new to beaver

[tommyboyrn]

Headed over from NE ark to visit my brother. Im setup mainly for crappie but like to do a little bass fishin. Neither of us familiar with lake so just looking for some insight to get started. Not looking for honeyholes, just general area where we can catch a few fiah througjout the day

Thanks

Tom

[J-Doc]

If it was only that easy.

I live 15mins from the lake and every trip is a new adventure where history can fly out the boat like a forgotten life jacket.

Not to be a downer but that's just this lake. It's a conditions lake. Water has been on the rise and floating debris up river so I would stay within a couple miles of the 12 bridge area. Don't venture further than Horseshoe Bend unless you drive carefully and watch for floating logs and debris. Just warning you.

Also, crappie have been off I'm told but I'd try docks, main lake coves and such. Sometimes they get on a hump or brush pile on large flats. Be prepared to move around a lot. Once you Mark fish, stick with them to get them to bite.

Bass bite has been best offshore on main lake structure. Bank beaters will struggle.

[JohnF52]

I have been told crappie are scattered and around 20 feet deep in 30 fow around Prairie Creek. There is so much loose grass in the water that trolling is difficult, at least for me.

[bferg]

So, this is a difficult lake to just pull up to have have consistent success.

The upper end of the lake could be chocolate milk with all the rain. The water is HIGH... I think you have a good shot of finding some bass in shallow water around buckbrush. This morning we caught a few throwing Kai Techs shallow... But the best bass fishing in this lake is usually deep/off shore.

Stripers/Whites were busting the top a little this AM so I would keep an eye out...if you can find bait at this like you can find something to catch- shallow or deep.

[tommyboyrn]

Thanks guys....he mentioned prairie creek and monte cause he knows where those ramps located

[J-Doc]

I'd go Prairie Creek due to the rising water. And the ramp at Monte Ne can be packed with too many boaters or even jambed with floating debris. I live the cove, but I don't think it's a hot spot right now. Then again, I haven't been there in many weeks. I would imagine it's pretty muddy.

[tommyboyrn]

Ok thanks jdoc

[tommyboyrn]

Where does one get minnows....may look to get some those flicker shad baits too to try bass fishing if crappie slow

[J-Doc]

Southtown Sporting Goods in Fayetteville or Hook Line & Sinker in Rogers (on the way to Prairie Creek).

Flickers work best trolling. Not as much casting for some reason but I have caught fish casting them. But as a general rule, they are a trolling bait. Just cast one out and let out some line (like 100ft) and you'll snag something eventually. :-)

For bass, use a shakey head. Use a senko type bait about 3-4" long (cut it off so it's no more than 4") and cast it out and let it soak. Don't try to feel it. Just keep an arch in the line and watch for it to swim away. Every few minutes, gently lift to feel the bait and if you feel weight on it or don't feel it at all, sweep the bait like a c-rig to set the hook. Its much like fishing the "Ned rig" but if you don't have the right baits and tackle, a shakey head will work well. I've seen big smallmouth caught doing this.

[1969Larson]

  On 5/15/2015 at 3:17 PM, J-Doc said:

I live 15mins from the lake and every trip is a new adventure where history can fly out the boat like a forgotten life jacket.

J-Doc, your metaphors are always entertaining and spot-on.