Fishing Business Thrives on Beaver

Beaver Lake, a man-made, 28,000-acre lake completed in 1966 and offering 487 miles of shoreline, has seven commercial marinas and a number of professional fishing guides doing business on its waters. r

Richard Phillips with Flipper’s Guide Service said Beaver is a great lake for fishing, but he wants the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission to stock it more. The Commission’s stocking of the lake hasn’t kept pace with the increased demand, Phillips said.r

Ron Moore, district fisheries biologist for the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, said the commission stocks Beaver with 200,000 Stripers a year and has for 30 years. Stocking the lake with more Stripers could exceed “the lake’s carrying capacity” and limit the growth rate of the Stripers, meaning there may be more Stripers but they’d be smaller, Moore said.r

The record Striper for Beaver is 64 pounds and was caught in the tail waters of Beaver Lake, Moore said. The previous record was a 57-pound Striper caught off the lake’s bank.r

Beaver is well-known for its trophy Striper fishing and that attracts a lot of out-of-state sportsmen, but it’s also becoming more well-known for bass, he said. The lake has several tournaments each year, Moore pointed out. r

Beth Stephens, director of advertising and promotion for the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce, said Wal-Mart FLW Bass Tournament brings in 800 to 1,000 visitors each year. r

In addition to next spring’s FLW Tournament and several independent tournaments, two additional sponsored tournaments are set for Beaver in the coming year — the Angler’s Choice Yamamoto Championship in November, and the Central Pro-Am Bass Tournament in March. r

Ed Chapko of E&C Striper Guide Service, has fished for 20 years and been a guide for the past 13 years. There’s more pressure on Beaver’s Bass now that the Lake has become well known as a fishing destination, he said. r

“We’re seeing some of the larger fish, not as many, but we’re still catching them,” Chapko said. r

The biggest Striper he’s caught on Beaver was 43 pounds. He’s convinced there’s more luck than skill involved in successful fishing.r

“We’re always on the fish, but getting them to bite is the hard part,” he said.r

Fishing guides, including Chapko and Phillips, typically charge approximately $225 for a half day fishing for two people and $325 for a full day.r

Marine mechanics and marinas also appear to be thriving from the waters of Beaver Lake. Of the seven marinas doing business on Beaver (see list, p. 20), all offer refreshments, gasoline and boat slip rentals, five offer boat rentals, and several provide maintenance for docked boats. r

Kevin Callaghan, owner of Horseshoe Bend Marina, said his business does better every year. The influx of people to the area has helped the business thrive, Callaghan said. r

Fishing Guides on Beaver Laker

rListed alphabetically and by game

rService—City—Phone—Gamer
Graham’s Guide Service—Rogers —(479) 925-4374—Bassr
Just Fishin’ Guides—Bentonville—(479) 273-0276—Bassr
Ron Crawford’s Fishing Service—Rogers—(479) 925-4266—Bassr
Brad Wiegmann Guide Service—Springdale—(479) 756-5279—Bass, Striperr
Beaver Dam Striper Guide Service—Eureka Springs—(479) 253-0318—Striperr
Beaver Fever Guide Service—Garfield—(479) 359-2322—Striperr
Big 1’s Striper Guide —Rogers—(479) 633-0662—Striperr
Brent Tillery’s Striper Specialty Guide Service—Garfield—(479) 359-3700—Striperr
E&C Striper Guide Service—Rogers—(479) 631-3858—Striperr
Flipper’s Guide Service—Rogers—(888) 280-9220—Striperr
Hamilton Guide Service—Garfield—(479) 359-3435—Striperr
Joe Farkas Striper Guide Service—Rogers—(479) 925-7549—Striperr
Jr. Adams Striper Guide Service—Garfield —(479) 359-3733—Striperr
L&B Guide Service —Springdale—(479) 751-9488—Striperr
Six Shooter Guide Service—Eureka Springs—(479) 253-1214—Striperr
War Eagle Fishing Guide Service —Garfield—(479) 359-2142—Striperr

r*Source: the guides, Internet listings