Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  June 24, 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 24, 2026.
 
White River

Cotter Area
(updated 6-25-2026) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “We have a remedy for these hot, humid June days: a slow, peaceful float on the cold, refreshing, clear water of the White River beside Cotter. Maybe a little wade-fishing during the morning hours when the river is low and layers of mist — it will make you forget the numbing heat of summer. While you’re at it, you can catch a whole bunch of trout. What a gift!”

White River water levels below Bull Shoals Dam have continued to be little arbitrary for the past week; one to two units (3,000-6,000 cfs) in the morning around Cotter, then rising several feet with releases from the dam of 12,000-14,000 cfs during late afternoon and early evening. Bull Shoals Lake is rising slowly, currently at 665.20 msl.

“Low water means finding the deepest spots with the coldest water. When you do, get ready for plenty of angling action. Orange and black jigs have proven successful on the lower water; swim them mid-depth with a small tug now and again. Always turn to a live worm as the water rises.

“It’s fun to watch the rainbows follow the spinners — try a three-sixteenth-ounce Blue Fox Spinner with a red bell or the bleeding frog Rooster Tail. We found that bleeding frog pattern in a Thomas Buoyant Spoon and worked it for several catches. Yellow and sunrise PowerBait are bringing in the rainbows with or without a morsel of shrimp added to the mix.
“Come on over, get out of the house and enjoy the cool of the river in the beautiful Natural State and the Arkansas Ozarks.” 

 

Calico Rock Area
(updated 6-25-2026) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “Before the rains last weekend, fishing was consistent using silver inline spinners, Uncommon Bait UV eggs and shrimp. Some guides have reported limited success using artificial lures, but the fish that were caught were nicer 18-inch or larger rainbows and browns.
“The rains on Sunday caused flash flooding on the Buffalo River, resulting in muddy water arriving at Calico Rock on Tuesday night. It looks like we can expect rain over the next few days, but luckily the predictions on how much rain the Buffalo River Valley will receive have gone down. Both Norfork Lake and Bull Shoals Lake are above the power pool level and they continue to release water through generation. Hopefully this water will help flush out the muddy water.” 

 

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 6-25-2026) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday that Bull Shoals Lake’s level is still on the rise and has reached 665 feet msl with more “coming down the pipe,” he said. “Watch out for some debris.” Water temperature is around 80 degrees. The powerfishermen are up in the flooded brushes doing fine on the right day (wind/clouds/rain/stain) using buzzbaits, Whopper Plopper, spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits on shallow bushes on flats close to ledges and transition banks. There is stained water still in the backs of creeks.

“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 or popper-style lure. Once that fireball rises up and the topwater bite slows, try a small Tater Swimbait or Mayor 2.5 – both are working natural shad imitation colors. I’ve been using the big spoon! A Jewel Shad Spoon is 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 with flat water, high pressure, bluebirds, hot and sunny, just jump in. 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 and bomb-cast with lighter fluorocarbon line. You can try a drop-shot with a Robo, or finesse a Jewel Pee-Wee Jig in green pumpkin orange. Or a Bass Whacker is working in green pumpkin. Or also try a shaky head worm.

“Fish are favoring summer areas, so start looking at long points, ledges and fish big red worms or craw baits in brushpiles, timber tops and on bluffs and bluff ends. Fish 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. 

“I’m only doing half-days now unless we get a major cold front. The scuba divers spearfishing are out and about; watch out for diver flags and be sure to give them their space. And remember: Fish the conditions.”

(updated 6-25-2026) Southernwalleye Guide Service said fishing this past week has been fair to good due to rising water from the passing storms. Summer fishing patterns are in play. Walleye are holding on flatter points with deep water on one side.

Look for fish on the tips of long points as well as the sides that are close to the sharper drop-off. Walleyes sitting next to brushpiles seem to be located on the offshore side of the brushpiles where deep water is closer. Main lake and secondary points have been producing fish during the day.

Fish shallow in the early mornings and on cloudy days in 24-30 feet of water, and deeper in 35-45 feet of water if there is little or no wind or cloud cover. Casting jigging spoons in white or chrome color and jigging Rapalas in the blue and chrome half-ouncer size into 20 feet of water and working it back out into 35 feet has been working. Also, spooning around the offshore side of brushpiles in 27-30 feet is working well.

Bottom Bouncing orange, chartreuse or gold No. 3 Colorado deep cup blades, or brass or gold willow leaf bladed spinner rigs, and crawlers around the sides and tips of points close to channel swings are producing a lot of short fish as well 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. Trolling in 25-35 feet of water at speeds of 1.8 to 2.2 mph seems to work best. 

(updated 6-25-2026) Randy Reese of Crappie 101 Guide Service is taking ol’ Bill Dance out filming again. You better get a trip on the books with him. Crappie are still on the brush and structure in creeks mostly in that 15-20 feet range. Quality is still mainly mixed up. The jig bite has been a little slower, and even minnows too at times. Cover water until you find the ones that want to bite.