Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  March 12, 2025

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report March 12, 2025.

White River

(updated 3-13-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “Welcome to an early spring here in the Arkansas Ozarks. The water level on the White River below Bull Shoals Dam continues to fluctuate from high water (four or five units at 12,000 to 15,000 cfs) to one unit (3,000 cfs). Expect this to continue as the Army Corps of Engineers weathers through the spring rains. Bull Shoals Lake is 659.16 feet msl.

These spring days just shout “Come outside!” and fishing is one of the best ways to spend a day outdoors. Catching is good, too! Worms work great in the higher water levels for every kind of trout. The browns especially go for river minnows, sculpins and your silver flashy lures. Use a heavier weight to float your baits nearer the bottom in higher water; cast near the banks where the trout don’t have to fight the current.

This is great water for sinking Rapalas, even as heavy as a CD9. The best-kept secret: the brook trout Rapala. Shore anglers have been finding some luck with garlic-scented yellow and pink Power Eggs.

Kids are enjoying spring break on the river and staying busy catching rainbows with shrimp and bright fluorescent orange or yellow eggs. Send them back to school with some great fish tales. Come test the waters and enjoy a spring day in the Ozarks.

(updated 3-13-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “Over the last week we have seen river conditions as high as 11-plus feet last Thursday to as low as 5 feet. The last few days, we are seeing water levels between 7-9 feet. Water has been lower in the mornings and starts rising around mid- to late morning. 

“As the water is coming in, the fish bite is great. Many fishermen will try to stay just ahead of the rise and ‘ride the rise.’ Once the rise passes, fishing slows for a while but picks back up as the fish adjust to the change. This week we continue to have success using Uncommon Bait UV egg (neo pink, bright orange or a mix with Pearl White) and tipping the hook with shrimp or redworms. During lower water, using lures such as quarter-ounce Colorado spoons in nickel/gold or CD7 Rapala Countdowns in rainbow or silver color worked best.

“Other fishermen report success using eighth-ounce jigs in white or dark color with a flash of red or orange. Additionally, quarter-ounce Rooster Tails in white or rainbow trout colors caught some nice browns. If your old ‘go-to’ bait or lure isn’t working, don’t hesitate to try something new.”

 

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 3-13-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said the level remains at 659 feet msl. Water temperature ranges from 48-50 (plus more depending on the creek). Bass fishing has been a little slower than average. There are more fish moving up. In the creeks it’s about to pop. If you’re planning to visit the area in the next couple months, don’t wait until the last minute to book a guide trip.

Powerfishing shallow should continue to improve as some fish are up there roaming shallow. A jerkbait will catch a few in the semi-clear water. Target windblown transition banks, chunk rock, steeper banks and small ledges close to deep water. In the wind!” A SPRO Crawler, Wiggle Wart or Red craw or green variations seems to be a bit better for me if we get some wind. The crank bite will slow without it.

“There are always fish to be caught on a jig — a peewee seems to be getting a little more action. Try areas near shad. Once again, warm, a little wind, sunny try points, drop-offs or ledges, as well as piles — you’re looking anywhere from 20-40 feet, and way shallower (5-10 feet) in stain or with clouds.  

“The offshore video-gamers are going to have to work. The shad are still spread out throughout the water column. Target larger bait balls or any bait you can find up high near the surface and closer to the shore. Some fish are still hovering, wanting to move up. They are moving around and every day is different and every creek will be a little different. If you are targeting shad eaters, it’s been work! A smaller 2.8 swimbait McMinnow or a regular Tater Shad has been working, and use a jerkbait around those high-swimming shad and shad balls and/or early or late in the day when shad are up in the water column. They are being finicky if they aren’t actively feeding.  

“Good luck. Have fun, be safe, ‘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 3-132025) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says with this week’s past weather, walleye fishing on the lower end of the lake has been unpredictable at best. Fish are in prespawn/spawn mode and are scattered along creek channels that have shad. Best to fish low-light periods at this time. Cloudy and windy days help the daytime fishing a lot. Fishing 4-15 feet of water with jerkbaits or fishing 4 feet out to 30 feet of water with jig and minnow, jig and plastics, or Ice Jigs — worked slowly back to the boat on points with deep water on at least one side — will produce fish. Fishing same structure after dark with 110-style jerkbaits or 5-inch floating stick baits and retrieved back at extremely slow speeds will get some bites. 

We have not seen much up early along the shoreline before daylight but as the water in the creeks start to warm a little bit more, right before daylight in the morning will also be another opportunity to catch some using the same methods.

If trolling, try to fish low-light periods, and trolling 5-inch stick baits at slow speeds as low as .85 mph in 7-14 feet along windblown banks will also work.

(updated 3-13-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says crappie are in the creeks — just smaller pods and the jig bite has been decent. Small fry baits or minnows have been best of late.