Hitting it again on Friday

[steadyt]

Hello Folks, 

   I made the move back up here from Russellville. Now its time to learn Beaver Lake. Last week I put in by Bryces White River Marine in Springdale. As soon as I got on the water I realized I left everything deep diving in a box on my workbench (Still kicking myself). I caught a handful of smaller LM on some shad color lipless crankbaits but dont think I was getting deep enough. Friday I am thinking about putting in at Prairie Creek Park in Rogers. Any tips or Suggestions? 

[Stump bumper]

I don't think anything will be bad right now, just Know that Beaver has a lot of cover that you can only see with your electronics. There are ceder forest and gravel humps well of the bank. I like plastics my self but the flicker shad a catching a lot of fish. Welcome to Beaver Lake and don't get discouraged, though this is not a river and there is NO grass to fish there are plenty of fish in the lake, just takes time to find a pattern and type of fishing that pleases you and the fish. The ned rig and drop shots are two ways of fishing that you will need to pick up when this slow down. IMO

[Champ188]

My tip is to remember that Grand Lake is 1.5 hours to your west, Table Rock is 2 hours north and Dardanelle is less than 2 hours south.

Some would rather fish than drive, and I understand that. Beaver is certainly handy.

I just prefer fishing somewhere where a 40-fish day or a 15-pound limit is more the norm than the exception.

[Stump bumper]

My tip is to remember that Grand Lake is 1.5 hours to your west, Table Rock is 2 hours north and Dardanelle is less than 2 hours south.

Some would rather fish than drive, and I understand that. Beaver is certainly handy.

I just prefer fishing somewhere where a 40-fish day or a 15-pound limit is more the norm than the exception.

But you won't hook a 30lb striper in Grand.... On Beaver all you have to do is throw a $30 jerk bait on 8lb test and you will find a big striper every time.

[1969Larson]

But you won't hook a 30lb striper in Grand.... On Beaver all you have to do is throw a $30 jerk bait on 8lb test and you will find a big striper every time.

True that.  Drive to Table Rock or Grand if you don't want to have to fuss with using your drag!!

[steadyt]

All good info guys. I think I will take my chances on Beaver this week. I would like to cross paths with one of those pesky 30 pounders.

[Dan the fisherman]

Drop shot is been good for me.  Top water early and late.  Spinner baits have done well on cloudy days.  But welcome to beaver. Tough lake but you'll never know what you'll get into out there.  

[Stump bumper]

All good info guys. I think I will take my chances on Beaver this week. I would like to cross paths with one of those pesky 30 pounders.

The best part of Beaver to me is crossing paths with those big fish, even on a 40 fish day on Table Rock I just get down knowing that there is no chance of a big fish hitting my line. Guess I am just not a "true bass fisherman". This time of the year they are all up in the north end towards the dam but you will run into the 5lb little brothers around point 12 in the summer sometimes. If you are willing to get out and fish when you need gloves and all the fair weather boaters have shrink wrapped their boats then you can have those days when you can boat 5-10 fish over 20lbs on nothing more than a jerkbait or a few minnows dragged behind the boat. I have put 90 lbs of fish in the boat before and not used the main motor for anything but unloading and loading the boat. I hope you brave the cold and find out why we like that 50 degree water temp so much.

[Notropis]

Welcome to NW Arkansas, steadyt.  Your timing is good concerning Beaver Lake.  Because of the extreme high water this year, fishing for almost all game fish will be pretty good the next few years.  My best advice is to turn your back on the bank and learn to fish deeper structure.  Fishing shallow is usually only good for a few months out of the year, the rest of the time it's better to look for deep brush piles, creek channels, extended points etc.  There's a lot of good anglers on this forum who are ready to share information that's helpful. 

As Champ188 points out, bass fishing on Beaver is not as consistently good as some of the other lakes within driving distance (something he and I agree on but for different reasons).  But occasionally it can be pretty good especially two or three years after a high water year.  Open water fish do very well in Beaver Lake resulting in good populations of white bass, striped bass and in the last decade, walleye.  If your willing to be a multi-species angler, you can have some great times on Beaver Lake. 

Also, keep in mind the other fishing opportunities in this area.  There are several small public lakes that have good fishing.  If you really want an interesting bass fishing experience, try SWEPCO Lake in western Benton county near the town of Gentry.  It's a cooling lake for the warm water discharge of a power plant and has it's best bass fishing in the dead middle of winter, including a good amount of trophy bass.  There some great smallmouth bass fishing in some of the rivers in this area, especially the Kings River in Madison and Carroll Counties.  If you like trout fishing the White River below Beaver dam is pretty good for rainbow and brown trout and has a pretty good walleye run in early Spring.  And as Champ points out, there are several other good lakes within an hour or two drive, check them out, but make sure you have the correct out of state license. 

Good Luck and welcome to the forum!    

[steadyt]

Welcome to NW Arkansas, steadyt.  Your timing is good concerning Beaver Lake.  Because of the extreme high water this year, fishing for almost all game fish will be pretty good the next few years.  My best advice is to turn your back on the bank and learn to fish deeper structure.  Fishing shallow is usually only good for a few months out of the year, the rest of the time it's better to look for deep brush piles, creek channels, extended points etc.  There's a lot of good anglers on this forum who are ready to share information that's helpful. 

As Champ188 points out, bass fishing on Beaver is not as consistently good as some of the other lakes within driving distance (something he and I agree on but for different reasons).  But occasionally it can be pretty good especially two or three years after a high water year.  Open water fish do very well in Beaver Lake resulting in good populations of white bass, striped bass and in the last decade, walleye.  If your willing to be a multi-species angler, you can have some great times on Beaver Lake. 

Also, keep in mind the other fishing opportunities in this area.  There are several small public lakes that have good fishing.  If you really want an interesting bass fishing experience, try SWEPCO Lake in western Benton county near the town of Gentry.  It's a cooling lake for the warm water discharge of a power plant and has it's best bass fishing in the dead middle of winter, including a good amount of trophy bass.  There some great smallmouth bass fishing in some of the rivers in this area, especially the Kings River in Madison and Carroll Counties.  If you like trout fishing the White River below Beaver dam is pretty good for rainbow and brown trout and has a pretty good walleye run in early Spring.  And as Champ points out, there are several other good lakes within an hour or two drive, check them out, but make sure you have the correct out of state license. 

Good Luck and welcome to the forum!    

Awesome! You guys have ALL been extremely helpful.