Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

December 18, 2024

White River

(updated 12-19-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said “December here in Arkansas Ozark country continues to be very mild with Christmas just a little under a week away. Releases from Bull Shoals Dam have slowed to one unit (3,000 cfs) with an occasional burst for an hour or two in the late morning and sometimes late in the afternoon. The lake is rising slowly from the recent rains: 659.42 feet mls as we write.
“Kids will be looking for Christmas surprises, and there is none better than gifting them with an opportunity to catch trout on the White River. 

“Mild daytime temperatures for the next week mean a good time to pick up your rod and reel and get outside, but bundle up for early morning outings. Reach for the wiggly worms when you see a rise in the water. Any scented orange egg bait and shrimp are reliable baits to provide a lot of action and help them catch some rainbows. The browns have given some attention to sculpins and minnows, even in the middle of their annual spawn. Rule of thumb: Gold spinners and spoons will work best when the sky is clear and sunny; change to white or silver-colored baits when fishing under overcast skies.

“The Trout Capital USA, Cotter, Arkansas, is lit up for Christmas like never before. Visit Cotter after sunset and see how the city has decorated Big Spring Park and get the best view of the rainbow bridge lights. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed new year.”

(updated 12-5-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “We continue to see dirty water coming out of Norfork Dam, although it does seem to be less muddy. Guides are reporting some success fishing near the mouths of the creeks where there is some cleaner water. We are also seeing some success using white jigs. Hopefully by the next report we can say there is clean water and fishing has returned to normal.”

 

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 12-5-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said the lake level is 659 feet msl and water temperature is about 56 degrees, give or take. There are fish that moved up shallow. You can powerfish cranking a Rock Crawler or Wiggle Wart; that bite seems better with wind and clouds. Most of the creeks have a little color. Target steeper 45-degree banks or ledges. Cover water, stay in the wind. Shad eaters go about three-quarters of the way back in the creeks and way off the end of points leaving into pockets. The shad are starting to group better. Most are out over the old creek channel, while some are getting pushed onto the flats. There are shad sitting high on the surface down to 60 feet. Use a Jewel Scuba Spoon or Rapala Jigging Rap if the shad are on the bottom. Try a Tater Shad or small minnow bait on the suspended shad; that will fool a few. Loons are showing up. You had better be good at the front-looker — having to hit them on the move isn’t easy. Graph time will pay off. A Megabass Plus 1 jerkbait is working on those schooling fish. There are fish to be had on the main lake. 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 12-19-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says the walleye fishing patterns have shifted into their wintertime positions. The fish are following the shad. Searching for baitfish and good water clarity will be key to locating them. Channel swings midway back in creeks are a good place to start looking, as well as long points with trees at the end of channel swings will also be a good place to find a few walleye. The best fishing methods right now are going to be fishing deep in 50-70 feet of water using three-quarter-ounce or 1-ounce spoons or Ice jigs. 

(updated 12-19-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says they are finding crappie from brushpiles to main lake standing timber. “There are not many on main lake timber, but we’re finding a few. Brushpiles are still hit and miss and have been catching a few on a 1/16-ounce or ⅛-ounce jig paired with Tater Baits Small Fry Purple Monkey and minnows on the days the jig bites are slow.”