Beaver Tailwaters
With the higher water levels, fishing has been pretty good this past week however, with the latest rains, that is going to make things difficult. As of yesterday, April 20, the Corps of Engineers has the flood gates open 1-foot. This, with additional inflow, will cause the water to move rapidly and become stained.
Trout have been spread out throughout the tailwaters. They are responding to various dough baits, Fire eggs and minnows. The walleye bite is still pretty slow. Talking with folks who fished this past weekend, a lot of short males have been caught, but that’s about it. Trolling has been the preferred method, along with jigging soft plastics.
Spoonbill have come up to spawn, as well. Speaking of spoonbill, have you heard that you can apply for an Arkansas Paddlefish permit? The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission will open the new paddlefish snagging season from April 15-June 15 from the Arkansas Highway 45 bridge, also known as the Twin Bridges Access, upstream to Lake Sequoyah Dam.
According to AGFC, applications for Arkansas’s new special permit-based snagging season in the water above Beaver Lake were accepted through March 30 for anglers to reel in one of the many plus-sized paddlefish swimming there, but you can still snag below the dam without a permit.
Remember for additional updates follow my Facebook page, Busch Mountain Fishing Guide, I’m pretty much on the water every week. Feel free to message me if you have any questions. Take care, get out and catch some fish!
Beaver Lake
Striper fishing has been a little tough with the recent rains since the river arms are muddy again. Mud line has pushed past mid-lake with the flood gates open. Find where the mud is mixing with the clean water, and you can catch the stripers feeding on bait coming out of the midline. Some top water has been showing up first thing in the morning and late afternoon before the sun goes down. Live bait has been best.
No reports on crappie with the south end being muddy. Crappie were moving shallow before this last rain, and water temps are 54° to 60°.
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