while trolling or drift fishing. Live shad are a top choice, but spoons, blade baits, crankbaits and cut bait are all effective here.

Current Report: Fair To Good

FALL. Baitfish, which are moving into shallow flats, coves and bays, are drawing crappie into these areas. They are feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter. Locals report that crappie fishing has been decent in Beaver Lake for a few years now. Nice crappie are being caught in 5 to 20 feet of water. Jigs, minnows, and live bait are all effective for catching crappie in Beaver Lake. Bridge pilings, docks, brush and wood are a good place to cast small crappie jigs or live minnows. Light tackle with 4-pound line is ideal. The bridge pilings on the US 412 highway, and the State Highway 12, are a good place to find crappie - especially at night using crappie lights. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late fall starts the migration deeper, toward winter holding areas, for both crappie and baitfish. Small flutter spoons, fished in 15 to 25 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results are coming around points, creek channels, and brush piles.

WINTER. Once the shallows start cooling rapidly, crappie will migrate to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. At this time they are typically caught using a very slow presentation, in 20 to 35 feet of water. Most are caught around deep brush piles, creek channel bends, submerged timber, and main-lake structure. If they are suspending in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 2 to 12 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 2 to 8 feet of water. Vegetation, docks, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in 12 to 18 feet of water. Once they move deep, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 8 to 15 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 15 to 30 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. This is a good time to focus around brush piles, standing timber, deep lay downs, bridge pilings and deeper docks. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.