Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report
January 7, 2026
More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report January 7, 2026.
White River
Cotter Area
(updated 1-8-2026) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “Bull Shoals Lake is still below power pool elevation (sitting at 655.48 feet msl); expect low generation (one to three units) most of each day. However, the Army Corps of Engineers may increase releases when winter weather ramps up the need for power, so always keep an eye on releases for safe wading. We’ve experienced some cold mornings, but the daytime
temperatures have been unusually warm. Plus, we’re on the upside of short, winter days — meaning more sunlight every day, and more time catching fish.
“With the significant weather fluctuations we’ve experienced, you’ll be most successful baiting your No. 6 or No. 8 trout hook with a mashup of shrimp and scented PowerBait. The browns have responded well to sculpins, river minnows — especially red fin minnows if you can find them — and shad. Lunker brown fishing is just around the corner with the official end of the spawn, so unpack those Rapala Countdowns (or floaters for really low water levels): gold/black, silver/black or the rainbow pattern.
“Trout fishing tip of the day: Keep a taut line, leave your rod alone as much as possible and refrain from reeling except to keep the line tight — until you get a bite. Listen to, and take advice from, your guide, even if it differs from the way you may have caught fish in the past. They want you to be successful and to catch fish!
“Happy New Year! Enjoy the great outdoors in The Natural State of Arkansas in 2026.”
Calico Rock Area
(updated 1-8-2026) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “We hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year. The mild weather and low river conditions have made for pleasant fishing. With the low and clear water, quarter-ounce Colorado spoons in nickel/gold worked well, resulting in some nice limits of rainbows and also some nice 20-inch-plus brown trout. Fly-fishing with the low and clear water conditions are also in some nice trout. Other methods that have been effective are using jigs (try different ones until finding what the trout like that day), Rapala Countdowns (again, try different ones) and Little Cleo in gold, gold/fire stripe and silver (on cloudy days).
There is potential of storms moving through the area Thursday and Friday. The forecast isn’t showing a lot of rain, so hopefully the river won’t become muddy. “If you are in the Little Rock area this weekend, swing by the Marine Expo at the Statehouse Convention Center and stop by our booth.”
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 1-8-2026) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday that the lake level is 655 feet msl; water temp is 51 degrees, give or take. Bass fishing has been good to fair. Power fishermen: A Wiggle Wart and SPRO Rock Crawler are patterns that are working; try red craw variants or the Mo craw. Work the steeper, 45-degree nasty rock and ledges, transition banks, chunk rock ledges in the wind. Covering water with wind and clouds. If it’s flat and sunny, come out some, get off the bank. There are always fish to be caught on a jig such as a Jewel ⅝-ounce jig. If you’re out deep around 30-35 feet, try green pumpkin with orange or PB&J variants. On the swings and long run-out points along the channel, try pulling off ledges and bluff ends. Start 10-15 feet early with a half-ounce. Shallower early or lowlight conditions and stained water.
Try your crank around banks. Offshore, looking at them has been the predominant pattern working for me. There are shad in the creeks but a lot of them are breaking up and moving deep. Graph time will pay off this time of year. Find the shad, find the fish. Most of the shad seem to suspend down in 50-60 feet over deeper water. If the shad are 60-80 feet, a lot the fish will suspend up above or off to the sidelines – a smaller 2.8 Tater Shad dead-sticked, or shake a minnow if they are up active. Rapala ice jig will get down fast if they are moving fast. Day to day they will prefer one over the other. Each day is a little different. The post-front days are always going to be rough. Remember: “Fish the conditions!”
(updated 1-8-2026) Southernwalleye Guide Service said walleye fishing patterns have not changed this past week. Best fishing has been right before passing fronts. They are scattered in small schools on main lake and secondary channel swing points.
Also creek channels have been producing a little more than other locations this past week. Try to locate shad balls in them as the walleye are following them as they move with the wind and water flow.
Try fishing in 8-35 feet of water by drop-shotting a live crawler or minnow. Also try using a ⅜- to 1-ounce white or hcrome jigging spoon or a No. 7 Rapala-type ice jig in the same colors. (The Jigging Rapala has been working in the creek channels by vertical-fishing them in the 50- to 70-foot depths.)
A few fish are being caught trolling during early mornings and late evenings. When trolling, try a 5-inch jerkbait like a Rattlin’ 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 for 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, is where the fish are holding.
(updated 1-8-2026) Crappie 101 Guide Service says they’re catching some nice crappie on standing timber and main lake brush in 15-30 feet of water using minnows and Small Fry baits on a 1/16-ounce jig, preferably in a more natural color like Tater Baits Purple Monkey or just a standard Monkey Milk color.