Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  August 13, 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 13, 2025.

White River

Cotter Area
(updated 8-14-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said the clear, cold water released through Bull Shoals Dam keeps the river habitat perfect for the trout provided by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Trout Management Program. “We are seeing more fluctuation in releases from the dam as it works to supply electrical power and continues to lower the lake to the desired power pool. We’re still 14 feet above the power pool, sitting at 675.03 msl.

“One way we’ve lured those trout away from their perfect habitat this week was with Berkley pink worms, sometimes tipped with a white Power Egg. Fuzzy, peachy eggs are making a splash, too, from Cotter all the way to the dam. They provided a rapid and steady interest from the rainbows. Wiggling live worms are always attractive, and the shrimp/PowerBait combo is a great fallback bait when others aren’t attracting attention.

“High water offers the opportunity to put those big jerkbaits to use. Smithwick and Rapala stick baits move deep to arouse the browns. White bellies and dark backs are the ticket on sunny August days. Keep your spoons and Blue Foxes handy and don’t be afraid to try different baits and different colors; use a wide selection. 

“Visit Cotter and find out why we’re called Trout Capital USA. Hope to see you at the river!”

 

Calico Rock Area
(updated 8-14-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “In the last week we have seen water levels dropping throughout most of the day, with water rising in the late evenings before cresting again early the next morning. 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 reporting success using diving lures such Rapala Countdowns, CD7 or CD9, in rainbow trout and brown trout colors.

“Late last week we received another stocking of 1,000 rainbows. The last stocking put us over 3,800 rainbows in less than a week.”

 

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 8-14-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday that the water level dropped about 4 feet in the past week to 675 feet msl – only 16 feet above normal pool. Water temperature is still about 86 degrees (give or take) with the cooler evenings and shorter days. Continue to take precautions on flooded launch ramps and courtesy docks. Parking is better, but still most boat ramps and parking areas are underwater though still 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 remains fair. Get up early and look for surface activity. Fish topwater with a small popper-style bait or Zara Spoon-style bait in natural colors. Del says he’s a fan of the Lucky Craft Gunfish. Fish around ledges, points, bluffs and swings — the 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 Worm, 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 are suspended 25-30 feet with the thermocline and generation schedule.

The offshore guys still 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 8-14-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service said the walleye fishing on the lower end of the lake has picked up a lot this past week. Schools of fish are 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 just 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 8-14-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service says crappie anglers should start looking for structure coming into play around 20-25 feet in the creeks and main lake. Crappie are still pretty scattered as far as in and out of the creeks. Minnows have been the ticket of late, and jigs are working on certain days with a small fry bait on a 1/16-ounce jig.

 

Norfork Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Norfork Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 8-14-2025) Tom Reynolds says the lake is at 562 feet msl and slowly falling. The lake is scheduled to reach its normal pool level on Sept. 15.
The stripers are stressed due to low oxygen and hot water. The lake water has been in the high 80s, almost 90 degrees, late in the afternoon. The oxygen level is very low for this time of year, and the oxygen will only get worse as the lake is lower and with no rain. Based on history, the stripers will shut down, and the bite will continue to decline unless the oxygen bubble bursts, which usually happens around Labor Day.
The stripers are beginning to shut down; they keep moving to deeper water, but the oxygen is very low for this time of year. “We are in desperate need of rain and cooler weather to get the water temp down.

“The best opportunity for stripers will be the upper section of Norfork, where the river ends and the lake begins. Cool water continues to flow south, but heavy rains would cause the stripers to migrate as the water cools. Right now, you can entice them using very active live bait. They do not seem to be interested in spoons or swimbaits right now.