Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  July 31, 2024

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report July 31, 2024.

White River

(updated 8-1-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said mornings on the White River at Cotter are blissful – even when the afternoon forecast warns of record highs, we’re wearing light jackets for early morning departures. Often you’ll float through a pocket of cool air on the river that feels like a blast of air conditioning.

Bull Shoals Lake, at 660.7 feet msl, is below power pool and continues to drop as the Army Corps of Engineers keeps a steady release of water through the dam. Minimum flow (700 cfs) has been the norm lately, but we’re seeing big rises in the late afternoon through midnight, as high as 18,000 cfs. If you’re on the river later in the day, stay alert to increases in the flow. The river can sneak up on an angler and swamp you.

The browns keep surprising us with a steady bite even this late in the summer. Fresh crawdads and sculpins have received the most attention. We’ve had another egg pattern/shrimp success week. Garlic-scented PowerBait (add your own garlic powder or fresh minced) and a nugget of shrimp appeal to our local rainbow population.

“Visitors say the peace they find on the river keeps them coming back for more. Add to that the possibility of catching a bunch of trout and you’ve got yourself a great day in the Arkansas Ozarks. Hope to see you soon.”

(updated 8-1-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said that this last week they saw consistently high water between 8-9 feet Thursday through Saturday. Water started dropping Sunday with a high of 6 feet and low of 3 feet with low water again Monday. “Tuesday and Wednesday we saw highs over 7 feet with lows around 4 feet. With the many different water levels and clarity, fishing was tough at times with the best fishing Monday with the low and clear water. During higher and dingy water silver inline spinners with 2 Uncommon Baits ultra violet eggs worked best with corn or shrimp. With the low and clear water, quarter-ounce Thompson Colorado spoons in nickel/gold worked extremely well. We also saw success with other quarter-ounce spoons such as the Thompson Buoyant in gold or Little Cleo gold. 

“With the heat returning on Monday there was increased generation from Bull Shoals Dam resulting in high and dirty/dingy water in Calico Rock in the morning and dropping throughout the day. The river was fishable and it took some patience to catch a limit. Wednesday saw similar depths but cleaner water with good fishing.

 

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 8-1-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said late Wednesday that the lake level is around 660 feet msl. Water temperature is still around 85 degrees, give or take, with warmer temp in the stained water. Bass are set up on summer areas and patterns, and the bite has been better during generation. The thermocline is set up in 30-32 feet. Shad are spread out from the back of the creeks out to the main lake. Check deeper water, points, ledges, drop-offs and channel swings and saddles that are close to deep water. The topwater bite has been random!  

The bite will definitely slow down as the sun gets up. Use a Flutter spoon — that will keep the bite going. Once the sun gets high up, a lot the fish will move into piles and ledges. They can be stubborn. Try a drop-shot or Jewel Scuba or big worm. If you get one or two to bite, you might as well go to the next pile. These fish can be tougher to fire but a finesse approach will help. You can still catch them off points with small Jewel Peewee Jig in green pumpkin orange, PB&J or tube or a shaky head fished in 10-20 feet depth early, then 25-30 feet. Keep the boat out deep for long casts. There’s still a lot of activity around the 30-feet range. 

“Overall, the summer patterns are here! Dang, it’s been hot!”
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 8-1-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says fishing for walleye has been fair on the lower end of lake. They are pulling nightcrawler harnesses in 30-35 feet slowly, .8 to .9 mph, with 2-ounce bottom bouncers on the sides of primary and secondary points. Fishing with 1.5 Smile Butterfly Blades in gold or orange and chartreuse with orange bead patterns is working. Also, still just a No. 4 split shot and No. 2 Aberdeen hook and a nightcrawler, worked slowly around groups of fish or on deeper sides of brush piles, will catch some. Lots of fish in the 16- to 17-inch size are still being caught at this time.
Spooning with a three-quarter-ounce white spoon in water off main lake points in 30-35 feet will also get some fish. 

(updated 8-1-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says crappie are starting to show up on a little deeper brush piles in that 25- to 30-feet range in the creeks. They are also still finding a lot in the 20-feet range scattered in the creek arms “and I have seen this all over the lake the last week, the quality is still pretty mixed up and the bluegill have also appeared since the lake dropped, so that can be a whole another challenge if they’re above the crappie. The jig bite has been OK but you will have to really be patient. I’ve been throwing a 1/32-ounce with a Tater Shad Jr. in a variety of colors and, of course, minnows. Quality seems to be deeper in the brush.”