Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  July 8, 2026

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report July 8, 2026.
 
White River

Cotter Area
(updated 7-9-2026) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “Change is hard for some folks, so we hang on to the best of our world: Trout fishing on the White River here in the beautiful Arkansas Ozarks continues to produce great catches and tons of action. The beauty, peace and hospitality you’ll find in Cotter, Trout Capital USA, and the whole of north-central Arkansas will keep you coming back for more.”

Bull Shoals Lake measured 662.01 feet msl Wednesday, fast approaching desired power pool elevation, with generation continuing with three units (9,000 cfs) in the morning, rising a little earlier than it has been, to almost 12,000 cfs (four generators) by midafternoon.

“Browns have been hiding in the deep holes and biting on sculpin and crawdad tails. Wouldn’t hurt to tie on a Rebel WeeCraw or TeenyCraw and watch for a chase. There’s been a late-afternoon surge in the brown bite this past week, which is a little uncommon but might be attributed to the changing pressure systems and the occasional pop-up showers.

“Rainbows are hitting gold spinners and pink and white PowerBait mousetails. The always popular red/gold hammered Thomas Buoyant Spoon is living up to its reputation by adding to the count. Keep a cup of nightcrawlers or redworms on hand and play them close to the banks just a foot or so below the surface, especially in rising water. Try inflating a nightcrawler for more buoyancy and for a heck of a catch.

“Treat yourself to some time on the river. You’ll return home refreshed, revived and thankful for all the great outdoors in The Natural State has to offer.”

 

Calico Rock Area
(updated 7-9-2026) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “Last week we saw the river crest in the morning around 10 feet, dropping throughout the day to about 8 feet. We continue to have success drift-fishing using silver inline spinners with a No. 2 hook with two Uncommon Bait UV eggs and tipped with shrimp. Put a sinker, about a size 7 split shot, 8-12 inches above the hook. The key is to get the bait to the bottom, if needed, add an additional size 7. 

“Rapala Countdowns in CD5 or CD7 in brown trout and rainbow trout colors and Dynamic HD Trout Ghost Brown have worked well when fishing near the bank or up into the creeks. In addition to some nice trout being caught, we have had a few smallmouth and largemouth bass caught. 

 

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 7-9-2026) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday that the water temperature is around 84 degrees. “Feels great to jump in for a swim if you get hot. The Corps of Engineers have been running big water. Not looking forward to the summer squeeze. Once generation slows down, the lake typically will form a thermocline. The lake level is down to 661 feet msl and the flooded bushes are going away. Powerfishing is slowing down; it’s better to have wind/clouds, rain/stain. 

“Once that fireball rises up and the topwater bite slows, try a small white regular Tater Shad over treetops. I’ve been using the Big Spoon! Also, a Jewel Shad Spoon is hot right now if they are busting the surface. Take your favorite minnow to look at them and shake around the shad. 

“If the conditions are post-frontal flat water, high pressure, bluebirds, hot and sunny, just jump in. But if you decide to 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. Traditional bass anglers are dragging big red worms and are looking at long points and ledges, or they’re using craw baits in brushpiles and timber tops on bluffs and bluff ends — 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. The scuba divers are posting up on the points spearfishing. Watch out for diver flags and be sure to give them their space. Remember: Fish the conditions!”

(updated 7-9-2026) Southernwalleye Guide Service said fishing thas not changed the past week. Fishing has been good to excellent. Summer fishing patterns are holding. 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 close to the sharper drop-off. Walleye seen next to brushpiles seem to be situated 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-ounce 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 all 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 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 7-9-2026) Crappie 101 Guide Service reports that “we are still finding most crappie scattered throughout the creeks on brushpiles in that 20- to 25-foot range. Quality is still mixed up in a lot of places and the bait is starting to sit on structure with the fish, which normally makes it get a little tougher in places as the summer goes on. Minnows have been best lately, with the jig being hit-and-miss depending on the day.”