Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  April 3, 2024

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report April 3, 2024.

White River

(updated 4-4-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said Bull Shoals Lake is at 658.43 feet msl elevation. Fluctuating water levels on the White River have been less drastic with smaller increases in releases; still with an afternoon bump of up to three or four units (9,000-12,000 cfs) at times. That’s when it sometimes helps to remember that higher water levels aid in growth patterns of trout. 

“Sculpins remain the best bait for the browns here in the Cotter area. We’ve seen some rainbow action with redworms and quarter-ounce spinners (orange or yellow-gold bodies); red-gold hammered spoons have received the most attention. Give the kids some shrimp and chartreuse PowerBait and they’ll bring in a mess of rainbows. We’re occasionally surprised when a good-sized brown is found snacking on shrimp as well.

“We are expecting a huge influx of visitors this weekend for the Monday, April 8, total eclipse viewing. We’re always pleased to share our treasures with guests and hope all who come to Arkansas have a safe, fun-filled time and are able to see this celestial display unhindered. River traffic is expected to be heavier than normal, so take special care and be courteous to all. 

“The dogwoods are in full bloom, still some purple on the redbuds, and the wild flowers are budding. There’s no better place in our great country to enjoy God’s nature than The Natural State. See you soon!”

(updated 4-4-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said it has been a great week of fishing. “We have seen water depths as high as 10 feet and dropping to as low as 5 feet. The water cleared up nicely by the weekend. For the past couple of days we had some dinginess to the water but fishing was still good. Nickel-colored inline spinners with Uncommon Baits UV eggs in Neo Pink or Bright Orange and corn worked well. Local fishermen were reporting success using one-sixteenth-ounce jigs in darker colors. 

The next few days should be sunny with highs in the upper 60s to upper 70s by Sunday. The eclipse is Monday; if you are on the river to watch the eclipse, be sure to remain aware of your surroundings. 

 

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 4-4-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said that Wednesday the lake level was 658 feet msl, closing in on normal pool of 659 feet msl, and slowly rising. Temperature dropped to around 55 degrees give or take. Bass are in prespawn, and overall the bass fishing has been good and everyone is starting to catch them. But it definitely slowed down after the big storm and then the cold front last week. Be sure to fish the conditions. If it’s cloudy and windy you can still powerfish cranking a Wiggle Wart, a SPRO Rock Crawler or a square bill. We’ve been covering water on windblown transition banks and swings. If it’s flat and sunny, fish swings, points and secondary points with a Jewel Peewee Jig in green pumpkin with either Bass Whacker or Touchdown in orange or blue. Also, if it gets tough try a puke tube, Carolina rig or a shaky head and a Ned rig — all are working. Green pumpkin orange/red variants are the best colors.
Look around swings or points or secondary points close to spawning areas in the creeks. With clear water you’re going to want to keep the boat out deep, about 25-30 feet, and slow down. In the dirty water you can get real skinny if it’s warm. For me I still feel most of the bigger fish are feeding heavily on shad. In the bigger creeks look for loons and gulls. You’re going to have to pay attention! Shad are spread out throughout the water column. Also some shad went shallow in the creeks and some are back deep with the cold front. Try a 2.8 Swimbait, a fluke or Tater Shad 2.8 all in white or natural shad colors. Guys are also catching them on a shad-color jerkbait or 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 4-4-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service reports that walleyes are still spawning in the lower lake section. “I have been spotting them at night on main lake and secondary points in larger creeks. If trolling, try stick baits slow and shallow just before dark and after daybreak in 8-14 feet of water. Slide out to deeper water, 20-30 feet, after daylight.

If fishing at night try casting shallow-diving jerkbaits or small shad-style baits fished slowly with a jerk and pause retrieve. “I have been spotting and catching most fish tight up against the shoreline in as little as 12 inches of water after dark.”

(updated 4-4-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service reports that crappie are starting to stage on shallower brush piles and structure. Minnows have been working as well as crappie jigs with small fry baits like the Tater Baits. Mid-lake is murky and temps vary from 54-59 degrees, but look for it to drop with this week’s cold front. We’re getting there, but not quite yet.

 

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

(updated 4-4-2024) Steven “Scuba Steve” Street at Blackburn’s Resort and Boat Rental said the lake level was 554 feet msl and had dropped 2.2 inches in the last 24 hours as of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Army Corps of Engineers has run the one operating generator for about eight hours and has spillway gates open to an equivalent of another half generator. The White River at Newport is 9.06 feet and dropping. The surface water temperature is 59 degrees both in the creeks and in the open deep water.

“The cold front that came in Tuesday afternoon not only cooled down the shallow water, it slowed the fishing. We did not get out of the 40s for an ambient high temperature Wednesday and it was cold and windy.
“The cold fronts just keep coming through just when the fishing starts to get better. Several large crappie, bass and carp have moved in under Blackburn’s Dock and that is a good sign. The larger crappie want to spawn badly and the males have started to stage back in the creeks. Some smaller ones are still out in deeper water on brush.
White bass fishing is picking up but black bass fishing is the best, and several walleye are being caught after moving downstream from the river spawn.”
Scuba Steve says he caught some very nice ones still on main lake brush in 22 feet of water for some reason. “It warms up and the fish move into the warmest water and then a cold front comes through and they move back out. At least March is over and the cold fronts are not as cold. The topwater bite usually starts about April 15 and is in full swing by May 1, when the fishing is the best for the whole year.
“The lake overall is in excellent condition and at a good level but fishing is just fair. My favorite time is when the first shallow thermocline forms in early May.”

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

(updated 4-4-2024) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said that Tuesday was a fun morning of fishing on Norfork Lake. “I waited until the radar was clear of thunderstorms and made it out on the lake at around 4 a.m. The light rain was not over, but there was no thunder or lightning in the area anymore. Warm weather and virtually no wind — just how I like it when I am fishing in the dark. I started on a main lake point on the shallow side of the lake. I had caught several short walleyes in this area yesterday morning. This morning nothing was happening so I moved across the lake close to where the channel was swinging into a small cut in the rocks. I was sitting in more than 60 feet of water. I was casting in toward the shoreline using a 3.5-inch Paddle Tail Swimbait in a Sexy Shad color pattern on a three-eighth-ounce chartreuse jighead. I started counting down 3-4 seconds and it did not take long to land three nice walleyes. I could see fish down at about 30-40 feet on my LiveScope. I tried jigging for them with a Tater Shad but they would look and then swim away. I switched to casting my swimbait and counting down 7-8 seconds. The white bass hit this bait with each cast. It was starting to get light out and I had not found any striped bass yet. I headed back into a creek where I was fishing last week. I was near a deep-water channel swing next to a point. There were striped bass and white bass in the area 30-60 feet down. I managed to land one striped bass and more white bass. The stripers were being finicky and swam up to my Tater Shad quickly, then stopped and swam away. 

“LiveScope is amazing! You can actually see these fish and what they are doing. It can get a little frustrating to see the fish looking at my bait and not taking it (lol). 

“I had to be back at the resort by 8:30 so I headed home at about 8 a.m. I was fishing the mid-lake area for my third spot. The main lake surface water temp was 58-60 degrees and the creek was slightly above 60 degrees. The lake continues its slow, steady fall and sits at 554.23 feet msl. The lake is clearing up nicely.
“I ended up cleaning the walleye, striper and half of the white bass that I caught (Tuesday). One of my workers doing some painting was wanting some fish. I gave him a couple of gallon-sized zip-seal bags stuffed full of fillets.”
Lou says they have cabins available throughout the spring and summer. “Give us a call to make your fishing and/or family vacation plans, 870-492-5113. Happy fishing and enjoy Norfork Lake.”

Lou posts fishing reports almost every day to his blog on the Hummingbird Hideaway Resort webpage.