Well it’s now April 15. Snagging season for spoonbill below the dam opens today. You need a fishing license plus a trout stamp to do this, but no boat because the only part of the Beaver tailwaters it’s legal is from the No Crossing sign to the first boat launch 100 yards downstream.
We have plenty of water moving to bring them up but it might be best to wait till they close the floodgates that are still open as of Tuesday. The best way to see how much water they are releasing is to just Google Beaver Dam generation chart because the link on the Army Corps page has too many dots and slashes to write down.
If you don’t have any tackle heavy enough to catch these big fish it can still be a nice outing to just go see what these old country boys have tied up in the calm water below the rocks.
Bring some light tackle because the river is high enough you might catch some white bass, walleye, or a trout or two.
You can also go to the lakeside and maybe catch some white bass or even a striper off the shoreline on the day use side.
As far as the striper fishing goes on Beaver Lake, Prairie Creek is still the hot spot, also up the White and War Eagle arms of the lake which you need a boat to find, so I say keep your cost low and fish here close for we have more active fish here now then anytime of the year. Plus, you can keep your distance between you and others without stopping for gas.
We need to do our best to keep others safe. Just get what you need on supplies like in the wagon days, go home or go get in the outdoors, for this will pass in time.
Here at the Island, white bass are being caught in the creeks. If you search Leatherwood Creek ,which runs into Table Rock next to the marina all the way to the back, you should find them along with maybe some walleye, bass or crappie.
You can do this by boat or finding the cleared out shoreline by driving or walking. Jigs, small crankbaits, roostertails or live minnows can catch all these fish.
Well, that’s all for this week, just like to add if you can’t go fish, the morel mushrooms are being found now. They like dead timber, north hillsides and along creeks. Think shade and damp soil, with after a rain being the best time. Enjoy our Ozarks.