Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  October 2, 2024

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report October 2, 2024.

White River

(updated 10-3-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said Bull Shoals Lake is now below the desired power pool while minimum generation continues. Bull Shoals Lake is approaching 652.72 feet mls, almost 7 feet below the fall pool elevation of 659 feet mls. The current generation schedule continues to follow the pattern we’ve seen: minimum flow in the mornings (700 cfs), increasing to over four units (12,000 cfs) in the late afternoon. The morning temperatures have been blessedly cool – low 50s, blue skies – ushering in warmer afternoon temps.

Our anglers have been nabbing lots of 12- to 13-inch rainbows – best if you decide to keep any, and absolutely perfect for lots of action and making forever memories. Shrimp and PowerBait are a must in your bait bucket, but many guides say you can’t beat the real thing and they pack in river minnows for their days on the river. Deeper water in the afternoon means more drift-fishing with limited wading opportunities, but the trout love lots of water and bubbles. Look for structures on the riverbed that create oxygen (bubbly waters) and you’ll find a hangout for trout.

We’ve had some ups and downs this week. The brown bite has slowed some but it’s still pretty spectacular for this time of year. They’ve shown up for sculpins, minnows, crawdads, shad and even the pink mouse tail worms – not always trophy size, but healthy, fighting browns that make your heart race while you’re waiting to see just how big that fish is on the end of your line. Keep fishing!

(updated 10-3-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “During some days we are seeing varying water depths of 3-6 feet and other days with depths of 2-3 feet. In the mornings when we are at the lowest, many fishermen will try to ‘ride the rise’ as the water comes in. When the water starts to rise, the trout bite better. Once the rise has gone by, the bite will slow down for a while until the trout get ‘acclimated’ to the new conditions. If the rise has already gone by and if the water is dingy, it hasn’t been uncommon for boats to leave Calico Rock and run upriver a few miles to Red’s Landing to find cleaner water and fish back to and through Calico Rock following the dropping water.
“No matter the depths, drift-fishing with Uncommon Bait UV Eggs with shrimp or red wiggler worms worked well. When the water was dingy, adding a silver inline spinner added the extra flash to get the attention of the trout. Fishing the deeper holes with deeper diving Shad Rap size 5 lures in shad or orange crawdad colors worked.

“As the water drops in the afternoon, using quarter-ounce Colorado spoons with nickel/gold or copper/gold or Bouyant rainbow trout- or brown trout-colored spoons work well while fishing the gravel bars. Size 7 Rapala Countdowns in rainbow trout or brown trout colors worked well. During lower water, throwing quarter-ounce spoons or baits similar to a Rooster Tail worked exceptionally well.

“Fall is not far away and many people will shifting their focus to hunting, but don’t forget about trout fishing. There are plenty of fish in the river.”

 

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 10-3-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said the lake level is 652 feet msl, and the water temperature is 75 degrees “give or take.” He reports that the Corps of Engineers has not been running much water.
“Heads up,” he adds, “Bass ‘junk fishing’ has started. It has been fair, typical fall fishing. Pretty good when they move up during the lowlight generation or a front is moving in. Lots of bass still set up on late summer areas and patterns. It takes a while for this drink to cool down.
“Shad are spread out from the back off the creeks out to the main lake. There are shad sitting high on the surface; however, topwater has been hit or miss. A smaller popper or smaller walk-the-dog will work. Match the hatch.
“A lot of the dirty backwaters have shad but are bubbling or turning over. If we get the right powerfishing conditions, those fish will eat a Chatterbait, square bill. crankbait. I’ll use a buzzbait or Plopper if it’s windy, 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 shad is nearby. There are schools chasing shad balls but they are cruising fast. For this, a Flutter Spoon, Tater Shad or small, heavy swimbait that will fool a few. You better be a good front-looker — having to hit them on the move isn’t easy.”
“Start looking toward where shad are headed. Overall, smaller baits have helped. It’s fall and the fish can be stubborn. For me, a drop-shot has been good when it’s tough conditions. 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 piles with a big worm or small Jewel Jig in green pumpkin variants, PB&J, or a tube or a shaky head.
“Welcome to fall fishing. Catch one on the surface down to 45 feet. Keep your boat out for deep long casts. 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 10-3-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) say the walleye fishing has been a little better this week. Fishing patterns are still the same as last week, just a little deeper.
“The best luck I have had this past week has still been a drop-shot rig and nightcrawler or a Robo Worm around points with brush or trees close by. Walleye seem to be moving deeper. Scan points on both sides and tips by zigzagging in 35-55 feet to find fish. You can still just use a Carolina rig with No. 1 or 2 egg sinker and No. 2 Aberdeen hook and nightcrawler worked slowly around groups of fish on the deeper sides of brushpiles. This will catch some, especially when fishing is slow. Spooning with a 1-ounce white spoon or any type of glide minnow or Ice Jig in water off main lake points or secondary points in 35-55 feet will also get you some fish.
“With the water cooling off there should be a late evening jerkbait bite about to start up soon.”

(updated 10-3-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says crappie are still on brush in the creeks and they found a few on main lake. Better fish are still on the deeper stuff. Spend 10 minutes and if you’re not getting bit, don’t be afraid to keep moving. A 1/16-ounce or eighth-ounce jig works some days and, of course, minnows. Mood seems to change depending on the days, but should get better as the water temperature cools down!