Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  August 14, 2024

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report August 14, 2024.

White River

(updated 8-15-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said the Arkansas Ozarks haven’t missed out on the heat wave that’s moving across the country, “but we have the gem of the White River to cool us down. The trout love that cold water and the anglers love that cool mist, which lowers the air temperature by at least 10 degrees.” The pattern from the dam continues with minimum flows in the morning and large flows (15,000 or more cfs) during the late afternoon. The lake level is 658.67 feet msl, 2.5 feet below pool level for this time of year.
Catching rainbows has seldom been easier than it’s been the last few weeks, undoubtedly due to the low water level. Silver blades and orange/brown skirts on a Rooster Tail, or a silver Vibrax Blue Fox with a silver, orange or bubblegum pink bell, will bring in a good share of trout. A nickel/gold Colorado Spoon, one-sixth ounce, is always a good choice in lower water.

The bigger browns have been looking for sculpins or even a fat, floating nightcrawler during rising water. “Keep your eye on the tip of your rod for a little tremor and watch that brown snatch your bait; play it slowly and carefully, no rapid movements, and you’ll be able to net it for a picture.

“School openings are happening around the area. Excited kids don’t always watch where they’re going, so please watch for them. Come on over and join us as we stay cool angling for a fat, energetic rainbow on the White.”

(updated 8-15-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said that “during the weekdays we saw afternoon and evening generation from Bulls Shoals and regular generation from Norfork. With the afternoon and evening generation, we would see higher and dingier water in the morning with water starting to drop in the late mornings and clearing up in the afternoons.
“During these days, fishing with silver inline spinner with Uncommon Baits UV eggs and shrimp or corn worked well. Over the weekend with the cooler temperatures, we saw reduced power generation from Bull Shoals resulting in low and clear on Sunday and Monday mornings. In those conditions artificial lures worked extremely well especially quarter-ounce spoons in gold.
“This week we received one stocking of 1,200 rainbow trout at the Calico Rock boat ramp and another stocking at Chessmond Ferry of 1,200 rainbows.”

 

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 8-15-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said Wednesday that the lake level is around 658 feet msl, about a foot lower than this time a week ago. Water temperature dropped a little to 83 degrees, give or take, and it’s warmer in the stained water. Bass fishing has been a little slow, typical for the dead of summer. Bass are set up on summer areas and patterns, and the bite has been better for schoolers 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 high. If you wait until about 11 a.m. the Corps of Engineers has been generating water and the bite will get going regardless of the heat. It can happen like the flick or a switch. Try a flutter spoon that will fool a few. 

Once the sun gets high, a lot of the fish will move deep and suspend or move into brush piles or off 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; finesse will help. You can still catch them off points with a small Jewel Peewee Jig in green pumpkin orange or PB&J, or a tube or shaky head in 10-20 feet early, then at 25-35 feet. Keep the boat out for deep, long casts. There is a lot of activity around the 30-feet range. Fish the conditions. Quality seems to be deeper in the brush. Looking forward to cooler temps. 

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 8-15-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says fishing for walleye has been fair on the lower end of the lake. They are pulling nightcrawler harnesses in 30-35 feet slowly, 0.8 to 0.9 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 8-15-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says the crappie bite has been fairly tough for the most part the last week. Key on different brush on a daily basis and when you find some that cooperate; don’t expect it to be that way the next time you show up the next day or days. They are very particular lately and overall we have still been catching a lot of mixed quality and occasionally a few really nice ones. The jig bite is pretty slow, but if you’re going to fish one, a 1/16-ounce with a small fry bait, minnows, have carried the majority of the load lately. That brush that’s around 20-30 feet seems to be the better stuff. Fall is around the corner and it’s going to get better before long.