Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  November 13, 2024

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report November 13, 2024.

White River

(updated 11-14-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said Bull Shoals Lake reached the desired power pool level (660.09 msl) and generation schedules have reflected the change, averaging one unit (3,000 cfs) for most of the week. Be on the lookout for rises and falls in the water level over the next few days, and keep your tackle box stocked with a variety of baits to handle the fluctuation.

Always keep some worms to tantalize those trout when the water is rising — either red wigglers, nightcrawlers or the scented XFactor or Berkley artificial worms. Doesn’t seem to matter: whichever one you’ve had the best luck with in the past. When the water steadies and flattens out some, you can experiment with trusty spoons (a favorite is the hammered red/gold Thomas-Buoyant) or, depending on water level, flicker a peach/moss or orange/brown jig. 

Falling water presents some challenge and stirs up the competitive edge to an angler’s nature. It’s a good time to try jerkbaits in the “bleeding” series with some slow sinking, wobbly action. For the browns, working a mid-size sculpin in the deeper holes adds greatly to your chance for a hefty strike.

Our mild November is due to become more seasonal by next week; temperatures will drop about 10 degrees, but still be a lot of sunshine and it brings the nip that Thanksgiving needs. Still nice daytime temperatures — perfect autumn weather to usher in the holidays.

(updated 11-14-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said the rain storms early last week caused many creeks and the Buffalo River to flood. As a result, we saw a 22-foot flood in Calico Rock. The flood crested late last Wednesday night (Nov. 6). As of this Wednesday, Nov. 13, the water remains dingy. The fishing being done is in the mouths of the creek where the water is cleaner.

This Wednesday we received three stockings of fish. The first was the stocking pontoon raft with 2,200 fish going downstream toward Sylamore Creek. The second and third stockings were another 2,200 from the Norfork Hatchery and 600 from the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish 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 11-14-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said the lake level Wednesday was at 660 feet msl and seems to be holding. The water temperature is still about 64 degrees. “Be careful in the backs of creeks. There are floaters and debris still bobbing around and working out. There are fish that moved up shallow. Powerfish runoff and target stained water with Chatterbaits, spinnerbait and square bills up skinny.
Most of the creeks are stained. If the water is clear, you’re going to have to back out a bit. Topwater activity has slowed down. The fish seem to be bouncing from shad ball to shad ball. Shad are still spread out. Most are out over the old creek channel, while some are getting pushed onto the flats. They are just starting to group up a little better. The cooler temps will help.
“There are shad sitting high on the surface down to 50 feet. If its sunny and flat, I’m going to check mouths of creeks and pockets, on long points, ledges, piles, drop-offs and bluff ends that are close to deep water. I’m still getting some of those main lake fish on a Roboworm drop-shot. There is some crawled jig activity out there 25-35 feet.
“For the guys chasing shad, use a small half-ounce Flutter Spoon or Jewel Scuba Spoon if the shad are on the bottom, or use a Tater Shad or small, heavy swimbait on the suspenders — that will fool a few. You better be good at the front-looker; having to hit them on the move isn’t easy.
“The white bass and smallmouth are schooling capitalizing on the shad. Overall, smaller baits has helped. As the lake cools off we will get more fish moving up shallow. For cloudy and windy those Wiggle Wart or Rock Crawler crankbaits are getting some attention around steeper windblown banks. 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 11-14-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says the walleye fishing patterns are still about the same as last week. With the recent rains and extreme lake level rise, the fish are shifting around a bit following the shad.

Searching for baitfish and good water clarity will be keys to locating them. Fish have been reluctant to chase a bait, and fishing slow has been the key to catching a few walleye. Fish are scattered from 15 feet down to 60 feet.

“The best luck I have had this past week has still been a drop-shot rig and nightcrawler around points with brush or trees close by. Have also been getting a few on the steeper sided channel swings. Walleye seem to be moving in and out of different water depths depending on wind and cloud cover. If they are shallow, stay out in deeper water and cast into them with a jig and crawler or drop-shot rig and work them back to the boat very slowly. If they are deep, go vertical with spoons, Ice Jig or drop-shot rig. Scan points, both sides and tips, by zigzagging in and out of 20-60 feet of water to find fish. You can also use a Carolina rig with a half-ounce egg sinker and No. 2 Aberdeen hook and nightcrawler worked very slowly around groups of fish on the deeper sides of deep brushpiles. Some trollers have been picking a few fish up flat by line-trolling shad-style baits in 15 feet of water in the early morning and late evening.” 

(updated 11-14-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says crappie are still pretty scattered but seem to be cooperative. Seems like most are around that 15- to 25-foot range. The majority of fish I’m finding are still in the creeks. Caught fish Tuesday this week on a one-eighth-ounce jig with the Tater Shad Jr. on a steady retrieve. Also caught them on minnows.