Why Anglers Love Beaver Lake

Beaver Lake in Northwest Arkansas is a very versatile fishery.

The 28,370-acre lake is the first of the impoundments created in Arkansas and Missouri along the lengthy White River system. The lake offers smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing, and striper bass fishing, not to mention plentiful supplies of crappie, bream, white bass, channel and spoonbill catfish.

“We have a great population of trophy-sized striper,” Rance Carter of Huck Fin’s Guide Service says. “We have really good bass fishing and crappie to be caught, lots of them.”

“Northwest Arkansas in general has great bass fishing opportunities all of the time here,” Carter says. He adds that spring and fall are the best times because of the pre-spawn and spawn. “FLW tournaments come here and get a lot of publicity,” he adds. “It’s a challenging lake.”

Striper Stronghold

Beaver Lake has given up several 40-pound-plus state-record stripers. Winter and early spring are prime time. Striper are easier to pattern in the cold, while in the summer they are harder to find.

One hot spot encompasses the huge flats near where the White River and War Eagle join in the upper portion of Beaver. The main river channel averages around 60 to 65 feet deep through this area, but is surrounded by flats that average from 10 to 30 feet in depth. Beaver’s spring stripers can be found somewhere in this vicinity. Creek mouths also hold striper and hybrids, especially in the warmer months. Some worth checking out include War Eagle Creek, the White River, Ford’s Creek, Cedar Creek and Rambo Creek.

“In summer, nighttime fishing for striper is predominant,” Carter says. “Fishing under lights at night is always going to improve your odds. Light stimulates plankton that draw shad that draw predator fish.” Fall fishing stays strong and November offers aggressive action for both striped and hybrid striped bass. 

Catching Crappie

Crappie are plentiful as well, and can be caught all year long, especially in winter if you’re willing to bundle up and brave the elements. Carter says most people chase crappie in the spring when temperatures warm up and they are ready to break the spell of cabin fever.

Vertical jigging in timber and pulling crank baits low and slow in the spring over suspended brush piles is popular. Carter also likes to run spider rigs over open water.

For Carter, guide fishing is not always about catching a monster crappie or huge pile of fish. It’s also about seeing people having one of the best times of their life out in nature and sharing the experience with them.

Clean Water, Wild Views

“Most people come here because it’s beautiful,” Carter says. “And the clean, clear water.”

Completed in 1966, Beaver Lake winds through the upper Ozarks with 487 miles of shoreline, much of it framed by towering limestone bluffs. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains 12 developed parks around the lake, with paved access roads, boat ramps, picnic areas, and other public amenities.

Camping is easy to find, with more than 2,000 acres of campgrounds and over 650 campsites—most with electricity, fire rings, and access to drinking water, restrooms and showers. Many parks also offer swimming beaches, hiking trails, amphitheaters and group shelters.

Cabins, resorts, and marinas ring the lake as well, supporting a wide range of outdoor recreation. In addition to fishing, Beaver is popular for boating, water skiing, tubing, paddling and swimming.

A Local's Take

Carter grew up in the area and has been a fishing guide for more than 20 years. He’s lived in the Rogers/Bentonville area his whole life except for when he was on active military duty.

“Northwest Arkansas is a tremendous area. We have lots of captains of industry. You can’t beat the beauty that’s here,” Carter says. “Arkansas is great and Northwest Arkansas is some of the most beautiful country there is in my opinion.”

Within 45 minutes of his front door, he says, there are roughly 18 fishable bodies of water. In Northwest Arkansas, you don’t have to drive far to find your next cast.