Need help with my Beaver game plan

[breeves2245]

Every year I tell myself I'm going to take full advantage of the spring fishing out of War Eagle and the White. I've dabbed some but still have not hit it with a real effort. 

Got a campsite at Hickory Creek first week of May and another first week of June. So I'll have my camper and boat there for an easy setup to hit it each morning/afternoon. 

Add to that, I can drive anywhere to a Beaver launch from Bella Vista.

I want to target the most active species. Walleye, largemouth/smallmouth bass or white bass. Not too interested in crappie.

I need advice on timing and species. Like Feb - Walleye,  Mar - white bass or whatever. Back in the rivers or where they merge into the lake, etc.

When the higher temps hit in July forward, I'll go back to my bank beating with the topwaters for bass.

 

 

 

[Quillback]

I primarily fish the lower end of the lake, I target smallmouth, and in May-June may chase the stripers a bit.  

Right now, I primarily fish Keitech swimbaits and Ned rigs.  I like a 2.8 Keitech on a 3/16 oz head or 1/8 oz.  I use Dirty Jigs Guppy heads in those sizes that come with a 1/0 hook.  That shorter shank 1/0 leaves plenty of swimbait body to kick at slow speed.  I fish them near the bottom slowly this time of year.  Any predator that swims in that lake will eat those swimbaits.  I fish them on spinning gear, braid and a flouro leader.  If I had to pick one color of Keitech to fish, I'd go with Sight Flash.  Use Loctite gel to glue the swimbaits to the jighead, glue up a bunch the night before you go, you don't want to be messing with it in your boat while you are fishing.  

You mention top water, May-June is prime top water time for stripers.  If I had to pick a spot to fish, it would be around point 5.  That's a long run from Hickory, you might want to consider someplace like Lost Bridge South if you decide to fish the lower end of the lake.  You can catch white bass, and black bass on top May-June on the lower end too.  Get out before sunrise on calm or light wind days and look for striper activity.  You want to have a top water setup that will allow you to cast far, and if you see stripers blowing up, get that lure on top of them as soon as you can.  

You can troll, with your electric TM, a Keitech if it gets tough to catch them on top.  That 3.3 on a 1/4 oz head works fine for stripers, even though they are a small bait, big stripers will still eat them.  

I don't fish the river arms at all, I have a few times in the past, I'd probably toss a jig or shakey head if I was bass fishing up there that time of year.  

PM me your contact info, I have some friends that striper fish in May and I can probably at least get you in the general vicinity of some if they show themselves, if that's what you want to chase.  Seems like things are different every year and you just have to get out on the water and get to know things.  

[breeves2245]

Really appreciate the detailed response. I'm a swim bait fan for sure, the detail you posted really helps.

I guess I have to force myself to hit Indian Creek more often. The gin clear water just puts my confidence factor at about zero. Maybe that is why I feel more comfortable at the upper end with less clarity.

I have one spinning outfit rigged with the braid/flouro, I need to setup a couple more and give it the ole college try.

My camping dates at Hickory Creek are just to hit the upper end, like you mentioned motoring to the lower end would be too much of a haul. I would just drive from the house to the upper end.

I've never tried to target stripers on top water, just beat the bank for large mouth. It does sound like fun.

Thanks for the feedback. 

 

 

[AR Huzgr]

I've only been fishing Beaver for 1.5 yrs so my depth of experience is a bit limited on this lake, but I have had success on it.

I have not fished the river arms down south.   I have fished down to hickory, but not further south.  May and June, I'm probably putting in at lost bridge north if targeting smallmouth or early a.m. striper bite and then prairie Creek if targeting walleye (though I have caught them anywhere from horseshoe bend down to dam.

I also live in BV and usually fish solo.   Feel free to hit me up if you ever want to come with (March or later as am in Florida for a bit now).

[Quillback]

The thing about clear water is the fish usually will not be shallow.  If there is a steep drop off they might be close to the bank, but otherwise they'll be off the bank.  But you can still catch them.  Watch some of the videos out there where people fish clear lakes for smallmouth.  They catch them fairly close to the boat and they aren't that stealthy, couple of guys standing up and fishing away, electronics pinging, trolling motor running.  Stripers are spooky, but in that May-June time frame, if they are chasing shad, they kind of lose their minds and become easier to catch.  

The fishing on the lower end can be really good, you've just got to put your time in to figure things out.

[MarkG52]

Amen to what Quillback said in his last post. He has taught me a bunch about fishing the clear end of the lake!!!