Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  June 26, 2024

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report June 26, 2024.

White River

(updated 6-27-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said the White River watershed has seen some much needed rain this week, and water clarity has remained very good, keeping the trout catching phenomenal. The water level has continued to be high with generation throughout the day averaging 14,000 cfs. Bull Shoals Lake is approaching seasonal power pool of 661.6 feet msl.

The rainbow catches were achieved mainly with sunrise or pink PowerBait tipped with shrimp on a size 6 Aberdeen or bait holder hook, bronze. Another favored bait for a great catch has been fresh soft-shell crawdads — when drifted mid-depth, you’ll increase your catch count.
“I don’t think the high water is going to last much longer, so get out those lures and stick baits while you can. Tie on your favorite Smithwick (try the 4½-inch blue back/white belly model) or Rapala (try a glass blue minnow Husky Jerk) before the water drops. 

“I was surprised to see some small grasshoppers this week — seems early — but it might be signaling a great hopper season. Worth a try. With the recent heat wave, the cold, clear river provides even more of an escape than usual. Life is good. Come share it with us.”

(updated 6-27-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “High heat equals higher demand for air conditioning equals high electrical demand equals increased power generation from Bull Shoals Dam equals higher water and flow. We have seen depths as high as 9 feet or more to as low as 7 feet. With the increased water depths and flows, anglers have had to work harder to catch trout. The KISS rule has worked the best by keeping things simple with a silver inline spinner, Uncommon Baits UV neo pink eggs tipped with corn or shrimp. The trout have moved onto the gravel bars feeding on snails and freshwater shrimp. We’ve also cleaned several larger fish with crawdads and sculpins in their stomachs. Both Bull Shoals and Norfork levels remain above the top of the power pool level. I expect river conditions will remain very similar for at least the next week. 

“We received one trout stocking last week with the AGFC using the pontoon raft to stock more than 3,400 rainbow trout between Calico Rock and Sylamore Creek.

 

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 6-27-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said Wednesday that lake level has fallen to around 663 feet msl. The Army Corps of Engineers has been running some big water. “I feel like the thermocline isn’t setting up with the water getting pulled,” Del said, adding that parking and boat ramp access still can be limited and users should call ahead before they go. Water temperature is around 83 degrees, give or take, with stained water being warmer. 

Bass are set up on summer areas and patterns. Shad are spread out from the back off the creek out to the main lake. Check deeper water, points, ledges, drop-offs and channel swings and saddles. Get up early, or if it’s cloudy, rainy and windy hit the surface with topwater! “Smaller sizes are working best for me — Zara Spook, Pop-R, Lucky Craft Gunfish, wake baits in shad patterns. As the sun gets up, a try a 2.8 swimbait, especially if there’s wind, or Flutter Spoon — that will keep the bite going.

“Once the sun gets up, a lot of the fish will move out over deep water. You can follow them out there and try a drop-shot Robo Worm or shad-shape worm or Tater Shad. Or just go home and let the ‘look at me’s’ have it. If we get rain, I’ll powerfish covering water. Try a buzzbait if it’s windy and cloudy, or a frog/toad if it’s sunny, over submerged flooded bushes.
“You can still catch them on points with a small Jewel Peewee Jig in green pumpkin orange or a tube or shaky head in 10-20 feet early, then 25-30 feet. Keep the boat out deep and make long casts. There is a lot of activity in the 15-feet range. You can also go up there with a big worm, Beaver or Salt Craw early or late. Some shallower brush piles closer to deep water, less than 25 feet, are holding some fish.
“Overall summer patterns are here. Suspended fish in large groups roaming. If you can find them with the front looker, you can get right in a hurry. 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 6-27-2024) Southern walleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says walleye fishing has slowed down but some are still being caught. We’re pulling nightcrawler harnesses in 25-30 feet with 2-ounce bottom bouncers on primary and secondary points with gold or orange blades with orange bead patterns. Also just a No. 4 split shot and No. 2 Aberdeen hook and nightcrawler, work slowly around groups of fish, will catch some. More small fish in the 16- to 17-inch size are being caught than legal-size fish.

Spooning with a three-quarter-ounce white spoon in deeper water off main lake points in 40-50 feet will also get some fish. 

Here’s hoping the lake will stabilize soon and fishing will improve around the thermocline. 

(Updated 6-27-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says crappie seem to be moving deeper and are definitely pickier, as the jig bite has slowed down a lot. Minnows and 4-pound line help, but they are still finicky. Just keep moving until you find fish that will cooperate.

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

(updated 6-20-2024) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort (870-492-5113)

said Wednesday, “I started out fishing around 4 a.m. this morning. My first spot was a bust even though I brought in some bait by dropping my green light. Very few fish showed up, so I moved to a main lake point in 100 feet or more of water. Dropped my green light again and the bait showed up. There were some small fry on the surface, but the bigger-sized bait were 15-25 feet down. It wasn’t long until I started seeing a few big arcs cruising under the bait 30-50 feet down. I landed my first striper about 15 minutes after arriving and then it started to get a little light out, but the bait stuck around and a few more fish showed up. I got to land another two stripers by about 5:15.
“By then it was getting light enough that other fishermen started showing up. I had caught three nice stripers and all swam away easily so I decided to look around and fish some new spots for possibly my outing tomorrow. I found one area back in a small creek that was holding a few fish. I fished for them a brief time, but they seemed to be just window shopping. I did manage to catch a couple of nice largemouth by casting out my Kastmaster and letting it sink about 4 seconds. They wanted a steady slow retrieval today. For the striped bass I was using a Tater Bait Tater Shad in a copper rose color pattern. It has been working well for me lately. I headed back to the resort early since I needed to get back and wait for the delivery of a new refrigerator for one of our cabins.
“The lake surface temp was about 83 degrees this morning on the main lake. The water level is fairly stable and sits at 560.65 feet msl. There is a thermocline formed around 25 feet deep. The water is clear on the main lake and slightly stained in the creeks.

“Come make some everlasting memories on Norfork Lake in the Arkansas Ozark.”

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