Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

December 13, 2023

Below are some photos of our guided trout fishing customers taken this week at Cotter Trout Dock.  
Below the pictures is the Fishing Report from Arkansas Game and Fish.

Fishing Report  December 13, 2023

White River

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, especially here in Cotter. As you come down to the river through Big Spring Park early on a frosty morning, you'll see a most amazing, delightful display of lights. Morning temperatures have been plenty cool, but that has given way to sunny, warm days that don't feel much like December. Sure is nice for a day of catching trout on the White River, though.

Bull Shoals Lake is sitting at 651.61 feet msl, over 7 feet below power pool. Angler traffic on the river often dwindles through the winter, but these unseasonably mild days have seen an uptick of visitors. The successful fishers learned to include a variety of baits to accommodate the changes in river depth downstream of Bull Shoals Dam. In recent days we've seen substantial changes in the water level throughout the day varying from minimum flow (700 cfs) to over four units (12,000 cfs), so bring a favorite silver spoon or some jigs for the lower level in the morning (orange and/or brown skirts), red wiggler worms for the rise during mid-morning, and some stick baits for the afternoon catch (rainbow patterns worked best this week).

As always, scented egg patterns and shrimp will lure a good number of rainbows to your net. The browns are spawning, so you need to be creative in what you throw and how you throw it. Sculpins will still attract a brown trout but it might take more patience than usual. The rainbows are eating up the sculpins, too, so upsize your bait to attract the browns.

Come on in and share a story or two. The weatherman promises mild daytime temperatures for the next week, so pick up your rod and reel, get outside and come join us on the river. Merry Christmas from the banks of the White.