Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  May 27, 2026

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report May 27, 2026.

White River

Cotter Area
(updated 5-28-2026) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “The bite is on, and the anglers on the White River in the Arkansas Ozarks are catching trout from morning until evening with a whole lot of catches in between. The action is downriver from Bull Shoals Dam in the Cotter neighborhood where the water is cold, clear and refreshing. Not only is the cold water essential for trout, but it also provides a cool

updraft when you’re moving in a john boat (essential on some summer days!).”

Bull Shoals Dam continues its minimum releases: 700 cfs all day, has been the norm. The lake is at 656.42 feet msl, 6 feet below the adjusted seasonal power pool, and continuing to rise slightly from the recent rains.
“Pink has been the color this week: pink PowerBait (eggs and dough), pink worms, pink Rooster Tails. But counter that with a gold Cleo, one-sixth to quarter-ounce, and you’ll keep them interested. Begin with the tried-and-true shrimp and egg pattern (pink) for a swift catch of rainbows, move to worms or to drifting a pink or orange 2-inch worm in the deeper holes. 

“The best brown bite here in the Cotter area has been with slimy sculpins, even better if they have a bluish tint to their bellies and average 2½ to 3 inches in length. Shad is still king upriver from Wild Cat Shoals.

“A family fishing adventure offers time together in an outdoor arena, sharing quiet moments and watching nature ‘happen’ in real time, in a digital-free environment (or as much as you desire it to be.) Go catching and enjoy Arkansas’s natural resources.”

 

Calico Rock Area
(updated 5-28-2026) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said at midweek, “Last Wednesday we saw dingy water from the rains last Tuesday. Even with the rain Friday we continue to see very low water levels through Tuesday. On Wednesday we saw some higher and dingy water from Tuesday evening’s power generation at Bulls Shoals Dam. Over the next week the weather forecast is calling for more rain. Based on the predictions, the rain will be spread out, so we may see some dirty water from the creeks and the Buffalo River. 

“For the bulk of the week, we continue to see great fishing. Quarter-ounce Thompson Colorado nickel/gold spoons remain our go-to lure, but we also see a lot of people drift-fishing with eggs and shrimp. Additionally, CD5 Rapala Countdowns in rainbow trout or brown trout colors, Dynamic J-Spec or HD lures in ghost brown or rainbow trout continue to work well. The Rapala and Dynamic lures are good when the water is dingy, and the brown trout bite seems better. 

 

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 5-28-2026) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday that Bull Shoals Lake saw a little rise, to 656 feet msl, after some much-needed rain. The water temperature is around 71 degrees. The power fishermen are doing fine on the right day (wind/clouds/rain/stain) deep-cranking in 2-15 feet with a spinnerbait or Chatterbait on shallow ledges and transitions banks in stained water. Better get up early for the topwater bite, covering water with a Zara Spook-style lure or poppers. Once that bite slows, try a small Tater Swimbait or Mayor 2.5 in natural shad imitation colors. 

“I’ve been using the Jewel Shad Spoon if they are busting the surface, or try your favorite minnow to shake around the shad. If the conditions are post-frontal, flat water, high pressure, blue birds and sun, it will get tough. I will drop-shot and slow down, downsize, and get way off the bank and look at deep ledges and brushpiles, then bomb-cast with lighter fluorocarbon line. Try a finesse Jewel Pee-Wee jig in green pumpkin orange. Or a Bass Whacker is working in a green pumpkin, and also a shaky head, 

“It’s time to check summer areas. Start looking at long points, ledges, brushpiles, bluff ends with deeper water close by. The post-spawn fish tend to be finicky, and some will move deep (30-40 feet) to recover, especially if there is shad around. Graph time pays off, as usual. Remember: ‘Fish the conditions.’”

 

(updated 5-28-2026) Southernwalleye Guide Service said the walleye fishing this past week has not changed much and has been very good. Summer fishing patterns are in play. Some fish are still moving with the shad in the old river channel and creek channels, and more seem to be holding on flatter points with deep water on one side than they did last week.

Look for fish on long points close to the channel swings. Main lake and secondary points have been producing a few fish during the day.

Fish shallow during the early mornings and on cloudy days in 20-25 feet of water and deeper in 35-45 feet water if there is little or no cloud cover. Casting jigging spoons in white or chrome color and jigging Rapalas in the blue and chrome half-ounce size into 15 feet of water and working it back out into 35 feet has been working.

Bottom-bouncing spinner rigs and crawlers around points close to the channel are producing a lot of short fish as well as some good 18- to 23-inch walleyes.

If trolling, try shad-style and small banana-style baits like No. 7 Flicker Shad or No. 9 Flicker Minnow in natural colors. Trolling them in 25-35 feet of water at speeds of 1.8 to 2.2 mph seems to work best. 

The open-water trolling bite has been hit or miss this week, but some bigger fish are still being caught. If you can find the shad, fish deep-diving crankbaits like Bandits, Rapala Tail Dancers size 11, or Reef Runners a couple feet above where you mark them on the graph. Trolling over the flooded forest along the old river channel will get some nice fish this time of year.

 

(updated 5-28-2026) Crappie 101 Guide Service says crappie are all mixed up sitting in brush in creeks in that 20-foot range, from what we’re seeing. Try a one-eighth-ounce jig with Tater Baits’ Crown Royale as well as minnows.