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About
Us and This Newsletter Fishing Report
Greetings from
all of us at Cotter Trout Dock on
the banks of the White River in
Cotter, Arkansas!
We are expanding
on our Weekly Fishing Report from
the Arkansas Game and Fish
Commission to include some of the
latest happenings around here at
the dock and anywhere that we find
interesting.
We invite you to send suggestions
on what you would like to see
here! We need the help!
You can "Subscribe" to this
newsletter. We do not
send the Newsletter itself, just a
link to the latest Newsletter in a
simple email that will be very
easy to open
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Fishing The White River
"You'll Have That."
By Michael Flippin
Hello again!
Click images for larger.
 Hello again. This weekend is Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom and thanks for all you do!
This brings me to tell everyone that there is more to the White River
than fishing. In the years I have been a fishing guide, I have
come to realize that my favorite trips are the Mother/son/daughter
and/or the Father/son/daughter trips, family trips.
It’s a lot easier on everyone having a guide (or, what I like to call
myself: a Recreational Technician) to untangle fishing line messes, take
fish off and tie lures and rigs on for Mom, Dad and kids.
 Fishing is always great, but taking your kids fishing can be tough to enjoy when you have to do all this and try to fish, too.
On a guided trip they can sit back, relax and enjoy one another without any hassles.
At the end of a day with a family, it’s always great to see how happy
everyone is and the thanks we Recreational Technicians get from the
parents and kids is great. It always gave me a feeling of
satisfaction that’s hard to beat. Thanks Families!
Fishing tip of the week:
Take your kid fishing, sightseeing and enjoy them before they grow
up! Hopefully, they will pass it on. To all the
Mothers: Have a great weekend!
Great Days ahead!
Michael
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Fishing Report From Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
White River
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear,
low and slow. Trout fishing is good. Rapalas, jigs and working for spin
fishermen; sculpins and bait fish are good, too. Try pink Power Worms or
PowerBait in pink or yellow. Fly-fishermen should go with Zebra Midges,
Copper Johns and Prince Nymphs; mayfly hatch has begun. Most any lures
such as Blue Fox, Little Cleo or buoyant spoons are good, too.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185) had no report this week.
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the river is clear and low. Crappie
are fair on minnows. Bass are fair with plastics, Gitzits, grubs and
other baits. Walleye are fair on crankbaits and live bait. No report on
other species.
Buffalo River
Just Fishing Guides said as of Monday, Ponca was very low at 1.74 feet,
Pruitt was very low at 3.64 feet, Tyler Bend was low at 3.89 feet and
Buffalo Point was low at 3.08 feet. Water temperature was ranging from
75-82 degrees and averaging 78 degrees. The river level is extremely low
for floating; the water is clear. Water temperatures are very good for
smallmouth. Make sure you are fishing deep holes on warm, sunny days.
Some good fish have been caught. With the warmer temperatures
continuing, fishing is really picking up. Fish slow and deep with soft
plastics in watermelon red and green pumpkinseed, or crawdad pattern
flies. Stealth is needed.
Crooked Creek
Just Fishing Guides said the gauge at Kelley’s Slab was reading 10.14 ft
and 176 cfs Monday. This is about 2.25 feet under the low-water bridge
at Kelley’s Access, but is floatable. Water temperatures have been
averaging 76 degrees. Make sure you are fishing deep holes on warm,
sunny days. Some good fish have been caught. With the warmer
temperatures continuing, fishing is really picking up. Fish slow and
deep with soft plastics in watermelon red and green pumpkinseed, or
crawdad pattern flies. Stealth is needed.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s
elevation at 653.4 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said the water temp is 74 degrees. Bass and
walleye are biting on crankbaits cast along rocky points in the early
morning and evening, as well as at night. The thermocline has set up at
about 18 feet and walleye are biting around that depth on bottom-bouncer
night crawler rigs during the day. Bass are also biting on jigs and
soft plastics like tube baits and lizards 5-15 feet deep. Night fishing
is very good on crankbaits and jigs for bass and walleye. There is also a
deep-water walleye bite on crankbaits in the 30- to 40-foot range in
100 feet of water. Jigging spoons are catching a good mixed bag of fish
on points in 25-35 feet of water.
Bull Shoals Tailwater
Just Fishing Guides said generation has been around the clock with
one-six units. Drift fishing has been excellent with a variety of
patterns and presentations. Streamers, nymphs, dry flies and
terrestrials are all working at different times and areas during the
day.
Lake Norfork
As of Tuesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation
at 551.9 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 552 msl,
April-September – 554 msl).
STR Outfitters No report this week.
Hummingbird Hideaway Resort Lou Gabric spring fishing on Norfork Lake
has been very exciting over the last 10 days. Last week the best place
for stripers was from the Diamond Bay area to the dam. The bait of
choice was to troll the new Alabama rig baited with 3.5-inch swimming
minnows. Live bait was also working, but the Alabama rig was outfishing
live bait. This is not the usual case, but last week it was. Stripers
are on the move and being found at different depths. This gives you a
lot of options to check out with your electronics. Look for the bait
fish and you may find the fish. I have caught fish and have reports of
other fish being caught in the mid-lake area, as well as up in Bennett’s
and over toward Cranfield. This is a normal occurrence for spring
fishing. Earlier this week, I hooked into a nice-size fish, but after
about five minutes of fight, the hooks on my Spook bent out and the fish
escaped. Yes, I said on my Zara Spook. I have been finding top-water
action for black bass, as well as stripers. Bass fishing has still been
very good. I am finding largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass on main
lake and secondary creek points. Early in the morning, they are very
shallow, as well as pushing shad to the top. Caught several the last two
mornings on Zara Spooks. I fished with one this morning and caught fish
on top-waters, as well as on grubs and live bait. This morning, live
bait was definitely more productive than artificial baits. But
artificial baits are working – crankbaits, spinner baits, jig and pigs,
swimming minnows – you name it and it will more than likely catch some
bass. The crappie bite is good most days.
Guide Steve Olomon said water temperature is in the mid-70s early in the
morning and gets to the upper 70s late in the day. Largemouth,
smallies, Kentuckies, whites, hybrids, along with a few stripers, are
surface feeding early in the morning. The stripers are not coming up in
schools, just one here and there. They are hitting Zara Spooks. White
and clear colors are working the best. White bass and some hybrids are
coming up just before dark. Look for them in coves. Look for some whites
back in the creeks and throw a Rooster Tail. For the larger whites, let
the bait get down 5-10 feet. Neal Mustard of Indiana caught a 35-pound
striper on a clear Zara Spook May 5 while fishing with me using
10-pound-test monofilament.
Norfork Tailwater
Just Fishing Guides said generation has been off during the day until
3-4 p.m. Midges are best close to the dam and in the park. Caddis and
mayfly patterns are working mid-river on down. Also, try scud, sow bug
and small streamers when hatches aren’t taking place.
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Cotter Trout
Dock, 321 Big Spring Pkwy pob 96, Cotter, AR
72626
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