Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  July 9, 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 9, 2025.

White River

Cotter Area
(updated 7-10-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “Bull Shoals Lake is dropping slowly – Wednesday it was just below 688.67 feet msl. While water releases continue at around seven units (19,000 cfs), the fishing gets better and better. There are fewer places to safely wade fish, but bank fishing is not out of the question. Both boaters and shore anglers can catch a creel full of rainbows with red wigglers or nightcrawlers. (Try putting a little air in a nightcrawler for a real floating treat.)

“Best bait? Berkley or X-Factor pink worms for rainbows – better when drift-fishing from a boat. A lot of anglers elect to use the ‘mouse tail,’ ready-made with a white egg at the top. Thread it to cover the eye of your hook and dangle the rest of the imitator worm like you would a live red wiggler. Experiment with the orange or white Power Worm, too, to lure the more curious ones.

“The average size of the rainbows here in the Ozark region of The Natural State seems to be increasing and they’re still attracted by a flash of gold (think Little Cleos, quarter-ounce for now). This is great water for stick baits. The glass blue Husky Jerk minnow is magic. The bigger brown trout have been looking for sculpins, red worms and shad.

“Keep anglin’ and stay aware of surroundings with the higher water. Prepare for the heat and come ready to catch some great trout on the White River.”

 

Calico Rock Area
(updated 7-10-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said that this week the saying “wash, rinse and repeat” applies. “We continue to see water levels near 11 feet. We continue to have success drift-fishing using silver inline spinners with a No. 2 hook with 2 Uncommon Bait UV eggs and tipped with shrimp. If needed, add an extra weight to get to the bottom. 

“The last couple of days, the guides report slower fishing first thing in the morning but improving throughout the rest of the morning. It still requires some moving around to find fish, and you may only catch one or two trout in each spot.
“On Wednesday, Norfork Dam opened gates to spill an additional 500 cfs. I expect we will see dingy water early Thursday, but it should clear up. Calico Rock received one stocking of 1,600 rainbows with additional stockings at Chessmond Ferry and Red’s Landing.”

 

Allison/Mountain View Area
(updated 7-10-2025) Jack’s White River Fishing Resort reports did not have a report this week, but mostly recently they said that their White River guides — Bart, Braiden, Caleb, Chris and Irvin all consistently limited out on rainbow trout 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.

 

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 7-10-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Thursday that the lake level is down 2 feet from last week to 688 feet msl, which is 29 feet above normal conservation pool, and it’s dropping fast. The Corps of Engineers “is running big water,” he said. Water temperature is 87 degrees. Continue to 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.
Bass fishing has slowed. Get up early and check for surface activity around ledges, points, bluffs and swings. Bass are grouped up. Powerfishing shallow has been hit or miss with the dropping water. THe baitfish seem to be pushing back toward deeper water. The ol’ big red worms, Texas-rigged, in trees and laydowns on points will work. Seems to need some stain, though. There are always fish to be caught flipping a jig like a Jewel half-ounce green pumpkin variant. 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 guys have their work cut out for them. The shad are still spread out with the lake dropping. Feeding windows seem to be short. Target larger bait balls on swings and ledges – try a drop-shot for bluebird, post-frontal suspended fish. 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 7-10-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service said the walleye fishing methods have not changed much. With the drawdown that’s occurring, the bite has slowed down. Small walleye and a few legal-size walleye are being caught over the flooded buckbrush. If the sun is high, fish a little deeper along the old shoreline. Fish are scattered along main lake rounded gravel points with deep water close by. We’re fishing the shoreline in 20-30 feet of water with spinnerbaits and crawler rigs or working a jig and crawler along in 24-35 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 it 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 7-10-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service says crappie are still 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 7-10-2025) Tom Reynolds reports that the lake is 575 feet msl and falling. The Army Corps of Engineers has reopened the spillway to release water from the recent rains. The lake will remain high; the latest estimate for the normal pool is Sept. 15.
The stripers are moving, but many are still being caught by the state Highway 101 and U.S. Highway 62 bridges. By now the stripers would primarily be downriver near the dam. The stripers and hybrids are not acting normally this year – instead they are staying deep. You can find stripers and hybrids in the upper layer of the lake from 25 feet to the surface. As the sun rises the stripers will go deep as the thermocline drops down between 40-60 feet, depending on where you’re fishing. The best depth after sun up is 55-65 feet.