Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  July 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 July 15, 2026.
 
White River

Cotter Area
(updated 7-16-2026) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said the White River watershed has seen some rain this week, usually less than predicted in the Cotter area and mostly much appreciated. River clarity has remained very good and trout catching has been as usual — excellent and satisfying. Water level has continued to fluctuate, as it has over the last month, with lower water level in the morning hours and much higher generation in the late afternoon. Bull Shoals Lake has dropped slightly below power pool at 660.91 feet msl. When the channels narrow due to limited generation, please share the space with the rest of the family of trout-loving anglers.

“The rainbow catches were lured in mainly with sunrise or orange PowerBait; or even better: slide on half of a yellow power egg and half of an egg of orange and you’ve got yourself a lot of action. It’s a good idea to use bronze hooks to reduce harm to the trout. Rebel Craw Babies were another favorite this week, unless you’re lucky enough to locate fresh soft-shell crawdads. Drift either mid-depth and chances are good you’ll increase your catch count. Play a redworm or a nightcrawler near the bank during rises in the water level to ensure a good catch, too. Then return to tying on a heavier spoon or a favorite jerkbait when the rise levels off.

“The river provides more of an escape now than at any other time. Cooling, refreshing, calming, calling. The natural life is good; come share it with us.” 

 

Calico Rock Area
(updated 7-916-2026) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “We continue to see the river cresting in the morning around 9.5 feet and dropping throughout the day. In the last few days, the river has dropped to a level between 6-8 feet. Bull Shoals Lake level is very close to the power pool level (about 660 feet msl) and the water releases are based on electrical demands. Norfork Lake is a couple of feet above the power pool with the dam spilling some water through the spillway gates in addition to the electrical generation. 

“Fishing remains consistent and we’re seeing some better-than-average-sized rainbows being caught. With the current limit on our stretch of the river being two trout with one over 14 inches allowed, we are having some days where it has been difficult to catch the one trout under 14 inches. We continue to have success drift-fishing using silver inline spinners with a No. 2 hook with two Uncommon Bait Neo Pink UV eggs and tipped with shrimp. Put a size 7 split-shot sinker about 8-12 inches above the hook. The key is to get the bait to the bottom; if needed, add an additional size 7 sinker. You want to feel the sinker bouncing on the bottom.
“Rapala CD7 brown trout and Dynamic HD Trout in ghost brown continue to provide results with some 16-inch-plus rainbows and 20-inch-plus brown trout being caught. In the higher water, Rapala Shad Rap size 7 in shad colors is working well. 

“This week the AGFC used the stocking raft to stock 2,000 rainbow trout between Calico Rock and Mt. Olive, with an additional 1,000 stocked in the Sylamore Creek area. On Thursday, the raft will be used to stock rainbows between Norfork and Calico Rock.”

 

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 7-16-2026) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday that the water temperature is around 86 degrees. The Army Corps of Engineers slowed down on running big water at the dam. The lake level is down to 660 feet msl. The powerfishing is slowing down; it’s better to have wind/clouds/rain/stain. Use a Whopper Plopper, a spinnerbait or Chatterbait on shallow bushes on flats close to ledges as they are dropping water. Better get up early and beat the heat; the topwater bite has slowed a bit, but try a Zara Spook or popper-style baits. Once that fireball rises up, try a small white regular Tater Shad over treetops. The Jewel Shad Spoon is working if they are busting the water’s surface. Take your favorite minnow to look at them, and shake around the shad. If the conditions are postfrontal, flat water, high pressure, bluebird day, hot and summer, just jump in.

But, if you decide to grind it out, it will get tough. I will slow down, downsize and get off the shoreline and look at deep ledges and brushpiles, then bomb casts with lighter fluorocarbon line. You can try a drop-shot with a Robo, finesse a Jewel five-eighth-ounce football jig in green pumpkin orange PBJ or bass whacker. Traditional bass anglers are dragging big red worms deep and suspended 30-40 feet, especially if there is shad around. Graph time pays off, as usual. 

The scuba divers are posting up on the points spear-fishing. Watch out for diver flags and be sure to give them their space.

And remember: “Fish the conditions.”

(updated 7-16-2026) Southernwalleye Guide Service said fishing has not changed lately. 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 7-16-2026) Crappie 101 Guide Service reports that crappie are still scattered and moving from brushpile to brushpile, look for brush in that 15- to 25-foot range and use a one-eighth-ounce jig with a Small Fry bait or minnows under a float. Keep the bait above the fish and swim the jig above the brush.