Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  January 21, 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 21, 2026.

White River

Cotter Area
(updated 1-22-2026) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “Even with a short stint of strong cold weather ahead of us, excitement is running high for the official end of the brown trout spawn on Feb. 1. Bull Shoals Lake remains well below power pool, but expect a rise in the lake level with the upcoming rains and snow runoff. Releases from the dam likely will be fairly heavy during cold snaps to accommodate power needs.

“Trout harvest levels are changing: Feb. 1 marks the date we are able to keep two rainbows (under 14 inches each) from Bull Shoals and Norfork dams to the confluence of the White and Norfork rivers.

“Orange egg patterns work well, as do orange beads, during the winter spawn of the browns. We’re still having success with the black and gold spinners (one-sixteenth-ounce to quarter-ounce, depending on water levels). Satisfy their post-spawn hunger with a minnow, shad or sculpin. White jigs or pearly white streamers are a lure for an oversized brown, as is a shad replica. Work them slowly, and you may be rewarded with an opportunity for a photo shoot.

“Expect the daytime temperatures to be as fickle as the water level, with expected highs from 30 to 50 degrees. Nighttime temps will be very cold. Traffic on the river is slower in January than any other time of the year, so you go ahead and brave the weather; you’ll have the river to yourself for a few hours. Come on in, warm up and share your fishing stories; we look forward to seeing you.”

Calico Rock Area
(updated 1-22-2026) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “There haven’t been many people fishing, but those who fished are catching some nice rainbows and browns. Due to the colder weather, both dams are generating more electricity, resulting in increased water releases. The last few days, we are seeing water depths between 4-7 feet with some increased dinginess. With the increased flow, drift-fishing with silver inline spinners, Uncommon Baits UV eggs and shrimp worked well. 

“The brown trout bite is great using Rapala Countdowns in rainbow trout, brown trout or silver colors. Additionally, Dynamic J-Spec lures in Ghost Rainbow and Glimmer Trout worked well for both bigger rainbows and browns.
“Last week the AGFC relooked at the temporary trout regs on the Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters. The relaxed the regs between Bull Shoals Dam and Norfork Dam to the confluence of the White and Norfork rivers (at Norfork Access) as of Feb. 1 will allow anglers to keep two rainbow trout under 14 inches and all other trout must be released. There were no changes from the confluence down to the Arkansas Highway 58 bridge in Guion, where the limit remained two trout with only one trout over 14 inches (posted size limits for brook, cutthroat, brown and tiger trout remain what they’ve been). The good news is both the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Hatchery and Norfork National Fish Hatchery are recovering and are stocking trout. We just received a stocking from Jim Hinkle Hatchery of 1,000 rainbows at Calico Rock, with another 1,000 each going to Chessmond Ferry, Mt. Olive and Sylamore.
“The weather forecast for this weekend is showing winter storms. Stay safe and keep warm.”

 

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 1-22-2026) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday that the Bull Shoals Lake level was 654 feet msl, while water temperature was 48 degrees, give or take. 

Bass fishing has been good to fair. Looks like winter weather is here. Be safe out there. For powerfisherman, a Wiggle Wart and SPRO Rock Crawler are patterns working; try the red craw variants or the Mo Craw. Focus on steeper, 45-degree, nasty rock and ledges, transition banks, and chunk rock ledges in the wind. You need to be covering water in the wind and clouds. Try a Megabass jerkbait along bluff ends and points that have deep water nearby. If the conditions are flat and sunny, get off the bank. There are always fish to be caught on a jig, like a Jewel half-ounce. 

“It’s winter, so 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 out 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 — try a smaller 2.8 Tater Shad dead-sticked, or shake a minnow if they are up active. A 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 shad are definitely on the move and the post-front days are always going to be rough. Remember: “Fish the conditions.”

(updated 1-22-2026) Southernwalleye Guide Service said walleye winter fishing patterns are still holding. You definitely have to do some looking around right now to find them. Best fishing has been right before passing fronts. They are scattered in small schools on main lake and secondary channel swing points.
Also, the front end and back end of swings in creek channels have been producing a little more than other locations this past week. If you find some big trees in these areas, spend time fishing the bottom as close as you can get. Try to locate ones with shad balls around them — 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 live crawlers or minnows. Also using a ⅜-ounce to 1-ounce white or chrome jigging spoon or a No. 7 Rapala-style ice jig in the same colors. (The Jigging Rapala has been working in the creek channels by vertical fishing them in 50-70 feet depths.)

A few fish are being caught trolling 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 to get a reaction bite. Fishing a 110+1-style jerkbait in 4-12 feet of water on the main lake, secondary points, and steeper sided channel swing banks where the wind has been blowing in, is where the fish are holding.

(updated 1-22-2026) Crappie 101 Guide Service says crappie are still on some main lake timber but are moving from day to day. They are also being found some in main lake brush and also some in brush in the creeks. Look for structure at 20-30 feet. A 1/16-ounce jig with a Small Fry bait has been working some. We’ve had luck on the Tater Baits Crown Royale color lately; also, minnows have been working well most days.