Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  December 3, 2025

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report December 3, 2025.

White River

Cotter Area

(updated 12-4-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “It’s already beginning to look a lot like Christmas, especially here in Cotter. Come down to the river through Big Spring Park early on a frosty morning and you’ll see a most amazing display of lights. Santa’s on his way and will be in the park on Dec. 13.

“Bull Shoals Lake is sitting at 654.21 feet msl, nearly 5 feet below power pool. The fortunate angler learns to include a variety of baits to accommodate the changes in river depth downstream of Bull Shoals Dam. In recent days, we’ve seen substantial changes in the daily water level, varying from minimum flow (700 cfs) to over four units (12,000 cfs).
“Successful catches this week started with mid-action spinners (Vibrax Blue Foxes were a hit, silver with a blue blade or standard gold) and spoons (always start with the hammered red-gold Thomas Buoyant). If you prefer bait, the guides are first using redworms; second, shrimp with orange or sunrise egg patterns. The rainbows are healthy, good-sized, with lots of color, red cheeks and bright pink stripes.

“The browns are spawning, so you need to be creative in what you throw and how you throw it. Sculpins will still attract a brown trout but it might take more patience than usual. The rainbows have been receptive to the sculpins, too, so upsize your bait to attract the browns.

“Our White River in the Arkansas Ozarks is the best place for sharing time with family and friends. We’re hoping for a wonderful season for all our anglers and can’t wait to hear your Christmas fishing stories.” 

 

Calico Rock Area
(updated 12-4-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said that with the colder temperatures, the dams have been generating more electricity, resulting in more fluctuations in water levels. With the higher levels, drift-fishing with silver inline spinner with Uncommon Bait UV eggs tipped with shrimp worked well. During the lower water levels artificial baits such as quarter-ounce spoons worked well for rainbows.
“We are seeing good success for brown trout and smallmouth bass using Rapala Countdowns CD5 or CD7 in rainbow or brown trout colors.” 

 

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 12-4-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake, said Wednesday that the lake level is 654 feet msl. Water temperature slowly dropping and is at 57 degrees, give or take a degree. The winter patterns are taking shape. Post-front days are always going to be tough regardless. Shad are starting to get grouped up, and the cooler temps are going to help. For the power fisherman, a SPRO Rock Crawler in red is working here and there on chunk rock and ledges, transition banks, chunk rock and bushes in the wind. We’re covering water with wind/clouds. Use a spinnerbait if there’s wind/clouds. If it’s flat and the sun comes out, get off the bank and try a minnow on secondaries with trees and brushpiles close to shad.
There are always fish to be caught on a jig, such as a Jewel half-ounce jig. Try a green pumpkin color with orange or PBJ variants. On the swings or long run-out points along the channel try pulling off ledges. Start at 20-25 feet early, then out to 35-40 feet. The shad are where its at. Graph time will pay off this time of year. A smaller 2.8 Tater Shad dead-sticked or shake a minnow if they are up active and a regular. Use a half-ounce Jewel Shad Spoon on the ones up high and a Scuba Spoon down deep. Jewel Live Spin, Rapala Ice Jig — they all are working day to day. The fish will prefer one over the other on a particular day. As temps cool they getting deeper. Each day is a little different. “Fish the Conditions!”

(updated 12-4-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service said the passing cold weather has got water temperature down. The walleye are set up in their winter feeding patterns and will not change too much until they start migrating to their spawning areas. They are scattered in small schools on main lake and secondary channel swing points. Also, check creek channels that you locate shad balls in, as the walleye are following them as they move with the wind and water flow.

If the sun is high and wind is light, fish away from the boat’s shadow.

Try fishing in 8-35 feet of water by snap-jigging a jig and half of a crawler or drop-shotting a live crawler. Also using a ⅜-ounce to 1-ounce white or crome jigging spoon or a No. 7 Rapala Ice Jig style bait in the same colors. (The Jigging Rapala has been working well by vertical- fishing them in the 35-45 feet depths.)

A few fish are still being caught trolling early morning and late evening. When trolling try a 5-inch jerkbait like Rattling Rogue or Rapala Husky Jerk. Trolling in 8-15 feet of water at 1.2 mph seems to be a good speed at this time to get a reaction bite. Fishing a 110+1-style jerkbait in 8-15 feet of water on main lake, secondary points and steeper sided channel swing banks where the wind as been blowing into is where the fish are holding.

(updated 12-4-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service says crappie are definitely scattered but we’re finding some good ones on main lake brush and structure — definitely not everywhere, however. Also still catching some nice ones on brushpiles in the creeks. Recommend the 1/16-ounce with Small Fry baits in colors like Taterbaits, Purple Monkey and Big Ego; minnows are also doing well!
To you allm have a safe Blessed Holiday!