Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  September 18, 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 18, 2024.

White River

(updated 9-19-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said Bull Shoals Lake is at 654.23 feet msl, 5 feet below the established goal of 659 feet msl. Releases from the dam satisfy power demands and have been nominal, sticking to their recent pattern of minimum flows during the late evening and morning, followed by a quick rise to almost five units (15,000 cfs) later in the afternoon.

The brown trout bite is getting tricky. Patience wins out and is required to get the browns’ attention. Soft-shell crawdads are a favorite, in addition to the familiar sculpin.  Consistent water levels have allowed the trout to settle down into a normal feeding routine, so early morning and early evening are the best times for reliable catches. 

Float your bait just above the bottom — best to keep it in or near the river channel during low-water generation. The changes in water level will naturally necessitate revamping your bait and placement; cast a live worm or a dandy San Juan Fly near the bank as the water rises.

The rainbows continue to chase a shrimp/PowerBait merger, with orange and pink leading the color choice. Under an overcast, cloudy sky, work a Rooster Tail with a gold blade, pink body or a Blue Fox with a rainbow blade, gold bell. When the sun comes out, put the artificial baits away and return to the scented or live baits.

“Early fall is a great time to get on the water without having to sweat the temperature or the catch. Keep angling and we’ll see you on the river.”

(updated 9-19-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “We needed the rain we received last weekend and because we were so dry the ground soaked up most of the water with very little runoff. The good news this week is we have seen more consistent water generation out of both Bull Shoals and Norfork dams. In the mornings we see lower water, around 3 feet (plus or minus) in the mornings with Bull Shoals water generated in the afternoon of the previous day arriving around 7 a.m. Water will rise to a depth between 5-6 feet before starting to drop.  Norfork has been generating water starting in the early afternoons and the water arrives late in the afternoon/early evening. Mornings start with dingier water, which clears up throughout the day. 

“This week we have seen a lot of success drift-fishing with the Uncommon Bait UV eggs and tipping the hook with raw shrimp with or without using a silver inline spinner.  Additionally this week, Rapala Countdowns (regular and/or the Elite version) in CD5 and CD7 in rainbow trout and brown trout colors have worked very well, resulting in numerous trout over 18 inches and several smallmouth bass over 14 inches. Calico Rock is known for its trout fishing, but there are also plenty of opportunities to catch some nice largemouth and smallmouth bass in this stretch of the river. Just remember: We are still considered trout waters, and even if you are targeting bass you still need a trout permit. 

“This week we received one stocking of 1,200 rainbow trout at the Calico Rock boat ramp and another 1,200 rainbows just upriver at the 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 9-19-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said the lake level is still dropping slightly each day and is still around 654 feet msl. Water temperature Wednesday morning at 75 degrees, give or take a degree. They haven’t been running as much water this past week at the dam. Heads up! We have a Super BFL and a kayak tournament coming up and the lake will be busy this weekend.

Bass junk fishing has started. It has been fair, typical fall fishing. It’s pretty good when they move up during the hurricane weather. But it’s supposed to get hot again. Lots of bass are still set up on late-summer areas and patterns. It takes a while for this drink to cool down, guys. The thermocline is set up around 35 feet. Shad are spread out from the back of the creek out to the main lake. A lot of the dirty backs have shad but are starting to get that nasty, funky water. If we get the right powerfishing conditions, those fish will eat a Chatterbait, square bill, buzzbait or Whopper Plopper. I’m using shad colors. 

If it’s sunny and flat I’m going to check main lake mouths of creeks, on long points, ledges, piles, drop-offs and bluff ends as well as treetops that are close to deep water and with shad nearby. There are schools chasing shad balls, but they are cruising fast. For this, a flutter spoon or small swimbait will fool a few. You better be a good front-looker; having to hit them on the move isn’t easy. 

Overall, smaller baits have helped. It’s fall; the fish can be stubborn. For me, a drop-shot has been the deal. I know, not what you want to hear, but it is what it is. So, if you find them and get one or two to bite, you might as well go to the next spot.  You can still catch them off points and swings with a big worm or small Jewel Jig in green pumpkin variants, PB&J, or a tube or a shaky head in 10-20 feet early, then 25-35 feet of depth. Keep the boat out deep for long casts. There is still lots of activity around the 30- to 40-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 9-19-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says the walleye fishing has been very slow this week with mostly small fish being caught.

“The best luck I have had this past week has still been the drop-shot rig and nightcrawler or a Robo Worm around pints with brush. Scan points on both sides and tips by zigzagging in 30-45 feet to find fish. Try to fish when the Corps of Engineers is moving water through the dam. This seems to help the bite some.

You can still use a No. 4 split shot and #No. 2 Aberdeen hook and a nightcrawler worked slowly around groups of fish or on deeper sides of brushpiles. This will catch some, especially when fishing is slow. Spooning with a three-quarter-ounce white spoon in water off main lake points in 30-45 feet will also get some fish. Tip: Cutting one of the hooks off a spoon’s treble hook will help reduce snags.

(updated 9-19-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says crappie are still mainly scattered in creeks on brushpiles. The bite is still somewhat finicky, but they have started biting a jig again a little bit. Minnows are also working, but if you pull up to fish and they don’t bite in the first 10 minutes, move on and find some more.