Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  February 5, 2025

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report February 5, 2025.

White River

(updated 2-6-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “Spring break is coming! Seems our kids are here today and gone tomorrow; no better way to enjoy your time together than to spend a day on the river.”

Bull Shoals Lake elevation has jumped 2 feet over the last week due to a couple of heavy rains. Generation has been low, at minimum flow (700 cfs), for the past four days and, with mild temperatures expected, will likely stay low. But stay alert and keep an eye on the river level; changes occur quickly. Be especially cautious from the bank or if you are wading into the main channel.

The brown bite has alternated between sculpins and minnows. That trusty sculpin has beat out any secret baits you might have tried. So far this winter, we haven’t seen a big increase in the brown trout bite with shad. Live wriggly worms and nightcrawlers proved their worth for bank fishermen last week. Low water is perfect for working a jig and mesmerizing those trout. “I’d try white with a silver, shiny collar first, peach and mossy green next. It’s fun and productive.”

The mornings remain pretty cool; the afternoons have been mild and often overcast (great for a good creel count.) Next week is looking like winter weather will prevail with morning lows averaging about 30 degrees and highs in the mid-40s. Staying warm makes fishing more fun, so dress for the weather and enjoy our Natural State.

(updated 2-6-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said the rain late last week caused the Buffalo River and White River to rise and become muddy. At Calico Rock, the river reached 15 feet Friday. By Saturday the creeks had cleared enough for boats to creep into them, anchor/tie up and catch trout using corn. The trout move into the creeks seeking clean water and often congregate near the mouths of the creeks. 

The rest of the time, the river has been in good condition with both the rainbow and brown trout going strong. Drift-fishing with a silver inline spinner with Uncommon Bait UV Eggs with shrimp or worms worked well for catching a limit of rainbow trout. Rapala CD5 and CD7 in rainbow trout color or black/silver worked well for catching nice brown trout. We have seen several 24-inch-plus brown trout being caught, with 17-inch-plus brown trout being frequently caught. 

This weekend we will be at the NWA Boat and Outdoor Expo at the Rogers Convention Center. If you stop by the Expo, swing by our booth and say “Hi.”

 

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 2-6-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said the lake level is up a couple of feet with the recent rains to 658 feet msl. Water temperature is 48 degrees, give or take, on the lower end. Lots of folks are having a tough time out there. The lake is going through some changes. Over the next couple months, the warm days and the post-frontal cold days will have you guys working for them day to day until they all move up into late winter early respawn areas.
Power fishing? There are plenty of fish on the bank — if there are warm wind and clouds, I’m covering water where the wind hits square on the bank. Check warming stained creeks, the outer sides of points, chunk steep banks or ledge rock. Fish close to deeper water and transition banks. Try a SPRO Crawler, Wiggle Wart or Red Craw or green variations You’ll have keep moving to find them, but when you do there’s usually a couple there. 

There are always fish to be caught on a jig. If it’s warm with a little wind and sunny, look at the pints with drop-offs or ledges, but you’re looking anywhere from 20-40 feet — and way shallower if we get clouds or in stained water.
The winter patterns are changing because the shad have split. There are shad moving out deep into the main lake and some moving shallow. Target bigger bait balls. So, every day is different and every creek will be a little different. I’m having to put in a lot of graph time but it can pay off this time of year. I like a DC Tater Shad or jerkbait or Flutter Spoon around those high-swimming shad or dying shad balls and or early or late in the day when shad are up in the water column. If they are being finicky, just hang a Tater Shad over the side. They don’t have to chase hard to eat. 

Lots of different species are showing up out there in the middle. Each day is different so “Fish the conditions.”  

Del regularly posts new YouTube videos. Visit his YouTube site (Bull Shoals Fishing Report) for more information and tips on fishing Bull Shoals Lake.

(updated 2-6-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says the walleye are still holding in 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 going to be a good place to start looking, and long points with trees at the end of channel swings will also be a good place to find a few walleye.
The best fishing method now is going to be fishing deep in 60-80 feet of water using three-quarter-ounce or 1-ounce spoons or Ice Jigs. Throwing a jerkbait on windblown points in 8-15 feet of water also has been producing a few good fish. Search out points with deep water close by.

(updated 2-6-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says crappie are scattered in the creeks on brushpiles and still a few are on the main lake as well. Fish are definitely not on every brushpile, but we have had luck looking for ones around glass. But the fish have been sitting low in the brush since the last cold front. Try using a one-sixteenth or eighth-ounce jig with small fry bait. “I have been using Tater Baits in the Purple Monkey color and the new Aurora Blue. Patience is key as long as they show interest. If they don’t, move on to the next!”