Beaver Lake white bass starting their spawning run

[T HAUS]

http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2007/03/...07whitebass.txt

The annual spawning run of white bass up the tributaries of Beaver Lake has started and anglers are sprinting to reservoir to get in on the action.

Reports from anglers and tackle shops indicate the fish are biting, but the peak of the white bass run is still weeks away.

Bret Aggus at Southtown Sporting Goods in Fayetteville said white bass are being caught from Point 12 at Beaver Lake up the White River past the Arkansas 45 bridge access near Goshen, known as "Twin Bridges" to anglers.

"We haven't had great reports yet," he said. "If I were to guess I'd say we're just on the verge of it."

Aggus noted the level of Beaver Lake is higher this year than last. Water is backed up to the Arkansas 45 bridge. That makes it easier for anglers to navigate the popular white bass destination in a boat.

Anglers at the Arkansas 45 access late last week reported sporadic action. White bass were moving in waves. Catching was good for anglers there at the right time. The right time is anyone's guess.

The White River isn't the only white bass haunt. Lowell anglers Travis Fox and Rhett Garner got into a horde of schooling white bass at Beaver Lake Monday between Hickory Creep park and Point 12, where the White and War Eagle river arms meet.

"As soon as the rain let up a little, the whites started schooling in every direction for as far as you could see. They bit constantly until it was totally pitch black outside," Fox wrote in an e-mail with a photo he sent. "I guarantee we easily caught 100 between the two of us."

Many were large female white bass weighing 2 to 4 pounds, Fox said.

They almost missed out. Fox noted he and Garner initially decided to head for the gym to work out, but decided at the last minute to fish instead.

Aaron Jolliff at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said fishermen have told him the white bass fishing is better than it has been in years.

The War Eagle Creek arm is producing its share of white bass, Jolliff said. The Sidewalk Hole area of the tributary has been a hot spot.

The downstream end of Beaver Lake can be a springtime mecca for whites, too. Bob Bauer at Lost Bridge Marina said Tuesday that fishermen are pulling in lots of white bass from the Indian Creek arm west of Beaver Dam.

White jigs are getting the job done, Bauer said.

The bay on the north side of Beaver Dam is another down-lake white bass hot spot. It's easy to fish for whites from shore at the day-use area along the dam's rip rap.

White bass fishing at Table Rock Lake hasn't kicked off yet, reports fishing guide J.D. Fletcher of Eagle Rock, Mo.

Anglers are after them, but the fishing isn't consistent. Sporadic good fishing is reported up the Roaring River arm of Table Rock and up Leatherwood Creek.

Jerk baits and Rooster Tails are the preferred lure, Fletcher said.

Betty Clark at Riverview Resort on the White River below Beaver Dam said white bass haven't made a move up the Beaver tailwater yet.

White bass are so abundant at Beaver Lake and it's tributaries above the dam that they are the only waters in Arkansas where there is no limit on white bass.

[Dutch]

Jerk baits and Rooster Tails are the preferred lure, Fletcher said.

Is that JD? I didn't know he was still alive.

[T HAUS]

Yep, Ol JD is still kickin and floating the King's River every summer.

[Guest flyfishBDS]

They eat flies too