Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  September 4, 2024

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report September 4, 2024.

White River

(updated 9-5-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said extreme heat is behind us, trout fishing on blissful, cool days are on the agenda. Trout fishing on the White River in the north-central Arkansas Ozarks continues to offer all-day action for anglers of all ages. Bull Shoals Lake is 5 feet below the seasonal power pool elevation of 661 feet msl, recorded midweek at 655.90 feet msl. The average river flow over the past two weeks has been minimum flow (700 cfs) with higher releases still in the late afternoons.

The rainbow catch was abundant this past week. Nightcrawlers and red wigglers bested the bubblegum pink scented worm in this lower water. Low water level also means finding the deeper holes and drifting over them if you’re looking for the browns. Sculpins and river “slicks” are your brown baits of choice. Rainbows are looking close at spinners: gold or silver Blue Foxes, or pink bodied Rooster Tails with silver blades and pink and/or white skirts. Float your bait just above the bottom — the river bed is easy to see in the clear water of the White — best to keep it in or near the river channel during low-water generation. If you’re casting flies, the ruby midge, as well as black/silver, were a constant success; copper Johns made a splash last week, too.

Late summer is a great time to get on the water without having to sweat the temperatures or the catch. Respect the resource, and your fellow anglers, and continue to enjoy our Natural State.

(updated 9-5-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “Late last week we saw the ‘normal’ high and dingy water in the morning, then it dropped and cleared throughout the day. Starting Sunday we started to see very low and clear water that has continued through Wednesday. On Wednesday afternoon Bull Shoals Dam increased generation back to what had been “normal.” 

During the times of higher and dingy water, drift-fishing with silver inline spinners with Uncommon Bait UV eggs and shrimp worked well. During the days with the very low and clear water, quarter-ounce Acne Tackle Co.’s Little Cleo spoons in gold or Thomas Bouyant spoon in rainbow trout color resulted in some nice limits of rainbow trout. Additionally, Rapala CD5 Countdowns in rainbow or brown trout colors resulted in some nice 17-inches-or-more rainbows and 18-inches-or-more brown trout. 

This week saw one trout stocking of more than 1,000 rainbow trout at the Calico Rock boat ramp and another stocking of 1,000 or more rainbows at Chessmond Ferry boat ramp. 

 

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 9-5-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said Wednesday that the lake level is still dropping slightly each day and is around 655 feet msl. Water temperature is steady at 83 degrees, give or take. Bass fishing has been fair. Bass are set up on summer areas and patterns, looking forward to cooler temps. The thermocline is set up around 30-32 feet. Shad are spread out from the back of the creek out to the main lake. They are starting to move in with shorter days. Check mouths of creeks, long 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 if it’s flat bluebird sunny, and they will get fired up with wind/rain and generators running.
A smaller Flutter Spoon will fool a few, smaller minnow. Once the sun gets high up, 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 have been educated all summer 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.

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 9-5-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says walleye patterns on mid- to lower end of the lake have not changed much these past few weeks. The fishing has slowed down though. Changes in time of water flow fluctuations has changed a bit this past weekend, which seems to affect the early-morning bite more. Thermocline seems to be holding at 30-40 feet. There are times and areas that the fish can be found feeding at the 28- to 30-feet levels early in the morning. It seems when they are holding shallow they move deeper fast if there is no cloud clover. If clouds move in, move back shallow as fish move back in just as fast as they move out. A couple of feet can make a difference in the bite. Scan points, both sides and tip, by zigzagging in 25 to 40 to find fish. Try to fish when they are moving water through the dam; that seems to help the bite. 
“Pulling nightcrawler harnesses in 27-38 feet — depth depends on wind and clouds – slowly at 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 patterns. No. 3 white Willow leaf Blade or No. 3 white Colorado with white pearl beads is also working. Also still just a No. 4 split shot and #No. 2 Aberdeen hook and nightcrawler, worked slowly around groups of fish or on deeper sides of brushpiles, will catch some especially when fishing is slow.”
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 off main lake points in 30 to 40 feet of water will also get some fish.
Here’s a tip: Cutting one of the hooks off a spoon’s treble hook will help reduce snags.

(updated 9-5-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says the crappie bite has been fairly tough for the most part. 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 one-sixteenth-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.