Beaver Lake: Catching for several species has improved as the water cools down.
James Whittle at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said striped bass fishing has picked up. The best fishing is in the Starkey area with shad or brood minnows 15 to 25 feet deep. Trolling with umbrella rigs is another way to catch them. If stripers are seen surfacing, cast a top-water lure.
Black bass fishing has improved. Use spinner baits in shallow water on the south end of the lake. Go with jigs, crank baits or a finesse worm on a drop-shot rig on the north end of the lake.
Crappie are biting well in the midlake area on minnows 15 to 25 feet deep around docks and brush.
All methods and baits are working for catfish, he said.
Mike Whitehouse at Hickory Creek Marina said walleye are biting nightcrawlers rigged on bottom bouncers in the Horseshoe Bend area. Walleye to 24 inches long have been caught recently.
Minnows work better than jigs for crappie, he said. Fish 10 to 12 feet deep around brush.
Beaver tailwater: Tom Steinke at the Beaver Dam Store said trout fishing is good with flies. Midges and woolly buggers are working well. Olive is the best color. Micro jigs in olive, brown or black are good to use. Several trout over 20 inches have been caught recently. Morning fishing is best.
The top bait is Power Bait.
Lake Fayetteville: Al Perea at the lake office said crappie are biting minnows. Black bass are biting plastic worms.
Lake Sequoyah: Mike McBride at the lake bait shop said bluegill are biting well on crickets or worms fished close to shore. Try top-water lures spinner baits or plastic worms for black bass. Catfish are biting cut bait, shad or nightcrawlers.
Swepco Lake: Kenny Stroud in Siloam Springs said black bass fishing is good with soft plastics rigged any style. The area along the dam is the best place to fish.
Try one-quarter ounce spinner baits in shad colors on windy days.
Siloam Springs Lake: Stroud recommends using plastic worms or square-billed crank baits for black bass.
Illinois River: Stroud recommends using small tube baits or grubs for black bass. Rooster Tails, buzz baits and Tiny Torpedos may also work.
Bella Vista: Nick Gann at Hook, Line and Sinker in Bella Vista said black bass are biting spinner baits at all Bella Vista lakes Try top-water lures early.
Bluegill are biting worms or nightcrawlers 12 to 18 feet deep.
Eastern Oklahoma: The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports fair fishing at Fort Gibson Lake for black bass with crank baits, spinner baits and jigs. Crappie fishing is fair with jigs or minnows around docks and structure.
Table Rock Lake: The Missouri Department of Conservation reports good bass fishing with crank baits along gravel banks or any bank with a 45-degree slope. Catfish are biting well on cut bait.
Sports on 10/11/2016