June 12, 2024 Arkansas Trout Fishing Report

White River

(updated 6-13-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said Bull Shoals Lake elevation measured 667.51 feet msl Wednesday with generation varying from minimum flows in the morning to midafternoon releases of over 12,000 cfs (four generators).

Browns have been hiding in the deep holes and biting on sculpin and crawdad tails. The rainbows are hitting silver spinners and pink PowerBait worms topped with white (mouse tails), with the ever-popular red/gold hammered Thomas Buoyant Spoon adding to the count. There’s been a late afternoon surge in the brown bite during this past week, which is a little uncommon but might be attributed to changes in pressure systems. A cup of nightcrawlers or redworms is a must during the higher water in the afternoon; play them close to the banks just a foot or so below the surface.

“Summertime is heating up, but the mornings here in Cotter are refreshing and cool enough to require a sweatshirt. Few things remain the same in this ever-changing world, but here’s something that has remained constant: Trout fishing on the White River in the beautiful Arkansas Ozarks provides a great catch of fish and as much action as you could ask for. Come see us.”

(updated 6-13-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said water generation from the dams on the White River has been inconsistent over the last week. “We have seen depths as low as 3 feet and as high as 8.5 feet with water flows as low as 2,500cfs to as high as 19,000-plus cfs. As a result, we have had days of low and clear water to days of high and dingy water in the mornings with lower depths and clearer water in the afternoon. During the low and clear water we saw a lot of success with quarter-ounce Thompson Colorado Spoons in nickel/gold and Rapala Countdowns CD7 in rainbow trout colors, resulting in several 16-inch-plus rainbow trout and a few 20-inch-plus brown trout with one 24-inch brown trout. During the higher and dingier water, we saw success using Uncommon Baits UV eggs, with or without an inline spinner, tipping the hook off with corn or shrimp.

“I’m not aware of Calico Rock receiving a trout stocking this last week.

“I’ve had a few people ask how I track and predict water conditions in Calico Rock. Mainly I use the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock app. When the app first opens it shows “Releases” from the different dams, which are updated every hour. Here I watch the releases for both Bull Shoals Dam and Norfork Dam. The water releases at Bull Shoals Dam (60 river miles upriver) take approximately 15 hours to affect Calico Rock, and releases from Norfork Dam (18 river miles) take approximately 5 hours to affect Calico Rock. If either dam has low generation and then rapidly increases generation, we can expect some dingy water with some debris washing off the banks and then clearer water once the initial water moves through.

“Additionally on the app, there is a USGS tab. From that tab you can see hourly updates on river water levels. During a normal day, I watch the water levels at Calico Rock (which is measured from the corner of our dock) and Norfork (rule of thumb I use to predict water levels at Calico Rock is whatever water level Norfork is at, we will be that level minus 2 feet in about 4-5 hours).

“When we receive a lot of rain I also watch the water levels on the Buffalo River, which flows into the White River about 30 river miles above Calico Rock. Since the Buffalo River is a natural river with no flood control when it rises, it is the biggest cause of muddy water and debris we receive. I like to use the Rivercast app to watch the levels at St. Joe (the only place on the Buffalo that Rivercast reports) and use the USGS app to watch the levels at Harriet. Rivercast gives a predicted water level (at both St. Joe and Calico Rock), which gives me a better idea of what the river may do, and Harriet is the last reading before the water flows into the White River. A general rule of thumb I use when the Buffalo is flooding is I take the reading at Harriet and halve it and that gives a general idea of what the water levels may reach at Calico Rock.”

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 6-13-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said Wednesday the lake level was still around 667 feet msl. Parking and boat ramp can be limited with the high water. Water temperature is around 78 degrees, give or take, with warmer temperature in the stained water. Bass are set up on summer areas and patterns. Shad are spread out off deeper water points, ledges, drop-offs and channel swings. “Get up early, or if it’s cloudy, rainy and windy hit the surface with topwater!” he said.

“Zara Spook, a popper, Lucky Craft Gunfish and shad patters are working for me,” he added. As the sun gets up, try a 2.8 swimbait or Flutter Spoon; that will keep the bite going. Once the sun gets up, a lot of the fish will move deep. You can follow them out there and try a drop-shot Robo Worm or shad-shaped worm or Tater Shad. Or just go home and let the look-at-me’s have at it.
“If we get rain, I’ll powerfish covering water with a square bill, spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits in the stained backs, drains or runoff. Try a buzzbait if it’s windy and cloudy, or a frog/toad if it’s summer over submerged flooded bushes.

“You can still catch them on points with a Ned rig or tube or a shaky head in 10-20 feet. Keep the boat out deep, especially in the clear water, and you can hit the old shoreline. There is a lot of activity in the 15-feet range. You can go up there with a Beaver-style bait or Jewel football jig. Green pumpkin variants are best colors, and also a Texas-rigged Big Worm. Some shallower brush piles closer to deep water in less than 25 feet are holding some fish.

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 6-13-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says that pulling crawler harnesses in 15-20 feet early will get some fish. Fish a little deeper, 25-30 feet, later after sunrise. If contour trolling, try shad-style baits in 20-25 feet of water. Slide out to deeper water, 30-40 feet, after daylight.

If you’re open-water trolling for suspended fish, they are getting a little tougher to catch and are going a little deeper — down as deep as 60-70 feet. Troll early morning for a few hours, then switch over to crawler harnesses later. Find shad and try trolling with snap weights from 50-70 feet deep over flooded forest over 100 feet or more of water while using any type of deep-diving crankbait. Trolling the crank over the old river channel at 1.5 to 1.8 mph will put some fish in the boat.
Jigging spoon fishing has also been another tactic that is working. Casting a half-ounce spoon into 15 feet and hopping it off bottom back into about 35 feet might also get you a few fish.

(updated 6-13-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) reports crappie are definitely more scattered and finding some on the brush and structure in about 15-25 feet. “Quality is still kind of mixed up and we are having to really work at it to catch good numbers. Jig bite has definitely slowed down, but still catching a few on the Tater Baits Tater Shad Jr. with a one-sixteenth-ounce head and, of course, minnows. Stay patient as conditions stabilize — it should really get good.”

Norfork Lake

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

(updated 6-13-2024) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort (870-492-5113) said Wednesday, “There are many memories and great times to be experienced on Norfork Lake, whether you are fishing, boating, swimming or playing on your favorite lake toy. I had another fun morning fishing on Norfork Lake, but being on the lake is always fun no matter what you are doing. The lake is warm and inviting.
“I fished two different areas this morning. I was in 100-plus feet of water in both locations. I started fishing in the first spot at about 4:15 a.m. with my green light. Bait was still in the area and was 25 feet thick starting on the surface. Whites were inside of the bait and the bigger fish were below the bait from around 40 feet down to 70 feet. I ended up landing three striped bass and one hybrid. The fish either hit my Tater Shad on a very slow fall or on a very slow reel-up. I only had about an hour in this area, since when it got light out (5-5:15 a.m.) the bait and fish started to disperse. At about 5:30 I headed to the second area along a bluff wall. There was bait on the surface and scattered stripers 30-90 feet deep. They would not take my Tater Shad, so I switched to a 1-ounce green-with-white-belly Binks Spoon. When there were three or four fish under me, they all would chase the spoon up when I quickly raised the bait as high as I could, then let it free fall back down. One fish would hit the spoon on the fall. These fish were larger than at my first spot. The first area the fish I landed were in the 8- to 10-pound range, which is the average size you can expect to catch. The first fish caught in the second area was in the 13- to 14-pound range. What a great battle. I ended up landing six stripers/hybrids in total along with a few white bass. The second area was one of the areas I scouted out yesterday. Oh, by the way, all of my fish today were released on-site to be caught another day.

“The surface water temperature this morning was around 78-79 degrees. The lake level is 560.62 feet msl. The water is clear on the main lake and slightly stained in the creeks and coves. The water level is rising very slowly. Be careful out on the lake as there may be some floating debris due to the rise in water. I did not notice much floating this morning.

“Hummingbird Hideaway Resort still has cabins available during June and July. Summer fishing and family vacation fun time is here. Give us a call with any questions or for reservations. If you have not been to Norfork Lake before, you will absolutely fall in love with it! If you have visited in the past, it’s time to come back! Enjoy Norfork Lake in the Arkansas Ozark.”

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

Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

June 12, 2024