Dropping a Line

Looks like moving some water out of Beaver Lake brought more striped bass closer to the dam. We got hit so hard I can’t remember how many we missed but it was a good day for Damon Willis and Danny Grantham, both from Little Rock.     

We had fish hitting at 18 and 30 ft. deep down at Point 5 holding off the edge of the flats in water 30 – 60 ft. deep. Five-inch shad is what they liked the best for us, but others are also catching them on brood shiners and perch from Point 7 to the dam.

I also had a trip out here at Holiday Island on the Table Rock side of the dam looking for some crappie and walleye. After a bit of live baiting and trolling the flats from the Island to Beavertown for walleye with no luck, we decided to try some minnows in the standing timber. We were on some big slab and caught crappie with the first pole in the water down about 12 feet.               

The perch and catfish are now close to the shoreline, which is good if you just want to find a nice spot to sit and let a kid enjoy. Water’s warm enough to swim now if they do get bored. Look for bass holding off the bottom when the sun is high and hitting the top at night and when the sun is low.               

I do hope all enjoy the 4th. If you are on the water here, Beavertown is going to have a fireworks show when the sun goes down with some music through the day that you can enjoy from the water. Just be safe out there especially if in a boat heading back after any shows on the water.

We are very lucky, opening up the flood gates just washed us out and left us with some of the cleanest water in Arkansas on both sides of the dam. Going north on Table Rock into Missouri watch for debris. Going south on Beaver Lake the same, but all is pretty here.

Johnson Guide Service (479) 253-2258 www.fishofexcellence.com