Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  June 4, 2025

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report June 4, 2025.

White River

Cotter Area

(updated 6-5-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said the bite is on, and the anglers on the White River around Cotter are catching trout on the first cast in the morning, on the last cast in the afternoon and on a whole lot of casts in between. Bull Shoals Dam is continuing releases from the lake, which are required to bring the lake down to desired power pool level. Two or more generators, 6,000 to 12,000 cfs all day, appears to be the new norm. The generation is a little heavier in the afternoon than the morning. Bull Shoals Lake is sitting at 691.49 feet msl.

Plan your baits based on water conditions: Begin with the tried-and-true shrimp and egg pattern (orange and/or yellow and/or pink) for a swift catch of rainbows; move to worms or to drifting a pink or white 2-inch worm as the water rises later in the morning. Spinnerbaits are also a good option in the morning before the higher releases.
Later in the day, as the water rises, pull out the big baits: Look for the 4- to 5-inch Smithwicks, orange bellies, blue or black backs, or a chrome and blue Husky Jerk. The brown trout X-Rap Rapala and the Elite Blue RPS-9 (Rapala’s size 9) are good baits to use as well. Brook trout Rapalas might be the secret this week.

“A family fishing adventure offers time together in an outdoor arena, sharing the day and watching nature ‘happen’ in real time, in a digital-free environment (or as much as you desire it to be.)  Go catching and enjoy Arkansas’s natural resources.”

 

Calico Rock Area

(updated 6-5-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “We have had some nice weather with more consistent water conditions.  Although Norfork Dam continues to release water from the sluice gates, the fish have acclimated and are hungry. The water from the sluice gates is warmer and, as a result, we are seeing water temperatures in the lower 60s. The last few days, the fish seem to be in deeper holes where the water is colder.  

“Drift-fishing with a silver inline spinner with eggs and shrimp or worm worked well. It might take an extra sinker to get the bait to the bottom.
“There is more rain expected through the weekend. I expect the lakes will continue to rise and we may see even higher releases from Norfork Dam.
“This week there was one stocking of 1,000 rainbows at the Calico Rock boat ramp with additional stockings at Reds Landing and Norfork.

 

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 6-5-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday the lake level is still on the rise at 692 feet msl (up 2 feet from last week’s report, and about 33 feet above normal pool with more rain in the forecast). Water temperature is back up to around 72 degrees. The lake may be high, but fish don’t seem to mind. The bigger creeks still have some debris coming in; be careful with floaters as the wind changes direction. Take debris precautions on flooded launch ramps and courtesy docks. Parking is an issue, as most boat ramps and parking areas are now underwater. The marinas are doing a great job of accommodating everyone. 

The water conditions toward the main lake remain gin clear on toward the dam, with color still in the backs of creeks. Bass are grouping up. Powerfishing shallow has been fair with the right conditions: clouds, rain, wind and stained runoff water. Spinnerbait, Chatterbait and a square bill work well in the stained runoff water. Target wind-blown points and bigger grass flats, and check roads and the flooded buckbrush. The ole Big Worm Texas-rigged in laydowns is a good bet. There are always fish to be caught on a jig, like a Jewel half-ounce green pumpkin variant. Try putting the boat on the old shoreline. Try a shaky head, wobble head tube or a Ned rig. A lot of fish have moved up with the rise. Look at steeper banks as temps rise.

The offshore videogamers are going to have to work. The shad are still spread out from almost backs of creeks out to the main lake. 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 and the Rapala Mooch Minnow have been working. “You’re gonna have to experiment with the head sizes. I’m using 3/16-ounce up to ⅜ depending on the day and the depth of the fish.”

Topwater has been good this week: the Lucky Craft Gunfish or a small white Booyah Popper wake bait or Zara Spook Jr.-style bait over flooded points and saddles. “Good luck, have fun, be safe and, as usual, ‘Fish the Conditions.’”

(updated 6-5-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) said that the walleye fishing has been fair to good most days with some good fish being caught over the flooded buckbrush. If the sun is high, fish a little deeper along the old shoreline. Fish are scattered along rounded points with deep water close by and along steeper creek channel swings that have shad. We’re fishing the shoreline in 26 to 28 feet of water with spinner and crawler rigs, or working a jig and crawler along in 25-30 feet over the flooded brush.

If trolling over buckbrush, try trolling size 7 Flicker Shads or size 9 Flicker Minnow 15 feet to 18 feet down at speeds between 1.5 to 1.7 mph in 26-28 feet of water along wind-blown banks. Some walleye are still being caught in open water over the flooded trees. (However, with the lake rising, now 33 feet over normal pool, we are seeing a lot of debris floating in the water, making it harder to troll.)

If trolling deep, try deep-diving crankbaits with snap weights to get your baits down 60 to 70 feet and fish over the flooded trees in 80 or more feet of water at 1.5 to 1.7 mph.

(updated 6-5-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service says crappie are still super-scattered all over the lake. There isn’t a lot of structure in the right zones but we’re catching some when lucky enough to find it. Minnows have definitely been best as of late. Cover lots of water and look for it around 10-20 feet.

 

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

(updated 6-5-2025) Tom Reynolds guides out of Tracy Ferry Marina, he reports that the lake is at 577.25 feet msl and dropping. The creeks are stained and the main lake is clear. The stripers are very early along bluffs and points from Robinson Point to the dam. If it’s a cloudy day with wind, you can expect a strong bite all morning using long lines. On sunny days, the long-lines bite is done by 7:30 a.m. Find a bluff inside point with depths of 50 feet and switch to downlines. The fish go deeper when there is no wind or clouds. The downline pattern will be used throughout the Summer.

“A trick I use on Norfork is a float downline. Our water is very clear, and some days the stripers are spooky, so I try and get two baits away from my boat. I set my float to the same depth as my downlines but put them back of the boat 50-70 feet behind the boat. When it goes down, you have to reel until you feel the fish. One mistake most of my clients make is to jerk when the float goes down. A lot of times, the striper will run right towards the boat, so I tell my clients to ‘reel until you feel the fish, then set the hook.’”

 

Buffalo National River
(updated 5-22-2025) Fish ’N Stuff said they are hearing from a lot from angling customers doing well on the Buffalo in recent days. They are catching smallmouth bass in 2-4 feet of water and throwing a Ned rig with a green pumpkin, worm-style bait or creature bait on about a ⅛-ounce chartreuse jighead. Also, they are catching them on small, white ⅛-ounce Rooster Tails, or a 2½-inch green pumpkin tube with 1/8-ounce jighead. And don’t leave without trying a 4.5-inch Robo Worm in Morning Dawn color with a ⅛-ounce weight for a successful outing.