Walleye Return to Beaver Lake
Northwest Arkansas anglers rejoice as the Beaver Lake fishery reestablishes walleye. These native fish, once thriving in the White River, were decimated by the construction of Beaver, Table Rock, and Bull Shoals lakes. Between 1964 and 1969, Beaver Lake was stocked with 6 million walleye, but these initial efforts were unsuccessful. Now, thanks to efforts by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, walleye have become a marquis species in the area.
The result is a game-changer for anglers. Two notable fishermen, Robert Smith and Chip Wiseman, have had tremendous success catching walleye in the White and War Eagle river tributaries of Beaver Lake, as well as in the Kings River arm of Table Rock Lake. Smith’s go-to rig, featuring a nightcrawler harness and a one-ounce bottom bouncer weight, has yielded walleye over 6 pounds each this spring.
The enhanced walleye population can be attributed to the commission’s sustained efforts over the years. Releases through the spillway gates at Beaver Dam have also helped, maintaining the lake level and facilitating better catch rates. Anglers are eager to take advantage of the daily limit of four walleye, each of which must be at least 18 inches long.
Walleye aren’t the only species thriving in these waters. White bass have also become a popular catch, with an unregulated daily limit and no size restriction. Biologists note that white bass are prolific spawners, with females carrying hundreds of thousands of eggs, and thus, are resilient to fishing pressure.
As spring flooding on the White and War Eagle rivers continues to impact catch rates, biologists emphasize that these natural fluctuations in water levels are likely more significant factors than harvest in determining white bass populations.
- Both walleye and white bass are biting in the mid-April season, making it a prime time for anglers to hit the water.
- Popular fishing spots include the White River below Beaver Dam and the Kings River arm of Table Rock Lake.
This spring, get ready to reel in the dividends of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s efforts to reestablish the walleye population in Beaver Lake!
