Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

December 18, 2025

White River

Cotter Area
(updated 12-18-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “Looks like we’ll be fishing in short sleeves on Christmas Day. After a cold snap, December continues to be very mild with Christmas just a little over a week away. Releases from Bull Shoals Dam are at minimum flow or less (700 cfs) with an occasional burst bringing the river level

to 9,000-12,000 cfs for an hour or two. The lake has been holding steady around 654 feet msl, more than 4 feet below power pool.

“Kids will be looking for Christmas vacation adventures, and there is none better than catching trout on the White River. Any orange-scented egg bait and shrimp are reliable baits to provide a lot of action and help them catch some rainbows. Come on over and tie on your favorite baits; catch some trout and rejoice in the season.

“Mild daytime temperatures for the next week mean a good time to pick up your rod and reel and get outside. When you see a rise in the water, reach for the wiggly worms. Wading opportunities abound during early morning hours here in Cotter, when we have seen very low water. The browns have given some attention to sculpins and minnows, even in the middle of their annual spawn.

“Rule of thumb: Gold spinners and spoons will work best when the sky is clear and sunny; change to silver-colored baits when fishing under overcast skies.
“The Trout Capital USA, Cotter, Arkansas, is lit up for Christmas like never before. Visit the park after sunset and see how the city has decorated Big Spring Park. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a blessed new year.”

 

Calico Rock Area
(updated 12-18-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “We have seen water levels vary from under 3 feet to over 6 feet. With the colder temperatures, we are seeing more demand for electricity, resulting in more generation from the dam at peak hours. Drift-fishing has been effective using inline spinners with Uncommon Bait UV eggs and tipping the hook with shrimp. 

“We are also seeing a lot of success throwing artificial lures such as quarter-ounce spoons, 1/16-ounce jigs or lures such as Rapala Countdowns (CD5 or CD7) in rainbow trout or brown trout colors. We are seeing some nice brown trout and smallmouth bass being caught. 

“We did receive one stocking of over 800 rainbows from the AGFC’s Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery. Additionally, the Norfork National Fish Hatchery has been posting updates on their progress on returning to full operations. Updates include that they have hatched new rainbows, received over 300,000 brown trout eggs and received rainbow trout from other hatcheries.

 

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 12-18-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday that the lake level is 654 feet msl. Water temperature is slowly dropping and is at 54 degrees, give or take. Bass fishing is good. The winter patterns are taking shape. Power fishermen: a Wiggle Wart and SPRO Rock Crawler patterns are happening. Steeper, 45-degree rock and ledges, transition banks, chunk rock ledges in the wind — covering water with wind/clouds. Use a spinnerbait if there’s big wind and 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. The Megabass Jerkbait is working around dying shad near the surface. There are always fish to be caught on a jig, like a Jewel ⅝-ounce jig out deep (30-35 feet). Try green pumpkin with orange or PB&J variants. On the swings, long runout points along the channel, try pulling off ledges. Start 15-25 feet early with a half-ounce or with low light and stained water. Offshore and looking at them has been the predominant pattern for me. The shad are where it’s at; graph time will pay off this time of year. Most of the shad seem down in 50-60 feet. A smaller 2.8 Tater Shad dead-sticked or shake a minnow if they are up active, and a half-ounce Jewel Shad Spoon on the ones up high, while a Scuba Spoon is best down deep. Jewel Live Spin, Rapala Ice Jig – all are working day to day; they will prefer one over the other. As the temps keep cooling, they’re getting deeper. Each day is a little different. “Fish the conditions.”

(updated 12-18-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service said 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 where 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 the wind is light, fish away from the boat’s shadow.

Try fishing in 8-35 feet of water by drop-shotting live crawlers or minnows. Also using a ⅜-ounce to 1-ounce white or chrome jigging spoon or a No. 7 Rapala-type ice jig in the same colors. (The Jigging Rapala has been working well by vertical-fishing them in the 50-70 feet depths.)

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

(updated 12-18-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service says they’re catching crappie on the main lake as well as in the creeks on brushpiles. Crappie are being found on standing timber somewhat as well. Look for brush, 15-25 feet, and depending on the day, they may be sitting 10-20 feet and even up to 30 feet in some places on the main lake. A 1/16-ounce jig with Small Fry baits in a more natural color, like Tater Baits purple monkey and minnow, are working.