Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  June 10, 2026

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report June 10, 2026.
 
White River

Cotter Area
(updated 6-11-2026) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said the White River watershed has seen some much-needed rain this week. Water clarity has remained very good, keeping the trout catching phenomenal. The water level has continued to be low; generation throughout the day averages between minimum flow and three units (9,000 cfs). Bull Shoals Lake is approaching seasonal power pool of 662 feet msl.

“The rainbow catches were achieved mainly with orange PowerBait tipped with shrimp on a size 6 Aberdeen or bait holder hook, bronze. Another favored bait for a great catch has been fresh soft-shell crawdads — when drifted mid-depth, you’ll increase your catch count. You might see higher water levels now that we’re nearing power pool, so watch for rising water and try a pumped-up nightcrawler. The rainbows are absolutely beautiful this year and the average size is increasing.
“The brown trout bite has been exceptional for late spring, with catches in the double-digits some days. Sculpins have been the ticket this week with several good keeper browns reeled in, photographed and sent quickly back to the river.
“With the recent heat wave, the cold, clear river provides even more of an escape than usual. Life is good. Come share it with us.” 

 

Calico Rock Area
(updated 6-11-2026) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, ‘We have seen varied river conditions throughout the last week with lows around 3 feet and as high near 8 feet. When the water was lower, fishing was good using quarter-ounce Thomas Colorado nickel/gold spoons, Rapala CD7 Brown Trout or Dynamic HD in ghost brown. During the rising and falling water, drift-fishing with or without silver inline spinners with a No. 2 hook, Uncommon Bait Neo Pink UV eggs and raw shrimp worked well. 

“During lower water conditions, water temperatures have reached over 70 degrees and the bite dies down. The best chance to catch trout is to fish the deeper holes or find where there are springs in the river. The warmer water also stresses the fish; be careful handling the fish and release the fish as quickly as possible. 

“On Wednesday, the AGFC stocking raft stocked 4,000 rainbow trout between Calico Rock and Sylamore Creek. Stocking with the raft ensures wider distribution of the trout.”

 

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 6-11-2026) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday that Bull Shoals Lake’s level is still on the rise and has reached 661 feet msl, a foot shy of normal pool through July 15. It’s not a lot of jump in water from last week with the rain, but watch out for debris. Water temperature is around 78 degrees. The powerfishermen are enjoying some flooded bushes, doing fine on the right day (wind/clouds/rain/stain) by deep cranking in 2-15 feet, burning a spinnerbait and Chatterbait on shallow flats, ledges and transition banks in stained water. 

Better get up early and beat the heat, as summer is starting to heat up. The topwater bite can be good covering water with a Zara Spook-style bait 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 Big Spoon! A Jewel Shad Spoon is also hot right now 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, hot and sunny, just go home and take a nap. If you grind it out it will get tough. I will slow down, downsize and get off the bank and look at deep ledges and brushpiles, then bomb-cast with lighter, fluorocarbon line.
“You can try a drop-shot with a Robo, finesse a Jewel Pee-wee Jig in green pumpkin orange, or use a Bass Whacker in green pumpkin. Also try a shaky head.
“It’s time for summer areas. Start looking at long points and ledges, and fish them with big red worms in brushpiles, on timber tops, bluffs and bluff ends. Try the shallow stuff with deeper water close by. There are fish from the surface down 50 feet as they move deep and suspend in 30-40 feet, especially if there is shad around. Graph time pays off as usual. Remember: ‘Fish the Conditions!’ 

(updated 6-11-2026) Southernwalleye Guide Service said walleye fishing this past week has been very good, depending on the weather. Summer patterns are in play. Some fish are moving with the shad in the old river channel and creek channels, while more seem to be holding on flatter points with deep water on one side. Look for fish on long points close to the channel swings. Main lake and secondary points have been producing fish during the day.
Fish shallow in the early mornings and on cloudy days in 20-25 feet of water and deeper in 35-45 feet of 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 20 feet of water and working the spoon back out into 35 feet has been working.

Bottom-bouncing orange or gold No. 3 Colorado or Willow Leaf Blade spinner rigs and crawlers around sides and tips of points close to channel is 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 Shads or No. 9 Flicker Minnow in natural colors It seems to work best if they’re trolled in 25-35 feet of water at speeds of 1.8 to 2.2 mph.

The open water trolling bite has still been slower this week, but some bigger fish are still being caught. If you can find the shad, fish deep-diving crankbaits like Bandits, RapalaTail Dancers (size 11) and Reef Runners a couple of 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 6-11-2026) Crappie 101 Guide Service says crappie are still on brush and structure in creeks in that 15- to 20-foot range mostly. Quality is still mainly mixed up. The jig bite has been a little slower, and so have minnows at times. Cover water until you find the ones that want to bite.