Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  July 23, 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 23, 2025.

White River

Cotter Area

(updated 7-24-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “The Arkansas Ozarks haven’t missed out on the heat wave that’s moving across the country, but we have the gem of the White River to cool us down. The trout love that very cold water and the anglers love the cool mist that lowers the air temperature by about 15 degrees.

“Catching rainbows has seldom been easier than it’s been the last few weeks. The pattern from the dam is changing as the lake finally comes down from near floodstage with lower flows (about 13,000 cfs) in the morning, and a full five or six units during the late afternoon hours. Current lake level: 685.83 feet msl.”

“The rainbow catches were lured in mainly with sunrise or orange PowerBait tipped with shrimp on a size 8 Aberdeen or bait holder hook. Silver blades on an orange or brown Rooster Tail, or a silver Vibrax Blue Fox with an orange or bubblegum pink bell, will bring in a good share. Another winner this week was the bronze Colorado spoon, one-quarter ounce.

“The bigger browns have been looking for sculpins and minnows. Keep your eye on the tip of your rod for a little tremor and watch that brown snatch your bait. Play it slow 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 a fat, energetic rainbow on the White.”

 

Calico Rock Area
(updated 7-24-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “This week we are starting to see more fluctuations in water level. Norfork Dam continues to run both generators plus the siphon. Bull Shoals Dam generation has begun to vary, and as a result, we are seeing fluctuating water levels. The past few days, we have seen water levels below 9 feet to over 10 feet, dropping in the mornings and starting to rise again in the afternoon. The fluctuations in water levels have stirred up the resulting “trashy” water with moss in the water.

“Fishing has been better in the morning using silver inline spinners with UV Uncommon Bait Eggs and tipping the hook with shrimp or worms. Deeper diving lures have been partially effective. 

“Weather is hot, take precautions like carrying extra water, sunscreen, a good hat and cooling towel to dip in the water.”
This week the AGFC used the stocking raft to stock 4,800 rainbows between Calico Rock and Sylamore Creek. 

 

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 7-24-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday that the water level continues dropping, falling to 685 feet msl – now 26 feet above normal level and 2 feet lower than this time last week. The Army Corps of Engineers is steadily running big water. Water temperature is around 89 degrees. It’s been hot; an early start is a good idea. Continue to take precautions on flooded launch ramps and courtesy docks. Parking continues to be an issue as most boat ramps and parking areas are still underwater. The marinas and volunteers of courtesy docks are doing a great job to accommodate everyone.

Bass fishing is fair. Get up early and look for surface activity: ledges, points, bluffs, swings. Bass are really grouped up and moving fast. Powerfishing shallow in the creeks 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 Worms, Texas-rigged, fished in trees and laydowns on points 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 at 20-25 feet 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-lived; better capitalize on it when it starts. Target larger schools on swings and ledges off the bank with a drop-shot for the 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 26 feet now. “Fish the conditions. Summer equals half-day trips.”

(updated 7-24-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service said the walleye fishing methods have not changed much this past week. 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 27-30 feet of water with spinnerbaits and crawler rigs or working a jig and crawler 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 7-24-2025) 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 7-24-2025) Tom Reynolds reports that the lake is at 571 feet msl and slowly falling. The lake is scheduled for the normal pool Sept. 15.

The stripers have moved to the lower end of the lake near the dam. There are two distinct bites: at first light, small stripers and good-sized hybrids are in the upper layer of the lake, from 25 feet to the surface, and are very active. They are only hitting live bait, trolled long-line, and a split shot. You will get bitten on downlines set at 15 feet, but not as often as the long lines. As the sun rises, the fish disappear, and then the bite is on the flats starting at 60-80 feet on downlines. The fish are hugging the bottom, feeding on crawfish. The stripers are not overly active, but you can entice them using very active live bait. They do not seem to be interested in spoons or swimbaits right now. All the artificial guides are having a tough time getting the fish to bite.