Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  April 16, 2025

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report April 16, 2025.

White River

Cotter Area

(updated 4-17-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “We’re serving up an Ozark spring at its best! Add terrific trout fishing to a glorious spring day and that divine peace found on the river, and you’ve got perfection.”
Bull Shoals Lake elevation is 669.84 feet msl, 9 feet above the desired power pool level. Generation has been consistent all week averaging one unit (3,000 cfs) with mid-morning rises to nearly two and a half units (7,000 cfs). The river has prime fishing water right now.

“The trout bite was phenomenal last weekend; we pulled in rainbow after rainbow with floating pink mouse tails (artificial worms). It’s a good idea to have a rod rigged with your favorite PowerBait hue (garlic flavor works nice, too) and some shrimp toppers to coax the more reluctant ones out of hiding. Spinners are a great option: red bodies, gold or silver blades, with or without skirts. You can try your hand at jig fishing: moss green or orange/brown D2 Jigs or even a plain white marabou jig should provide a lot of action.

“The brown bite has added to the excitement this week. They’ve shown up for sculpins, minnows, shad and even the pink mousetail artificial worms.

“You can expect our guides to serve you well in all weather and water conditions, help you catch fish every day, teach new techniques to sharpen your fishing skills, and bless you with Arkansas Ozark hospitality. We welcome you to Cotter.”

 

Calico Rock Area
(updated 4-17-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “By last weekend the river had cleared enough to fish. Two Uncommon Bait UV Eggs in neo pink on a hook tipped with shrimp worked the best. Artificial lures had minimal success. On Tuesday the Norfork Dam opened five floodgates by a foot. As a result, we are seeing higher water and faster flow. I expect we will have higher water for a while until both Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes reach the top of their power pool levels. 

“By Wednesday, fishing was steady using eggs and shrimp. With the faster water, anglers need to be more aware of their surroundings. 

“This week we received one stocking of 1,200 rainbows at the Calcio Rock boat ramp and another stocking of 1,200 rainbows at the Chessmond Ferry boat ramp.” 

 

Allison/Mountain View Area
(updated 4-3-2025) Jack’s White River Fishing Resort reports they had a great week of fishing with several trips out on the water. The water level fluctuated between 2-5 feet, but despite that, “we were able to hit our limits each time. The guides had success using Sunrise Orange PowerBait, handmade hammered silver spinners, and shrimp as bait. Most of the fishing took place just past the Highway 9 bridge by Hansford Bluff near Round Bottom.

An AGFC staffer took in a guided trip with a friend and a Jack’s guide, Braden, the week before last and had a lot of success with rainbows, mostly catching them up to 6 miles or so north of the resort and drifting downstream rapidly with a pretty strong current. The AGFC had stocked the river with rainbows at Mount Olive and at the Sylamore Access several days earlier, and the stockers were hungry. Best success was by spin-fishing with inline spinners, eggs (like X Factor or something similar) and pieces of shrimp. Make sure to use only about a third of a whole shrimp; anything more is too much for the trout to swallow. We caught some more mature rainbows as well as the stockers, too.

 

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 4-17-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said Wednesday that the lake level was on the rise at 669 feet msl. Water temperature varies anywhere from 56 to low 60s. The bigger creeks have some debris; be careful with floaters as the wind changes direction and the lake rises. Take debris precautions on launch ramps and courtesy docks. We have more precipitation in the forecast. The water toward the main lake is gin clear and toward the dam, while there is color still in the creeks. Some fish have moved up pre-spawn and some are spawning. It’s still not like Donkey Kong yet.

Lots of fish are cruising the outside bush line still. Powerfishing shallow has been favorable with clouds, rain, wind and stained water. Some fish are up there roaming shallow. A spinnerbait, Chatter bait and a square bill in bright colors are best. Target windblown points and flats near spawning coves/pockets. It’s time to start checking the bushes. There are always fish to be caught on a jig, like a Jewel half-ounce green pumpkin variant. 

Once again, warm, little wind and sunny fish the points, drop-offs or ledges, piles and swings — you’re looking anywhere from 1-20 feet. Use a Carolina-rigged lizard, and a shaky head, wobble head and a Ned rig are coming into play. The offshore videogamers are going to have to work — the shad are still spread out, while some are congregating in the drains. Target larger bait balls or any bait you can find up high near the surface and closer to the shore.
If you are targeting shad eaters, it’s been work. A smaller 2.8 swimbait and/or a regular Tater Shad both have been working, and also try a jerkbait around those high swimming shad and shad balls in the clear water. They are being finicky if they aren’t actively feeding. Now just because they are up, doesn’t mean much if it’s blue birds flat post-front; it’s still going to sting a little.
“Good luck, have fun, be safe and ‘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 4-17-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says the change in lake level as well as the wind direction has the fish changing positions on a daily basis. The lake has come up over the buckbrush in a lot of areas. Fishing in the backs of creeks with stained water has been producing a few fish. Fish over buckbrush with spinnerbaits or a 1/8-ounce jig head with small swimbait, or use a shallow-running jerkbait such as a Suspending Rattlin’ Rogue — that will get some bites.

The best fishing this past week has still been late evenings. Walleye seemed to be for the most part in the post-spawn period. Fish are scattered along chunk rock points with deep water close by and along steeper creek channel swings that have shad. It’s best to fish low-light periods now. Fishing methods are still the same: 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 Jig worked slowly back to the boat on points with deep water on at least one side. Fishing same structure right before and after dark with 110-style jerkbaits or 5-inch floating stick baits and retrieved back at extremely slow speeds will get some fish.

If you’re trolling, fishing low-light periods using 5-inch stick baits at slow speeds as low as .85 mph in 7-14 feet along windblown banks will also work.

(updated 4-17-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says crappie are definitely scattered at least mid-lake. “We have had success covering lots of brush in that 15-25 feet range and occasionally are starting to catch a few beautiful males that are getting their tuxedo on in shallower brush around 10 feet. We are getting closer but these cool nights, rising colored water and debris have them still scattered in a funk.

“Very soon, when it stabilizes, it will be time for the coveted spawn! We have had success casting jigs over brush and also with minnows.”

 

Norfork Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Norfork Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 4-17-2025) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters (also Facebook.com/stroutfitters or 870-421-1541) guides out of Tracy Ferry Marina and reports that the lake is 568 feet msl and dropping; the dam has opened its floodgates to release our high water. The creeks remain stained, the main lake is clean and clear.

“My estimate was off by a week when I said in my last report the fish would turn on. The cold north and northwest winds shut down the lake on Tuesday and Wednesday. Strong south winds for the remainder of the week will warm the water and

push the fish to the bank. I caught threadfin shad in shallow water, and their bellies are fat, which indicates they are getting to spawn.
“Stripers were moving to the flats on Monday but have retreated with the north winds. They will be back very quickly with the south winds. Bait will continue to move farther up the creek to feed. The black male crappie were close to the shore on Monday but moved out to deeper water. The water temperature dropped 4 degrees overnight Monday night. The bait and crappies will wait until the water warms back up. Next week should be the week the lake turns on.

“The small group of guests staying at Hand Cove Resort has been night fishing and doing very well. They are staying in 10 feet of water and casting parallel to the bank. The best times have been sunset to 10 p.m., focusing on the lake’s north and east banks. South and west winds warm these banks during the day, attracting stripers looking for bait. The best lures for night fishing are rogues and swim baits. Target creeks with long, flat areas and slightly stained water. The best locations to find active stripers include Steward Point, Pigeon Creek, Bennetts Bayou, Big Creek and Brushy Creek.