Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  October 8, 2025

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report October 8, 2025.

White River

Cotter Area
(updated 10-9-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said Bull Shoals Lake has dropped to 1 foot below power pool it is currently is sitting at 658.66 feet msl. The White River has received the equivalent of one unit (3,000 cfs) most of each day for the last week. More consistent water levels have allowed the trout to settle down into a normal feeding routine, so early morning and early evening are the best times for easy catches.

The rainbow catch has been exceptional. Orange eggs (Berkley or XFactor), in conjunction with shrimp, will pick up the pace as will a live and kickin’ red wiggler worm.

The brown trout bite is getting just a little tricky as nature takes its course and they move into their spawning pattern; more patience is required to get their attention. Softshell crawdads are a favorite until the season for crawdads draws to an end soon. The Rapala Countdowns are working their magic, too. Try the CD7 rainbow or silver/black first. You’ll be best served by shiny, flashy baits and lots of jiggle to get them to answer your call during the spawning months.

Keep your midges tied on if you’re casting flies: ruby midges and others (black/silver, copper/black), and copper Johns were a hit over the last week or two. Egg patterns, peach or soft yellow, tied to a No. 12 or 14 hook, have also served well.

October has brought a lot of anglers to the Arkansas Ozarks and our natural resources remain strong. The rainbows have been healthy and brightly colored … and growing! Join us on the White at Cotter. The river will capture your heart.

Calico Rock Area
(updated 10-9-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “We continue to see rising water levels in the morning, then cresting late morning and dropping throughout the afternoon. Fishing has been consistent with plenty of smaller trout being caught and few 14-inch-plus trout being caught. In the morning, better fishing has been downriver and, in the afternoon, better fishing has been upriver. Thompson Colorado quarter-ounce spoons in nickel/gold are working well. We are also seeing success with Rapala Countdown CD7 in rainbow trout.

“If your arm gets tired casting and retrieving lures, try a silver inline spinner with a No. 2 hook with two Uncommon Bait UV eggs and tipped with shrimp. I’m aware of one stocking at Red’s Landing but haven’t seen or heard of any around 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 10-9-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday that the lake level is still at 658 feet msl; the surface water temperature is about 77 degrees. “Bass fishing has been up and down — one day good, and the next day they are stubborn. Welcome to fall. The lake is turning over and will put some of those fish in a funk. The shad are moving into the creeks. It’s best to get up early to look for surface activity. There are shad balls high toward the surface down to 45 feet now. Topwater is getting better, but is still hit or miss. I’m going to get up for lowlight and cover water.

“Whopper Plopper and buzzbait on the bank, a toad and a Spook-style bait if it’s sunny. Fish the conditions, follow the bait and wind.

“Largemouth bass are really grouped up. If you’re lucky you might get more than one up there. Powerfishing conditions — wind/clouds: a spinnerbait, square bill or Chatterbait if there’s wind/stained water toward backs of creeks that aren’t turning over. The shad are heading that way.

“If the sun comes out, try a shaky head in trees and brushpiles. There are always fish to be caught on a jig, like a Jewel half-ounce PeeWee. Try green pumpkin orange variants. On the bluff ends, bluff swings, long runout points along the channel, try pulling off ledges. Start at 15 feet, then out to 30-35 feet.

“The shad are spread out from the backs of the creeks to the main lake and mouths of creeks. Look for larger groups of shad close to structure. Feeding windows seem to be short-lived. Try a drop-shot for bluebird, post-frontal suspended fish out on the points and bluffs. A smaller 2.8 Tater Shad or shake a minnow if they are up active, and a regular, half-ounce Skinny Minner Spoon will come in hand. Fall junk fishing has started; make the best of it and ‘Fish the Conditions.’”

(updated 10-9-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service said the walleye have been in a negative to neutral feeding mood this week due to the lake’s changing conditions. The walleye seem to be scattering out and following the bait instead of holding on spots for any amount of time. If the sun is high and the wind is light, fish away from the boat’s shadow. Try fishing in 30-40 feet of water by snap-jigging a jig and half of a crawler, or drop-shotting a live crawler. Also using a three-quarter-ounce to 1-ounce white or chrome jigging spoon, or a Rapala-type Ice Jig in the same colors.

When trolling, try a size 5 or 7 Flicker Shad or size 9 Flicker Minnow. Trolling is best in 28-38 feet of water or just above the depth level where you locate the shad. Trolling at 1.7 to 2.0 mph seems to be a good speed at this time to get a reaction bite. Jerkbait fishing in 10-15 feet of water on the main lake and secondary points should start picking up next week or so, depending on the water temperature.

(updated 10-9-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service says not much has changed. Crappie are on structure in the creeks. There is a lot of mixed quality and short fish mixed in. One-eighth-ounce Tater Baits Big Ego color in the small fry has worked even on this finicky bite, depending on the day. Catching some on minnows, but it’s definitely slow and steady for the bite at best.