Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  September 16, 2026

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report September 16, 2026.
 
White River

Cotter Area
(updated 9-17-2026) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said Bull Shoals Lake was 5 feet below desired power pool level Wednesday. Generation continues with minimum flows late night/early morning rising to about 1,000 cfs in the morning with higher amounts late afternoons.

“Looks like there has already been a sizable shad kill this year. The browns are responding best to sculpin and shad for now, but the spawn will really kick into high gear in the next month so keep your options open and carry an array of baits to pique their curiosity. Red/gold Thomas Buoyant Spoons, a gold Cleo and one or two stick baits (Smithwicks with orange bellies are a tried-and-true favorite) are tackle box staples on the White River.

“Find an egg pattern or scented egg-like bait that matches the color of trout roe, and you’ll have more trout chasing your line than you can manage. Best bets: PowerBait orange, followed by fluorescent yellow. Red wiggler worms are always an option during the afternoon high-water events, with worm imitators (red, natural or bubblegum pink) just as successful, if not more so. Cast toward the bank as you drift downstream and the rainbows and, occasionally, a brown or two will snap them up.

“Good luck, enjoy the catch, and we’ll see you on the river!”

 

Calico Rock Area
(updated 9-17-2026) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “This week, we have seen mixed water releases from the dams. Thursday and Friday we saw depths as high as 7 feet during the day and lows around 4 feet overnight. Saturday, Sunday and Monday we saw depths as high as 5 feet during the day and as low at or below 3 feet overnight. Wednesday saw depths as high as 6.5 feet. During the higher water conditions, we saw a lot of success drifting and using two Uncommon Bait UV eggs tipped with raw shrimp. With the lower water, we are seeing greater success using artificial lures such as Rapala Countdowns (brown trout, silver or rainbow trout colors), Dynamic J-Specs (glimmer trout, brown trout or silver) and quarter-ounce spoons (Thompson Colorado spoons in nickel/gold or Thompson Buoyant spoon in rainbow trout colors).
“We received one stocking this week from the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery of 3,000 rainbow trout. The AGFC stocking raft spread the trout between Calico Rock and Allison/Sylamore Creek. There were additional stockings at Norfork, Reds Landing and Chessmond Ferry.”

 

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 9-10-2026) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday that this record-setting heat wave may be starting to slow down. The water temperature was 85 degrees, give or take. The bite still hasn’t changed much. “ It’s junk-fishing time of year. The bite has been fair. Powerfishing can be slow; better have wind/clouds/rain/stain. There are definitely some fish up shallow. Look for shallow brush and bushes, anything to flip a Beaver, jig or worm in the backs of creeks with any kind of flow. If it’s the right conditions, you will most likely notice bait fish. “
He suggests using a Toad, buzzbait or Whopper Plopper-style lure on shallow windblown banks and covering water. “Better get up early and beat the nasty heat. The topwater bite has slowed some, but it’s not done. If you’re finding surface activity, try a big Spook. Those fishing have moved to schools and they are fast. The Jewel Shad Spoon is working. Or you can take your favorite minnow to look at them. I’m using a one-eighth-ounce up high or deep with a three-eighth-ounce Tater.

“If the conditions are postfrontal, flat water, high pressure and bluebirds it will get really tough. Lots of guys are going at night to beat the heat. I will slow down, downsize and get off the bank, look at deep ledges and brushpiles, and bomb cast with lighter fluorocarbon line. You can try a drop-shot with a Robo in suspended schools, or use a half-ounce Jewel Football Jig in green-pumpkin orange, PB&J or Bass Whacker sitting off of deep points. Traditional bass fishermen are dragging the long points and ledges with big red worms or craw baits in brushpiles and timber tops on bluffs and bluff ends.
“There is a thermocline down around 32 feet. Lots of fish are holding around this depth. It’s that time of year to keep moving, hitting as many spots as possible. Remember: ‘Fish the Conditions!’.”

(updated 9-10-2026) Southernwalleye Guide Service said there’s been no significant changes in walleye fishing patterns this week, with the exception of fish moving a little bit deeper on the lower end of the lake, and some good fish are being caught suspended 5 feet off the bottom in 35 feet of water. Summer patterns are still in play. “We are seeing fish closer to the lower end of the lake are a few feet deeper than mid-lake areas.”

Fishing has been fair. The Army Corps of Engineers has been running a little water through the dam in the afternoons, and this has helped the bite pick up a bit more when the water is running. Fish 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 seen next to brushpiles still 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. Fishing slow has still been the key to picking up better-size fish.

Fish shallower in the early mornings and on cloudy days in 32-34 feet of water, and deeper in 35-40 feet of water if there is little or no wind or cloud cover. Casting 

jigging spoons in white, chrome and blue and jigging Rapalas in blue and chrome or Helsinki Shad color, in half-ounce to three-quarter-ounce size, into 30 feet of water and working it back out into 40 feet has been working. Drop-shotting live crawlers around the offshore side of brushpiles in 32-37 feet is also working.

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 point close to channel swings is 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 35-40 feet of water at speeds of 1.8 to 2.2 mph seems to work best. 

(updated 9-10-2026) Crappie 101 Guide Service reports that not much has changed of late on the crappie. They are mainly on brush from 20-30 feet in the creeks. Minnows have been best.