Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  April 15, 2026

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report April 15, 2026.

White River

Cotter Area

(updated 4-16-2026) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “It’s been a great week on the White — the water was consistently low and remained at a steady level, not rising or dropping too often. That changed (Tuesday), though. We’re beginning to see heavy generation in the late afternoon, up to 18,000 cfs for an hour or two. Bull Shoals Lake is continuing to slowly drop, at 655.1 feet msl.

“The trout fishing has been phenomenal, the catches healthy and the cold water refreshing as the air temperature begins to reach into the mid-80s. The fish have been snapping at a variety of baits. Shore anglers have been finding some luck with garlic-scented yellow and pink Power Eggs.

“Fishing with guides and from boats, the rainbows have been biting hard on yellow PowerBait with shrimp chasers. This strategy has also netted a few big browns, but the best way to catch a lunker has been with shad, sculpin or artificial minnows (Berkley Gulp or a glass blue Rapala Husky Jerk). Another good bet is the red/gold Thomas Buoyant Spoon.

“Once the trout have had their fill of the staples, cast something new and flashy to pique their interest.
“Come visit and experience The Natural State in all its springtime glory. Drop in and say ‘hey’ on your way to the river.”

 

Calico Rock Area
(updated 4-16-2026) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “The past week fishing has been good. For most of the week we’ve seen lower water with artificial lures working well. What we’ve noticed is the larger trout have moved up on the gravel bars feeding on fly larvae, snails, crawdads and sculpins. Drift-fishing also worked well with inline spinners with Uncommon Bait UV eggs and tipping the hook with shrimp. The last couple of days we have seen higher and dingier water. Fishing has been slower but we are still seeing success drift-fishing. With the higher water, fishing the banks with Rapala Countdowns CD7 in brown trout, rainbow trout or black and silver worked well for some larger rainbows and browns.
“Over the last week we have received stockings from Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery of 2,400 rainbows at the Calico Rock boat ramp and another 2,400 rainbows at the Chessmond Ferry boat ramp. In addition, we received stockings from the Norfork National Fish Hatchery of 800 rainbows at Calico Rock and another 800 at the Sylamore Creek boat ramp.”

 

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 4-16-2026) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday that the lake level remains at 655 feet msl; water temperature is still rising slightly to about 63 degrees. “The lake is low for spawning season. April means everybody has been catching on Bull Shoals. Moss is still a little annoying. But the lake is fishing good. Bam, just like that there are fish in all stages of the spawn.”

Powerfishermen are still catching on the right day: wind/clouds/rain/stain with spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits. You’re going to have to keep an eye out for shad — they’re moving. A small Tater Swimbait is working. “I’ve been using a traditional fluke, or try your favorite minnow to shake around the shad eaters. 

“Topwater has started as well. If the conditions are clear water and post-front flat and sunny, it will get tough. I have been able to see bottom in 26 feet in places. Get off the bank and bomb cast with lighter fluorocarbon line. Try a finesse Jewel Pee-Wee Jig in green pumpkin orange, and a green pumpkin shaky head and a Ned rig are also working. Time to start checking points and pockets in 5-25 feet. 

“The tube guys’ wobble headers, hula grubbers and Carolina riggers are in play. They are starting to look down. Remember: ‘Fish the conditions!’” 

(updated 4-16-2026) Southernwalleye Guide Service said the fishing this past week has been fair. Fishing patterns seem to be taking place as water surface temps have come up a little. “We are still seeing few of the male walleye swimming the spawning point shorelines at night. Look for fish on and around those known spawning sites. Main lake and secondary points have been producing a few fish during the day.”

Fish shallow in the early mornings and on cloudy days in 6-8 feet of water and deeper in 15-35 feet of water if there is little or no cloud cover.

Hair jigs (1/8 to 3/8 ounce) and minnows or jigs and paddle tails or ringworms, as well as Ned rigs, work well after the sun comes up. Jerkbaits like the 110 and 110+1 or +2 style in black and silver or clown colors, as well as Table Rock Shad, are also good at this time.

If trolling, try stick baits like Rattlin’ Rogues in purple chartreuse or black and gold. Troll in 15-35 feet of water at slow speeds — 1.0 to 1.5 mph seems to work best. Look for an open-water trolling bite to start soon as the walleye start to migrate back to the summer holding spots. Deep-diving crankbaits like Bandits, Rapala Tail Dancers (size 11) and Reef Runners trolled over the flooded forest along the old river channel will get some nice fish. 

If you’re into night fishing, now is the time to start going. Two hours before light and up to two or three hours after dark seem to be the best times. Fishing slow is the key. 

(updated 4-16-2026) Crappie 101 Guide Service says crappie are definitely scattered. The spawn has definitely started, but it has been all over the board. Some fish are not ready, some are and some have spawned. Key on brush or structure around gravel preferably in 10-15 feet. Try minnows under a bobber on wood or casting a jig to the bank and slowly reeling it, bumping the bottom or close to the bottom on spawning fish.

Norfork Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Norfork Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 4-26-2026) Tom Reynolds offered this pointers for spring fishing on Norfork:

“Starting in late February we typically will see the winds switch to the south and a gradual warm up of air and water temperatures. The stripers will begin to move from the deep water following the shad. There will be multiple opportunities to catch stripers at that time. Both live bait and artificial baits will be very effective. The night bite will begin once the winds blow from the south. You will want to fish the northern and northeastern banks of the bays and main lake and main arm points. Some excellent spots are the points near Norfork Dam, Koso Bay and Point, the Hudson area, Frog Pond, Diamond Bay, Cranfield Island and the points north of the Cranfield area heading toward Red Bank Access.
“The best time to night fish is a half-hour before dark until about 10 p.m. The best bait historically is a 5-inch or 6-inch Rogues. The color of the Rogue varies, with black/gold, clown and blue/black combinations seeming to work the best, but experiment with the colors until you find the one that works best that night. Bone color has been hot the last few years. Make long casts parallel to the bank and reel very, very slowly. A lot of the bites will be right next to the boat, so always have a big net ready. Stripers, hybrids and walleye are all active during this time. Watch the water temperature. As it moves up toward 60 degrees, the bite will get stronger. 
“During this time of year, live bait, shad and shiners are also very effective. The stripers will be roaming the shoreline looking for food. I use shad, but everything I do can be done using shiners. Most days I will run a large spread of lines. I begin with two inside planer boards, one near the shore and other out 20 to 30 yards. These board lines will have large gizzard shad in the 4- to 8-inch range. Out of the back of the boat I will have two lines with floats, shad on the hooks, with no weight at various depths from 10 to 30 feet from the floats. These lines will be set back from the boat between 30 to 60 yards. I then set out two free lines with a split shot weight on one line and nothing on the other. Both will have large shad on them and will be set 40-60 feet from the back of the boat. The last outside line will have one planer board with a large shad out 40 yards from the back of the boat. I will put out a wake bait: It is a large shad about 1 foot under the water right behind the engine. The wake bait is very effective for stripers roaming shallow water.
“As the water warms, the stripers will continue to move into the larger creeks to spawn. The magic water temperature number is 60 degrees. Your tactic to catch stripers should be to keep moving with the fish and continue to experiment with your techniques.”