Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  July 30, 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 30, 2025.

White River

Cotter Area
(updated 7-31-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, Bull Shoals Lake is 20 feet above power pool at 682.93 feet msl. The lake continues to drop and water levels on the White River have remained steadily high at around (12,000 cfs or four units) round-the-clock. Late mornings show an uptick in generation, often nearing seven generation units being discharged.

“Our rainbows are chasing shrimp, especially when paired with a small piece of pink or white PowerBait or an orange fuzzy egg pattern. Bubblegum pink Berkley Mouse Tails are still a favorite and have been very successful over the summer. In the high water, orange or pink baits are best at getting the attention of the always-on-the-move trout.

“Some folks prefer casting hard baits: the Vibrax Blue Fox spinner, three-sixteenth-ounce gold, or ones fitted with a pink bell, was providing a steady catch of 12- and 13-inch rainbows. Best advise: Float your bait just above the bottom or near the bank in the swift water.  

“The brown bite has been unexpectedly decent for a summer of high water. It’s been difficult to locate fresh sculpins, but when you can, the browns will thank you with a long and hard play. When a sculpin isn’t handy, pump some air into a lively nightcrawler and dance it near the bottom (the browns love to stay under the fray of the running rainbows.)

“Enjoy these cooler mornings and sunny days on the river; stop by and share your latest fish story.”

 

Calico Rock Area
(updated 7-31-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “This week we saw water levels cresting around 10.5 feet in the mornings and dropping throughout the day before starting to rise again late in the afternoon. Norfork Lake remains over 12 feet above the power pool, with Bull Shoals Lake over 21 feet above the power pool. The current prediction is the lakes will reach their power pool levels by mid-September.  

“The ‘pro’ of the fluctuation in water levels is it stirs up the bottom, resulting in good food choices for the trout; the ‘con’ is ‘trashy’ water with moss in it. Fishing has been better in the morning using silver inline spinners with UV Uncommon Bait UV Neo Pink Eggs and tipping the hook with shrimp or redworms.  Artificial lures such as Dynamic J-Spec Lures in Glimmer Trout or brown trout colors or Rapala Countdowns CD9 in rainbow trout or brown trout colors have been partially effective fishing along the banks.  

“The weather prediction shows a chance of rain Thursday but we should see cooler weather over the weekend.”

 

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 7-31-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday that the water level continues dropping, falling to 682 feet msl – now 24 feet above normal level but 2 feet lower than this time last week. The Army Corps of Engineers is steadily running big water. Water temperature is around 90 degrees. It’s been hot; an early start is a good idea. Continue to take precautions on flooded launch ramps and courtesy docks. Parking is an issue as most boat ramps and parking areas remain underwater. The marinas and volunteers at the courtesy docks are doing a great job of  accommodating everyone.

Bass fishing is fair. Get up early and look for surface activity: ledges, points, bluffs, swings. Largemouth 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 and 20-25 feet on points seems to need some stain.
There are always fish to be caught on a Flippin’ Jig or Jewel half-ounce green pumpkin variant pulling off ledges. Look at steeper banks as the temps rise. Lots of fish java been 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, post-frontal suspended fish. Try a smaller 2.8 swimbait or a regular Tater Shad. A half-ounce jigging spoon will come in handy. The thermoline looks to be about 26 feet. “Fish the conditions. Summer equals half-day trips.”

(updated 7-31-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service said the walleye fishing methods have not changed much this month. Fish are settling 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 25-30 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 2.0 to 2.5 mph seems to be a good speed to get a reaction bite.

(updated 7-31-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service says not much has changed with the crappie bite. Crappie are super scattered, but will bite decent when you can find them. Look for structure in the 20 feet range and have minnows.

 

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.