Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  March 27, 2024

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report March 27, 2024.

White River

(updated 3-28-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said Bull Shoals Lake was on the rise after Monday’s rain, and as of Wednesday was sitting at 657.26 feet msl. Expect an increase of about a foot in the next week, which means continued generation at the dam. A steady flow, whether high or low, makes for the best fishing because the trout settle down and begin to pay attention to the baits you’re presenting. Angler skills are in demand during sizable fluctuation in water levels.

When the water is running fast and high, add weight to your line, offer a bright-colored bead several inches above the hook, and use an extra flashy lure. The Rapala CD-7s (brown trout and silver/black) have been popular and successful this week; they run between 6-8 feet — a great option for fishing the deeper water. We’ve had good luck bringing some fair-sized browns to the boat drifting a Redfin River Minnow. Troll a sculpin or a minnow (live or manufactured) mid-depth 3-4 feet from the bank and be ready for the tug.

Shore anglers have been finding some luck with garlic-scented yellow and pink Power Eggs. When floating on the river, you’ll find the rainbows are biting hard on pink worms and nuggets of shrimp.
“The dogwoods are popping, green in is happening, and we’re in the midst of one of the most beautiful times of the year. Come on over and experience trout catching on the White River at Cotter in The Natural State of Arkansas.”

(updated 3-28-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said the fishing from last Thursday to Sunday was tremendous. River conditions were almost perfect and the weather was nice. Drift-fishing with Uncommon Baits UV Neo Pink eggs with corn worked very well. Using shrimp or worms also worked well. Drift-fishing with sculpin resulted in some nice rainbows over 17 inches and 22-inch-plus brown trout. With the low and clear water, quarter-ounce Colorado spoons in nickel/gold worked extremely well. Other lures such as various sizes of Rapala Countdowns in silver, rainbow trout or brown trout colors and quarter-ounce Panther Martins with gold spinner and black body with yellow spots caught a lot of trout.

Monday the storm system dumped over 2 inches in the Buffalo River Valley, causing the river to rise to over 14 feet at St. Joe. By Tuesday morning the river at Calico Rock was muddy and rising, eventually cresting around 12 feet Tuesday night. Wednesday saw more muddy water and slowly dropping river levels. On Wednesday we received a stocking of more than 1,100 rainbow trout from the Jim Hinkle Spring River Fish Hatchery and a second stocking of about 1,200 trout from the Norfork Hatchery.

 

Bull Shoals Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Bull Shoals Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 3-28-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said the lake level Wednesday was 657 feet msl and rising. Water temperature dropped around 53 degrees, give or take. “We might get a runoff bite if it warms up,” he said. “Keep a spinnerbait or Chatterbait close. Black bass are in prespawn. Overall, bass fishing has been fair; it definitely slowed down after the big storm, then the cold front. Be sure to fish the conditions.
Del says that if it’s cloudy and windy, anglers can powerfish cranking a Wiggle Wart or SPRO Rock Crawler square bill, covering water on windblown transition banks and swings. If it’s flat and sunny, use a Jewel Peewee Jig in green pumpkin with either a Bass Whacker or Touchdown in orange or blue. Also if it gets tough try a tube C-rig, while a shaky head and a Ned are starting to get a few. Use colors in variants of green pumpkin orange/red. Look on swings or points or secondary points close to spawning areas in the creeks. Keep the boat out deep, 30 feet, and slow down.
“For me I still feel most of the bigger fish are feeding heavily on shad. In the bigger creeks look for loons and gulls because they are not all out deep in the middle anymore. Shad are spread out. Some shad went shallow in the creeks and some are back deep with the cold. Try a 2.8 swimbait fluke or Tater Shad 2.8 all in white or natural shad colors.
“Guys are also catching them on a shad color jerkbait, like a Megabass 110. Everyone is starting to catch them, so go get out there and do your thing! Fish the conditions!” 

Del regularly posts new YouTube videos. Visit his YouTube site (Bull Shoals Lake Fishing Report) for more information and tips on fishing Bull Shoals Lake.

(updated 3-28-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service reports that walleyes are still spawning on the lower lake. Main lake and secondary points in larger creeks are holding fish. If trolling, try stick baits slow and shallow during low light periods in 8-14 feet of water. Trolling at 0.85 to 1.2 mph should produce a few fish. If casting, try jerkbaits or small shad-style baits fished slow with a jerk-and-pause retrieve. Most fish will be caught just before and after dark with the current full moon or just before daylight at this time. Overcast skies and wind can extend the shallow bite into the daylight hours. 

(updated 3-28-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service reports that crappie are still actively feeding in creeks but the bite has slowed. Crappie are beginning to stage in areas close to spawning grounds. A one-sixteenth-ounce or one-eighth-ounce jig with Tater Bait, small fry Purple Monkey and minnows worked well earlier this week.

 

Norfork Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Norfork Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website. 

(updated 3-28-2024) Steven “Scuba Steve” Street at Blackburn’s Resort and Boat Rental said the lake level was 555.49 feet msl and had dropped a half-inch in the last 24 hours when he came in at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The 3.4 inches of rain late last week is working its way through the system and the Army Corps of Engineers has opened up spillway gates to an equivalent to one and a half generators. It has been cold the last few days. The water is not warming very much so far, but the sunshine and light winds will warm the water especially in the creeks. The rain muddied up the creeks but it is clearing now and will be at a good color soon. We are expecting warm ambient temperature and light winds and sunshine and expect the shallow water in the creeks to warm rapidly and fish to move back into shallow water.
The bass and crappie will move shallow staging for spawn but have not done so yet. They need some warm nights with lows near 60. Walleye are back downstream from their spawn and some white bass are also, but not all. The lake overall is in excellent condition and at a good level for fishing. The water in the creeks is clearing and good bass fishing is on its way. 

Visit blackburnsresort.com and click on Scuba Steve’s blog for daily updates and more information. 

(updated 3-14-2024) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said Wednesday, “Mission accomplished! I had my daughter fishing with me this morning. Was hoping to have the oldest granddaughter along but she would not wake up. I guess college life for Jordan has set in — stay up all night and sleep all morning.
“I found some striped bass and Keri totally out-fished me this morning. She was casting a half-ounce chrome Kastmaster with white feather trailer and I was casting a 5-inch Sexy Shad Swimbait with a three-eighths-ounce chartreuse jighead. The bait was right on the surface down to maybe 15-20 feet. It was scattered out. The fish were darting through the bait, feeding away. I got quite a few short strikes but no boated fish for me. I should have downsized to a 3.5-inch swimbait. Keri landed two nice striped bass and a really good largemouth bass.
“Keri and I were fishing back in a creek in 30-60 feet of water. Wayne and Jimmy had success casting swimbaits and a Kastmaster. They have had a stretch of bad luck lately with striped bass. They have hooked into quite a few over the last couple of days, but the fish were coming unhooked. They redeemed themselves this morning. Joe was back at finding and catching some really nice walleye, crappie and one striped bass.
“I heard another guest was cleaning some fish, but I have not had a chance to talk with them. Overall, good day for all. The surface water temp was in the mid-50s. The lake level is falling slowly and sits at 553.43 feet msl. Fishing has been pretty good for most species and will only get better and better as the warmer temperature continues. I believe the white bass are spawning, most of the walleye should have spawned and a few others will be still on the beds. Crappie are staging for their spawn, which should happen before long. There are quite a few big slab crappie on or near brush piles back in creeks. The bass are still a little way off for their spawn, but with the early warm weather it might be sooner than normal.
“We have cabins available throughout the spring and summer. Give us a call to make your fishing and/or family vacation plans. Happy fishing and enjoy Norfork Lake.”
Lou posts fishing reports almost every day on Hummingbird Hideaway Resort’s Facebook page.