Fishing has been consistent on the Beaver Tailwaters over the last week with river levels varying. Old Man Winter has made his presence felt with the cold temperatures this week and another blast for next week. Layer your clothes so you can add or remove layers as needed.
Justin and Nicholas from Missouri (pictured) got their 2-man limit of trout last week.
Fire eggs with shrimp and Fire gel continue to work well, when fished with light terminal tackle. During the periods of lower water, quarter-ounce spoons, Rooster Tails and Rapala Countdowns have success. When the water is higher, throwing Shad Raps (shad color) has worked well, along with Pautzke Fire minnows.
The changing river levels can make fishing challenging at times, but hang in there, conditions will change again. Fishing is best if you recognize the river is starting to rise and if you can stay in front of the rising water. The fall walleye bite has been pretty good. Working jerkbaits along rock walls and inside bends have produced some nice numbers.
Hooked on Fishing Guide Service, Beaver Lake
Striped Bass: The bite is picking up this week with some topwater on cloudy calm days. Trolling live bait has been producing. Best bait this week is live 5 – 8” shad. Good places to check are offshore humps, islands, end of mud flats, back of coves and bluffs side in deeper water. The south end is clearing up with several reports of stripers in shallow water.
Crappie: Docks, treetops, mudflats and channel swings are holding fish. Livescoping and spider riggers are producing. Light jigs for shallow water. Heavier jigs for deeper water fish.
Bass: Smallmouth were caught deep near the bottom on offshore humps and long points this week. Watch your graphs, you’ll see several near the bottom stacks. Heavy jigs are producing bites.
Catfish: Bottom fishing and jugs are producing fish hanging around big mudflats with channel swings. Cut bait was the most productive.
Bream: I’ve been catching several in the back of coves in shallow water. Tight lining 1/32 or lighter jigs with red worms are producing.
Water level: 1117.56’, water temperature: 57.2° – 63.1°
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