Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  July 2, 2025

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report July 2, 2025.

White River

Cotter Area
(updated 7-3-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “The Arkansas Ozarks haven’t missed out on the heat wave, but we have the gem of the White River to cool us down. The trout love this cold water, and the anglers love the cool mist in the morning, which lowers the air temperature by at least 10 degrees.”

The water release pattern from the dam continues with large flows, six or seven units (19,000 or more cfs), during the day. The lake level is high, sitting at 690.07 feet msl, around 5 feet below flood level. Expect swift, high water for a few more weeks at least.

Silver blades and orange/brown skirts on a Rooster Tail, or a silver Vibrax Blue Fox with a silver or bubblegum pink bell, will bring in a good share of trout. Try jiggling a red wiggler or a pink PowerBait Moustail for a flurry of action. Bright, light colors will work well during high-water events like the one we’re seeing now; i.e. fluorescent yellow Power Eggs have been a favorite this week for both shore fishers and anglers in boats.

The bigger browns will always chase sculpins and sometimes even a fat, floating nightcrawler. Keep your eye on the tip of your rod for a little tremor and watch that brown snatch your bait; play it slowly and carefully — no rapid movements — and you’ll be able to net it for a picture.

“Come on over and join us as we stay cool angling for fat, energetic rainbows on the White.”

 

Calico Rock Area

(updated 7-26-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said that early in the week at Calico, they saw water as high as 11.5 feet, but in the past couple of days the water level has been right around 11 feet. “We continue to have success drift-fishing using silver inline spinners with a No. 2 hook with two Uncommon Bait UV eggs and tipped with shrimp. The key is to get the bait to the bottom, so we’ve been using two size 7 split shots 8-12 inches above the hook.  

“The guides are reporting having to move around to find the fish and then catching one or two before the bite dies, and they move again. The good news is we are seeing clean water with less moss, etc., hanging up on the hooks. 

“Enjoy your Fourth of July holiday and be safe on the water.”

Allison/Mountain View Area
(updated 6-19-2025) Jack’s White River Fishing Resort reports that the White River guides — Bart, Braiden, Caleb, Chris and Irvin all consistently limited out on rainbow trout throughout the week with excellent success across the board. Among the highlights: 17-inch rainbows were landed on multiple outings — a great size and exciting for anglers; the guides round excellent results using End of the Line TR Orange and Royal Blue Power Eggs and Jack’s handmade hammered silver spinners — this winning combo brought solid bites in varied conditions.

The river has been fluctuating with periods of high, muddy water due to heavy rainfall and dam generation cycles. At times, conditions cleaned up between flow events, giving guides confidence to run drift rigs and spinners.

 

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 7-3-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday that the lake level is gradually dropping, having fallen to 690 feet msl, which is 31 feet above normal conservation pool. Meanwhile, the water temperature is on the rise, sitting around 85 degrees, give or take, this week, and about 3 degrees up from a week ago, and there is a thermocline forming. Take debris precautions on flooded launch ramps and courtesy docks. Parking remains an issue as most boat ramps and parking areas are underwater. The marinas are doing a great job of accommodating everyone. The water conditions toward the main lake remain gin clear to the dam with some color still in the backs of creeks. 

Bass are set up in summer areas. Get up early and check ledges, points, bluffs and swings. Bass are grouped up. Powerfishing shallow has been fair with the right conditions: shad, clouds, rain, wind and stained runoff water. Try a Chatterbait. Use the Ole Big Worm, Texas-rigged, in trees and laydowns. There are always fish to be caught flipping a jig like a Jewel half-ounce green pumpkin variant. Try a shaky head, wobble head, tube or a Ned rig if it’s slow. You’re going to have to contend with flooded bushes, but that’s where the fish are. Look at steeper banks as the temps rise. 

The offshore videogamers are still going to have to work. The shad are still spread out. With the lake dropping with generation, that will get a bite going. 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, a smaller 2.8 swimbait or a regular Tater Shad and the Rapala Mooch Minnow will work. 

“You’re going to have to experiment with head sizes. I’m using 3/16-ounce up to ⅜-ounce depending on the day and the depth of the fish.”
Topwater has been slow. Get up early. Use a Lucky Craft Gunfish or a small white Booyah Popper, wake bait or Zara Spook Jr. over flooded points and saddles. “Fish the conditions. Summer equals four- and six-hour trips.”

(updated 7-3-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service said the walleye fishing methods have not changed much this past week. A lot of small walleye and a few good fish are being caught over the flooded buckbrush. If the sun is high, fish a little deeper along the old shoreline. Fish are scattered along rounded gravel points with deep water close by and along steeper creek channel swings that have shad. We’re fishing the shoreline in 25-35 feet of water with spinnerbaits and crawler rigs or working a jig and crawler along in 30-35 feet around the edges of the flooded brush. 

When trolling over buckbrush, try a size 7 or 9 Flicker Shad or size 9 Flicker Minnow in 25-30 feet of water. Trolling at speeds of 1.7 to 2 mph seems to be a good speed at this time.

Some walleye are still being caught in open water over the flooded trees, but this is starting to slow down. If trolling deep, try deep-diving crankbaits with snap weights to get your baits down 40-70 feet and fish over the flooded trees in 80 or more feet of water at 1.7 to 2 mph.

(updated 7-3-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service says crappie are scattered out a lot in the creeks. Finding the structure in 15-20 feet has been the key, but we’re having to put in a lot of time looking. Minnows and jigs both have been working when you find them.

 

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

(updated 7-3-2025) Tom Reynolds reports that the lake is 576 feet msl (20 feet over power pool) and falling. The rain continues. The lake was down 3 feet, but recent rains have pushed the water up to the flood pool. The Army Corps of Engineers opened the spillway to release water. The lake will remain high; the latest estimate for the normal pool is Sept. 15. Based on past years when the lake remained high and caused stripers to stress due to the lack of oxygen, we may see some mortality later in August.
“The stripers are moving south toward the dam. Lake temperature is 86 degrees. Early morning, the stripers are within 30 feet of the surface and actively chasing shad. The thermocline starts at 30 feet but drops as the sun rises. Most of the day, the thermocline will drop to between 40-60 feet. My bait dies very quickly when it’s above 40 feet; it will live no longer than 5 minutes. The bait set at 60 feet stays alive for longer periods.
“The stripers are going deeper after the sun rises. My lines are set between 50-60 feet and weighted, as the stripers show up in groups of four or five. Patience is the key once the sun hits the water. Long lines continue to produce early. Bluffs that parallel the river channel right now are the place to consistently catch stripers.