Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  September 10, 2025

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report September 10, 2025.

White River

Cotter Area
(updated 9-11-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “Bull Shoals Lake has reached its normal power pool of 661.56 feet msl after weeks of large, round-the-clock releases. White River levels remain in the mid- to high range, but expect that to decrease in a few weeks. The morning temperatures have been blessedly cool — low 60s, blue skies — ushering in hot afternoon temps. Expect really warm afternoon highs for the next week or so, but the river is always cold and clear.

“The rainbows are seeking deeper holes during the morning hours — crawdad tails and shrimp will lure them out for a nibble. Keep the Rebel Wee Craws nearby. Browns are continuing to be enticed by shad, soft-shell crawdads and, always, sculpins. Later in the day, as the water rises, bring out the nightcrawlers and every kind of trout comes out for a look-see.

“The successful trout-catcher this week was tying on PowerBait redworms or bubblegum pink Berkley Mouse Tails. A gold Colorado Spoon was a favorite, too. 

“We’ve seen only a minor decrease in post-Labor Day river traffic, and are thankful that our Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Trout Management Program folks keep up so well with demand! Come on over and catch a rainbow.”

 

Calico Rock Area
(updated 9-11-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “Good news: Both Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes have reach their power pool levels. As of Wednesday we are starting see lower water. Now that the lakes are at or below the top of the power pool levels, Southwestern Power Administration controls water releases through what is needed for power generation. I expect we will see significantly lower water levels.  

“Drift fishing with inline spinners, Uncommon Baits UV Neo Pink eggs and tipping the No. 2 hook with shrimp will continue to work well. As we see lower water, artificial lures will become more effective. Rapala Countdowns in rainbow trout or brown trout or Dynamic J-Spec in glimmer trout or brown trout should work well. Once the water reaches 5 feet or below, quarter-ounce Thompson Colorado Spoons in nickel/gold should also work well. 

“This week the AGFC used their stocking raft to put in 4,800 rainbow trout between Norfork and 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 9-11-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday that the lake level is 661 feet msl, now only 2 feet above  normal pool and still dropping. Water temperature is 79 degrees, give or take, with the cooler weather and shorter days. 

Bass fishing overall is fair. They can be finicky some days. Best get up early to look for surface activity; there are shad balls high toward the surface. Topwater has been hit or miss — try a small popper-style or Zara Spook in natural colors. Del is a fan of the Lucky Craft Gunfish. With the shad migration into the creek, there are still shad on the main lake but also the mouths of the creeks, ledges, points, bluffs and swings. For powerfishing, a Whopper Plopper and buzzbait covering water should pick up a few on the right conditions — follow the wind. 

Largemouth bass are really grouped up. Powerfishing shallow in the creeks is still hit or miss. The shad are heading that way. It’s good when the lake gets some clouds and rain coming in. The ol’ Big Red Worm, Texas-rigged, works in trees and laydowns. There are always fish to be caught on a  jig, like a Jewel half-ounce Peewee — try green pumpkin variants. Focus on the bluff end, bluff swings, long runuut points along the channel. Try pulling off ledges. A lot of the suspended fish are pulling onto the points and brushpiles around the thermocline, 28-32 feet. 

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 covering water off from swings and ledges off the bank with a drop-shot for bluebird, post-frontal suspended fish. Use a smaller 2.8 swimbait or shake a minnow if they are up active and a regular Tater Shad on suspended fish. A half-ounce Magic Jigging Spoon will come in handy. 

Fall junk fishing has started. Make the best of it and “fish the conditions.”

(updated 9-11-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service said the walleye fishing methods on the lower end of the lake have not changed much this past week. The fish have been in a pretty active feeding mood. Large schools of fish are in and around the thermocline on gravel main lake points and secondary points with deeper water close by. Lots of smaller walleye and limits of nice legal-size walleye are being caught. If the sun is high and wind is light, fish just a little deeper and away from the boat. Fish in 30-33 feet of water with spinnerbaits and crawler rigs with small Colorado or a Macks Smile Butterfly Blade, or work a jig and crawler or drop-shot a live crawler. A half-ounce to 1-ounce white or chrome jigging spoon at those depths has been working as well.

When trolling, try a size 5 or 7 Flicker Shad or size 9 Flicker Minnow, and also a half-ounce Hot n Tot,  in 28-35 feet of water. Trolling at 2.0 to 2.5 mph seems to be a good speed at this time to get a reaction bite.

(updated 9-11-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service says fish are still scattered but showing up on brushpiles in the 20-25 feet range. The bite has definitely been on the finicky side, as minnows have been best as of late.

 

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

(updated 9-11-2025) Tom Reynolds said recently that the lake was scheduled to reach its normal pool level on Sept. 15. With the very hot weather and warm water, along with low oxygen conditions on Norfork, Tom was not planning to provide updated reports until conditions improved.
In his most recent report in August, Tom had said the stripers appeared stressed due to low oxygen and hot water. At that time, the lake water was in the high 80s, almost 90 degrees, late in the afternoon throughout most of August. The oxygen level has been very low for this time of year, and the oxygen will only get worse as the lake is lower and with little rain. Based on history, the stripers will shut down, and the bite will continue to decline unless the oxygen bubble bursts.
The stripers were beginning to shut down earlier in August; they kept moving to deeper water, but the oxygen was very low for this time of year.

“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.”