Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  August 6, 2025

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report August 6, 2025.

White River

Cotter Area
(updated 8-7-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said trout fishing from Cotter on the tailwater of Bull Shoals Dam delivered a good quantity of fighting browns and healthy rainbows this week. The morning temperatures have been blessedly cool — low 70s, blue skies — ushering in warmer afternoon temps.

Generation continues round-the-clock with a steady output of at least 12,000 cfs early on, then higher in the late afternoons. Bull Shoals Lake level is still 18 feet above power pool but dropping as it approaches that desired seasonal elevation goal of 661 feet msl.

“This week, a mixture of baits was called for: One day we had luck with the silver Cleo, the next day the red/gold spoon won the bite, then white Rooster Tails; so keep a variety of smaller artificial baits on hand. Always be ready with some shrimp and scented egg pattern baits for a good limit of rainbows. Try adding a little garlic and salt to your shrimp for variety. The guides still like the Berkley Pink Worm — better when drift-fishing from a boat — on high water. Live worms are great when the water first comes up in the afternoon.

“The brown trout bite has been exceptional for August, with catches in the double-digits some days. Shiner river minnows have been the ticket this week with several good browns reeled in.

“Keep your sunscreen away from all baits and tackle, stay aware of your surroundings with the higher water, and keep on angling. We look forward to seeing you here in The Natural State.”

 

Calico Rock Area
(updated 8-7-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “The last few days we are seeing more consistent water flows from Bull Shoals Dam, with Norfork Dam reducing generation overnight and increasing again in the morning. As a result, we aren’t seeing drastic differences in water levels. We are seeing water levels dropping overnight and then rising again when the Norfork Dam water reaches us.

“Fishing continues to be consistent with the ‘go-to’ silver inline spinners with Uncommon Bait UV eggs and tipping the hooks with shrimp, corn or redworms. Some fishermen are successful using diving lures such Rapala Countdowns, CD7 or CD9, in rainbow trout and brown trout colors. 

“I talked to one fisherman who had success throwing quarter-ounce Thompson Colorado Spoons in nickel/gold by adding a split shot 8-12 inches up the line to allow the spoon to drop lower.”

Monday morning the Norfork Hatchery stocked 1,200 rainbow trout at Calico Rock and another 1,200 at Chessmond Ferry. Wednesday morning the Jim Hinkle Spring River Hatchery stocked 1,600 rainbows at Calico Rock, 800 at Red’s Landing and another 1,200 at Norfork. Give them a couple of days and they will be hungry and biting well.

 

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 8-7-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake  said Wednesday that the water level has fallen to 679 feet msl – still 20 feet above normal level but on a fast drop last week. Water temperature is starting to drop as well, sitting now at 86 degrees (give or take) with the cooler evenings. Continue to take precautions on flooded launch ramps and courtesy docks. Parking is getting better as most boat ramps and parking areas rare starting to show back up. Shout out to the marinas and volunteers at the courtesy docks who have been doing a great job of accommodating everyone.

Bass fishing is still fair. Get up early and look for surface activity: ledges, points, bluffs, swings — typical summer areas. Largemouth bass are really grouped up. 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. Fishing the ol’ Big Red Worms, Texas-rigged, around 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. It’s that time where fish have been suspended 25-30 feet with the thermocline and 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 offshore from swings and ledges off the bank with a drop-shot for the bluebird-day, post-frontal suspended fish. Try a smaller 2.8 swimbait or a regular Tater Shad. A half-ounce jigging spoon will come in handy. “Fish the conditions. Summer equals half-day trips.”

(updated 8-7-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service said the walleye fishing methods have not changed much. Schools of fish are settling in the thermocline now. With the drawdown that’s occurring, the fish have moved out of the brush for the most part. Lots of small walleye and a few legal-size walleye are being caught on the outside edge of flooded buckbrush. If the sun is high, fish a little deeper and away from the boat. Fish are scattered along main lake rounded gravel points with deep water nearby. “We’re fishing the shoreline in 28-33 feet of water with spinnerbaits and crawler rigs or working a jig and crawler or half-ounce to 1-ounce jigging spoons around the edges of flooded brush.”

When trolling, try a size 7 or 9 Flicker Shad or size 9 Flicker Minnow in 28-35 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 8-7-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service says crappie are still on the move as the water is dropping fast. Key on any structure in that 20-25 feet range. “I have literally caught fish from the backs to the main lake. May be the most scattered I’ve ever seen the crappie. Minnows have been working best as of late. Definitely be patient as the bite seems to be finicky at times.”

 

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.