Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  July 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 July 16, 2025.

White River

Cotter Area

(updated 7-17-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “Relief! The Army Corps of Engineers has worked to decrease the level of all the lakes in our White River chain; we’re out of flood pool range now. Expect strong generation in the coming weeks as we power on toward desired pool levels. Bull Shoals Lake is at 687.37 feet msl. Continuing a pattern of round-the-clock 18,000 cfs releases.

“Summer is returning with a vengeance this week, although pop-up rainstorms persist even this late into July; the heat is back on, but trout fishing on the White keeps us cool. The brown trout bite is getting tricky. Patience wins out and is required to net a brown. Soft-shell crawdads are a favorite, in addition to the familiar sculpin. 

Consistent water levels have allowed the trout to settle down into a normal feeding routine, so early morning and early evening are the best times for reliable catches.

Float your bait just above the bottom — best to keep it near the bank during high-water generation. 

The rainbows continue to chase a shrimp/PowerBait merger, with pink and pink leading the color choice. Under an overcast, cloudy sky, work Rooster Tail with a gold blade, pink body or a Blue Fox with a rainbow blade, gold bell. When the sun comes out, put the artificial baits away and return to the scented or live baits.
“Good luck, enjoy the catch, and we’ll see you on the river!”

 

Calico Rock Area
(updated 7-17-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said this week they’ve seen water levels between 10 and 11 feet. “We continue to have success drift-fishing using silver inline spinners with a No. 2 hook with 2 Uncommon Bait Neo Pink UV eggs and tipped with shrimp. Fishermen are also reporting success using corn and red wiggler worms. If needed, add an extra weight to get to the bottom. 

“Fishing has been better in the mornings with guides reporting the fish have moved up onto the gravel bars. With the deeper water, we are hearing reports of deeper diving lures like a Shad Rap are having some success fishing along the banks. Fortunately, the rains early this week have not muddied up the river.” 

This week, there was a stocking of 1,200 rainbows at the Calico Rock boat ramp and another 1,200 rainbows at the Chessmond Ferry boat ramp. Additionally, the AGFC ran the stocking raft from Norfork to Calico Rock.

 

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 7-17-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday that the water level was dropping, falling to 687 feet msl – 28 feet above normal level but falling fast. The Army Corps of Engineers is steadily running big water. Water temperature is around 88 degrees. It’s been hot and nasty, with more heat for the foreseeable future. Hurricane season has us dealing with pop-up thunderstorms. Continue to take debris cautions on Beaver Lake or on flooded launch ramps and courtesy docks. Parking continues to be an issue as most boat ramps and parking areas remain underwater. The marinas are doing a great job to accommodate everyone.

Bass fishing is slow after a front; it’s going to be tough. Get up early and look for surface activity: ledges, points, bluffs and swings. Bass are really grouped up and moving fast. Powerfishing shallow has been hit or miss with the dropping water. The baitfish seem to be pushing back toward deeper ditches. You can deep-crank the drains if you find them. The ol’ Big Red Worm, Texas-rigged, fished in trees and laydowns on points works, but it seems to need some stain.
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. Lots of fish are suspended with the current generation schedule. 

The offshore guys have their work cut out for them. The shad are spread out from the backs of the creeks to the main lake. Feeding windows seem to be short-live; it’s better to capitalize on it when it starts. Target larger schools on swings and ledges off the bank with a drop-shot for bluebird day, post-frontal suspended fish. A smaller 2.8 swimbait, a regular Tater Shad or 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. The thermocline looks to be setting up about 28 feet. “Fish the conditions. Summer equals half-day trips.”

(updated 7-17-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service said the walleye fishing methods have not changed much this past week with the exception of the deeper trolling bite. That is just about over as fish are setting in the thermocline now. With the drawdown that’s occurring, the bite has been kind of hit or miss. 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 nearby. 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.

(updated 7-17-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service says crappie are biting decent when you can find them. THey are moving a lot with the lake going down, looking for bushes in 20-25 feet has been key. Tater Baits Small Fry baits and minnows on light heads have been key.

 

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. 

Bluffs that parallel the river channel right now are the place to consistently catch stripers.