Slab crappies are meat eaters—sure enough minnow munchers. They take artificials well at times, especially jigs—but big crappie will turn their noses at even the best of the best crappie lures.

Black bass are hitting the usual winter lures, said Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers. Crank baits are the top choice. Try different colors, but crawdad is a good color for starters. Jerk ...

Water level is 1.39 feet high and fairly clear. Water temperature in the upper 70s. Crappie guide Blake Oestreich says fishing has been excellent using jigs and minnows around brush piles and old ...