Whether you like to wrestle bass from a muddy-water lay down or prefer coaxing a weary bass, mere feet from the boat, into biting a dainty little bait shaking in their nest, then April is the time to get out and chase some bass. You don't have to be a professional angler to catch quality fish in April. You only need to find productive waters at productive times.

This April we picked two of the state's best fisheries in the northwest and west-central parts of the state. Beaver Lake and Lake Dardanelle offer two completely different fisheries but the bass fishing can be classified as terrific in April. In fact both these lakes held national tournaments in April last year because the fishing is that good on each waterway. To help you better understand where to go and what to do, we've queried some biologists and top professional bass anglers for their expertise to help you find some good fish on your next trip to these two venues.

Beaver Lake

Many competitive and weekend anglers alike find Beaver Lake to be somewhat a mystery when it comes to catching bass consistently. With nearly 30,000 acres stretching some 70 miles through the Ozark Mountains and an average depth of 60 feet, this lake seems much larger than it really is. Narrowing the lake down in summer and fall can be a daunting task for even tournament proven veterans more less just us weekend anglers. However when those bass head to the shallows for the spawn in early spring, the lake becomes a lot smaller, and April is the month it all comes together for prime time bass fishing on Beaver Lake. Five bass stringers weighing 20 pounds aren't unthinkable any more.

According to fisheries biologist Ron Moore, the fishery has been steadily improving for the past several years. "The fish population in Beaver Lake is looking pretty good mainly because of the two high water years that we've had in the last three years (2002 and 2004)," Moore said. "Our summer rotenone samples indicated good amounts of forage in the lake for the bass, mainly threadfin shad but also good numbers of small sunfish."

The threadfin shad population has increased greatly from where it was in the late 1990's and this will be the main source of food for April bass. However he also points out that Beaver has a strong crawfish population and they often find crawfish in the gullet of sampled bass this time of year.

To assist in breaking down Beaver's fishery in April, we turned to a professional who knows a thing or two about this highland reservoir. Clark Wendlandt of Cedar Park, Tex., may not be a local angler on Beaver Lake, but you dare say any other angler has capitalized more on their knowledge of this lake in April. Wendlandt has won more than $465,000 on Beaver Lake alone in his professional fishing career. That's right folks, nearly half a million dollars on one lake.

According to Wendlandt the first place to begin is to determine where the fish are relative to the spawn. "If your looking real early in the month there won't be any spawning fish typically, so in that case I'm looking at pre-spawn fish," Wendlandt said. However later in the month with warmer weather there will be bass spawning all over the lake and Wendlandt believes that's what makes April fishing so good on Beaver. "Those bass spawn all over this lake so you can go just about anywhere and find fish."

Once Wendlandt figures out where the fish are in the stage of the spawn he next targets areas that are conducive to each stage. If the fish are in a pre-spawn stage, then he likes to target transition areas. "It totally depends on the lake level," Wendlandt said. "If the water is way up in the trees then you have to get up there in the trees. If the water is low, then if there is timber in the coves they will hold on the timber else they will hold on real rocky shores with a 45-degree angle."

Another important key to figuring out where to fish is choosing which species of bass you intend to target. While you might catch all three species - largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass in one area, typically there are distinct areas they will be. "If you go out to the flatter gravel banks out on the main lake you'll find smallmouth," Wendlandt said. "If you get on the steeper banks you'll typically find more spotted bass. When a huge cold front hits it seems to affect the largemouth the worst and you can still target the smallmouth and spotted bass." While largemouth and smallmouth have to be 15-inches to keep on Beaver, spotted bass only have to be 12-inches.

Of course when the bass are on the beds, Wendlandt likes to peer along the banks through his polarized glasses as he fishes along. But he cautions that not all bass are going to spawn in a couple feet of water. You might find some quality spotted and smallmouth bass on beds deeper than ten feet and not always in coves and backwater areas. Occasionally Wendlandt says he finds bass spawning on points and main lake areas that are quiet and out of the wind.

After Wendlandt has decided on how to fish all that's left is the bait selection and going fishing. For pre-spawn bass when the water temperature is still in the 50's, Wendlandt likes to target 45-degree sloping banks with crankbaits and jerkbaits. Typically shad and crawfish patterns produce especially well under these conditions on Beaver.

For pre-spawn bass in warmer water, say around 60 degrees, Wendlandt will opt for a floating worm or even a buzzbait if the bass are real close to being locked on a bed. Generally he opts for the brighter colors on his floating worms and buzzbaits as he's looking for a reaction strike. "When it starts warming up quickly you'll find big pods of baitfish in the creeks and the bass will follow them up in there," Wendlandt said. "Then you can catch them on soft jerkbaits and spinnerbaits real well too."

If the bass have already gone to the beds then Wendlandt will generally run the banks with a floating worm and then stop to fish the beds with a variety of soft plastic lures. Generally he'll have a tube bait tied on but feels the color really doesn't matter as he's caught Beaver bass on everything from black to white and everything in between. He also finds a finesse worm to be an effective lure when the bass have seen a lot of tube baits on the beds.

If the water is high and in trees and bushes then a lot of fish get caught flipping and pitching to bushes," Wendlandt said. "You can still catch sight fish and floating worm fish, but it's real good then because so many fish are up shallow in the cover." According to Wendlandt, high water presents more opportunities for anglers because typically the cover on Beaver is sparse and flooded brush tends to position the shallow fish better.

The anglers will find easy lake access in Rogers at Prairie Creek Park off Highway 12 East, the Highway 12 Bridge also on Highway 12 East, and Rocky Branch Marina about 10 miles further up Highway 12 East. Further south they can find access to the river sections at Hickory Creek off Highway 264 East and the 412 Bridge off Highway 412 in Springdale. Anglers will find the lake easier to navigate with a Fishing Hot Spots lake map available at most Wal-Mart stores and bait shops around the lake.

Lake Dardanelle

Formed by the damming of the Arkansas River in sections, Lake Dardanelle offers nearly 35,000 acres of relatively shallow water fishing at its finest. Typically, Lake Dardanelle is regarded as the section of the river around Russellville and Dardanelle, but it actually extends 50 miles up river to the Ozark-Jeta Taylor Lock and Dam in Ozark. With 315 miles of shoreline, an abundance of river grass, laydowns, stumps, and sunken brush, this impoundment offers all types of patterns for bass to suit your angling style.

According to fisheries biologist, Frank Leone, the fishing on Dardanelle this April should be outstanding. "Since 2000, we have seen a steady increase in the number of largemouth bass caught per hour of electrofishing time during our annual spring sampling season," Leone said.
He says that a good number of fish sampled were over the 15-inch minimum length limit. "I've heard of more 6-pound plus fish being caught this year by anglers than any in recent memory."

The largemouth bass on Lake Dardanelle feed primarily on shad (gizzard and threadfin), but they will also feed heavily on sunfish around the vegetation and crayfish around riprap according to Leone. Any lures that resemble a baitfish or crawfish will produce quality and numbers of bass this month.

A local angler that knows a thing or two about bass fishing shared his thoughts on fishing Lake Dardanelle. Ray Scheide of Russellville won over $130,000 in pro fishing last year but loves to fish Dardanelle when he's not touring competitively. "A 6-pound fish is a large fish on this lake," Scheide said. "There will be occasional fish larger than that, but on average you're targeting 2- to 4-pound fish."

In April, Dardanelle bass find themselves well into the spawn cycle. While not all bass spawn from year to year most will spawn when the water temperature climbs above 62 degrees. Those that do spawn generally don't all do it at the same time and weather and water temperature dictate when the bass will move to the beds. However, Scheide says another factor dictates the spawn. "Water fluctuations really determine if the fish will stay on the beds long here," Scheide said. "The Corp of Engineers likes to fluctuate the water level on this lake more than anywhere else I've been."

If the water level has been stable for a few warm days, Scheide begins his search in the shallow weeds. Specifically he likes to target the pockets and holes in the weeds. "You're looking for the choked off backwater areas that will warm the fastest," Scheide said. Something out of the main river current or in a protected bay or cove off the river. "The bass will actually spawn in the holes in the grass so that's what I'm concentrating on."

Scheide first reaches for his favorite bait for Dardanelle this time of year, a white Terminator jig with white Zoom swimming frog. A technique that's proven popular over the years doesn't involve your typical pitch and shake presentation. Instead you'll retrieve the jig much like you would a spinnerbait. Cast beyond the hole you want to cover, and then work the jig back by reeling steady while popping your rod tip repeatedly to impart an undulating action on the jig skirt.

If he feels the bass are circling a bedding area he'll pitch a senko or other soft stickbait into potential bedding areas. The key to fishing this bait correctly relies on your ability to allow the bait to sink on completely slack line. Many anglers prefer to fish senkos on spinning tackle for more control of the weightless rigs, but it's not necessary if you control your slack. Letting slack lay on the water gives you a strike indicator, but you've got to be aware what your lure and line are doing all the time. With a bait that doesn't weigh anything, you've got to be ready to set the hook at the slightest bit of resistance.

Spinnerbaits and crankbaits will work too on the weed line edges and around laydowns that bass will use for protection around their beds. The key is making multiple casts to a likely target as the bass often times won't strike on the initial cast.

Believe it or not, Dardanelle offers sight-fishing opportunities much like Beaver. Typically the only areas that offer water clear enough to sight fish are areas near the nuclear plant discharge canal and areas off the Illinois Bayou where many abandoned strip mines were inundated and the water in these areas is filtered and clearer than most on the impoundment.

Scheide admits that the Illinois Bayou is one of his favorite areas to fish in April. Besides the Bayou, he also recommended fishing Delaware and Dardanelle Bays. Both offer lots of shallow grass and scattered laydowns.

All these areas can be easily accessed from several ramps on the lake. The Lake Dardanelle State Park off Highway 64 and Marina Road in Russellville is one of the nicest ramp areas on the lake. Complete with a four-way ramp, weigh-in facility, and ample parking, most of the major tournaments on the lake launch from here. Also just off Highway 64 and Lakefront Drive is Ouita Boat ramp. With two small ramps and enough parking for about 25 vehicles Ouita will get you in productive water fast.

Whether you like to fish muddy river systems or clear rocky highland reservoirs, the Natural State offers something for every bass angler alike. In April the fish are shallow enough that a boat isn't even necessary if you have a favorite spot you like to fish from the bank. For more information on lake access and the fisheries in general you can contact the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at www.agfc.com or (800) 364-4263.