Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  August 21, 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 21, 2024.

White River

(updated 8-22-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said Bull Shoals tailwater level has continued its daily fluctuation: very low water levels in the morning hours, much higher generation in the late afternoon. The lake is slightly below power pool at 657.61 feet msl. When the channels are narrow due to limited generation, please

share the space. Regardless of experience or technique, we’re all part of the family of trout-loving fishers.

The first two weeks of each new school year see very light traffic on the river and, for some reason, the trout seem more finicky. So, while you may have more of the river to yourself, you might have to be more imaginative in bait selection — keep a variety on hand. Crawdads, softshell and fresh, as well as a crawfish-scented attractor on your bait, might make the catch a little quicker. Much of last week’s rainbow catch was lured in with sunrise or pink PowerBait combined with shrimp; best on a size 8 Aberdeen or bait holder hook. Always a good idea to use bronze hooks to decrease harm to the trout; save a trout instead of a hook and cut the line.

Tie on a spoon (blue/silver Cleo or Thomas Buoyant) or a favorite jerkbait (Smithwick, white belly maybe) when a rise in water level is detected. Drifted mid-depth you’ll likely increase your catch count.

“Late summer is hopper season so pull out your hopper flies and make your way to the river. First-day-of-school preparation is behind us, no demanding holiday schedules yet; life is easy. Come share it with us.”

(updated 8-22-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “From Bull Shoals Dam we continue to see generation ramping up in the afternoons with flows as high as 2,100-plus cfs before tapering off at night. From Norfork Dam we are seeing generation throughout the day starting in the morning and continuing into the night with flows as high as 5,000-plus cfs. In Calico Rock the water from Bull Shoals Dam reaches us in the morning with depths as high as 9 feet and dingy water. By midmorning we start to see the water dropping and starting to clear up. We see a bump in water levels as the Norfork Dam water reaches us. 

“In the mornings it isn’t uncommon for boats to head upriver to get above the rise or for boats to head downriver to “ride the rise”; either way the fishing has been good.
“We have seen best results with silver inline spinners with Uncommon Baits UV Neo Pink eggs and shrimp.
“This week we received one stocking at the Calico Rock boat ramp of almost 2,400 rainbow trout from the AGFC Jim Hinkle Spring River Hatchery.”

 

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 8-22-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said Thursday that the lake level is around 657 feet msl, about another foot lower than the previous week. Water temperature is still around 83 degrees, give or take. 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 schooling fish 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 as well as treetops that are close to deep water. The topwater bite has been hit or miss. 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. A flutter spoon will fool a few. 

Once the sun gets high, a lot of the fish will move deep and suspend or move into 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. The cooler temperature hopefully is a sign that fall is coming.

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 8-22-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says walleye patterns on the lower end of the lake have not changed much these past few weeks. Walleyes seem to be following the thermocline down as summer progresses. There are times and areas that the fish can be found feeding at the 25- to 30-feet levels. It seems when they are up on the flats they are shallower than the fish on the steeper side of the points. Scan points, both sides and tips, by zigzagging in 25-40 feet to find fish. Try to fish when they are moving water through the dam; that seems to help the bite. Pulling nightcrawler harnesses in 33-38 feet slowly, 0.8 to 0.9 mph, with 3-ounce bottom bouncers on the sides of primary and secondary points has been best for me. We’re fishing with 1.5 Smile Butterfly blades in gold or orange and chartreuse with an orange bead pattern. No. 3 white willow leaf blade or No. 3 white Colorado with white pearl beads is working. Also, just a No. 4 split shot and No. 2 Aberdeen hook and nightcrawler worked slowly around groups of fish or on deeper sides of brush piles will catch some, especially when fishing is slow. Still lots of fish in the 16- to 17-inch size are being caught.

Spooning with a three-quarter-ounce white spoon in water off main lake points in 30-40 feet will also get some fish. TIP: Cutting one of the hooks off the spoon’s treble hook will help reduce snags.

(updated 8-22-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says the crappie bite has been fairly tough for the most part the last couple of weeks. 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. The 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.