White River
RECEIVE FISHING REPORT UPDATES!
Rating - Good
Friday, May 16 2025
White RiverCotter Area(updated 5-15-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said the lakes in the White River watershed are pretty full and are being attentively managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Bull Shoals Lake is hovering at 681.91 feet msl. Soon well begin the slow and steady release of lake waters into the White River below Bull Shoals Dam, so get out your weighted line, heavier sinkers and big, gutsy stick baits because theyll be your ticket to successful trout catching. At this time however, releases from the dam remain low for most of the day, averaging one unit (3,300 cfs) with large spurts in the late afternoon for a few hours. That means the White River below Bull Shoals is relatively shallow and may be wadable in some spots during morning hours.This week we continued trolling with the blue and silver spoons (Cleos or the hammered Thomas Buoyants); the rainbows havent turned away from them yet. Theyre also biting at just about any worm, especially when a bubblegum pink worm is used in conjunction with shrimp. Dont discount the live ones red wigglers and Canadian nightcrawlers for catching great rainbows. Jiggin jigs is a great fun way to catch a bundle they tell me its the D2s with orange heads, any color skirt.The best brown bite here in the Cotter area has been with slimy sculpins. The best ones are the blue gummers, as the old-timers call them turquoise-colored bellies. Look for them under rocks while the water is low and generation slow.Calico Rock Area(updated 5-15-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, Water conditions have been great this last week with water levels as low as just under 5 feet to about 6.5 feet with mostly clear water. I believe we will continue to see similar water conditions until the lower White River water drops to a sufficient level. Once that happens, I expect we will see a return of higher water, but fishing should remain good. Drift fishing with Uncommon Boat UV eggs tipped with shrimp or worms is good, and with the lower water, artificial lures have been very effective. We are seeing success with Thompson Colorado quarter-ounce spoons in nickel/gold and Rapala Countdown CD7s in both rainbow trout and brown trout colors along with Dynamic J Spec lures in Glimmer Trout, Brown Trout and Holofoil Silver. This week, the AGFC stocking raft stocked about 4,800 rainbow trout between Calico Rock and Sylamore Creek. Additionally, there was a stocking of rainbow trout at the Mt. Olive boat ramp. White River/Clarendon AreaFor the Army Corps of Engineers real-time gauge level and flow from Clarendon, visit the Corps Little Rock office website. Cooks Lake(updated 5-15-2025) Wil Hafner at the AGFCs Cooks Lake Nature Center (501-404-2321) said they are still flooded this week in the parking lot, and I would not expect it to open any earlier than June, but as we mentioned last week, that is still up to Mother Nature.Hopefully the fishing will be good when we reopen, Hafner said. Cooks Lake is a 2.5-mile-long oxbow off of the White River, nestled in the heart of the Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge near Casscoe in Arkansas County, with black bass, crappie, bream and catfish. This fertile oxbow receives very little fishing pressure due to it being used only for education purposes and youth and mobility-impaired fishing. Cooks Lake is open to fishing for youths under 16 or mobility-impaired anglers who must possess the AGFC mobility impaired access permit, and up to two guests (who may also fish), during the specified fishing season. Fish from the 140-foot mobility-impaired accessible dock or launch a boat. Fishing will be allowed only on Fridays and Saturdays March through August, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., water level pending. Before launching, please check in at the Nature Center classroom and report back before leaving. For information or unscheduled closures, please call the center at 501-404-2321. White River/Arkansas River (Pool 2)(updated 5-15-2025) Webbs Sporting Goods (870-946-0347) in DeWitt (1970 S. Whitehead Drive) reports that catfish are biting well on cut bait, and the hydroelectric dam has water flowing. Water levels are staying roughly the same daily. Crappie are still spawning and staying in shallow grassy areas. They are biting on chartreuse jigs and crickets.As always, thanks to all our customers for shopping at Webbs Sporting Goods!
Friday, May 16 2025
Weather Report
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White River
RECEIVE FISHING REPORT UPDATES!
Rating - Good
White RiverCotter Area(updated 5-15-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said the lakes in the White River watershed are pretty full and are being attentively managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Bull Shoals Lake is hovering at 681.91 feet msl. Soon well begin the slow and steady release of lake waters into the White River below Bull Shoals Dam, so get out your weighted line, heavier sinkers and big, gutsy stick baits because theyll be your ticket to successful trout catching. At this time however, releases from the dam remain low for most of the day, averaging one unit (3,300 cfs) with large spurts in the late afternoon for a few hours. That means the White River below Bull Shoals is relatively shallow and may be wadable in some spots during morning hours.This week we continued trolling with the blue and silver spoons (Cleos or the hammered Thomas Buoyants); the rainbows havent turned away from them yet. Theyre also biting at just about any worm, especially when a bubblegum pink worm is used in conjunction with shrimp. Dont discount the live ones red wigglers and Canadian nightcrawlers for catching great rainbows. Jiggin jigs is a great fun way to catch a bundle they tell me its the D2s with orange heads, any color skirt.The best brown bite here in the Cotter area has been with slimy sculpins. The best ones are the blue gummers, as the old-timers call them turquoise-colored bellies. Look for them under rocks while the water is low and generation slow.Calico Rock Area(updated 5-15-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, Water conditions have been great this last week with water levels as low as just under 5 feet to about 6.5 feet with mostly clear water. I believe we will continue to see similar water conditions until the lower White River water drops to a sufficient level. Once that happens, I expect we will see a return of higher water, but fishing should remain good. Drift fishing with Uncommon Boat UV eggs tipped with shrimp or worms is good, and with the lower water, artificial lures have been very effective. We are seeing success with Thompson Colorado quarter-ounce spoons in nickel/gold and Rapala Countdown CD7s in both rainbow trout and brown trout colors along with Dynamic J Spec lures in Glimmer Trout, Brown Trout and Holofoil Silver. This week, the AGFC stocking raft stocked about 4,800 rainbow trout between Calico Rock and Sylamore Creek. Additionally, there was a stocking of rainbow trout at the Mt. Olive boat ramp. White River/Clarendon AreaFor the Army Corps of Engineers real-time gauge level and flow from Clarendon, visit the Corps Little Rock office website. Cooks Lake(updated 5-15-2025) Wil Hafner at the AGFCs Cooks Lake Nature Center (501-404-2321) said they are still flooded this week in the parking lot, and I would not expect it to open any earlier than June, but as we mentioned last week, that is still up to Mother Nature.Hopefully the fishing will be good when we reopen, Hafner said. Cooks Lake is a 2.5-mile-long oxbow off of the White River, nestled in the heart of the Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge near Casscoe in Arkansas County, with black bass, crappie, bream and catfish. This fertile oxbow receives very little fishing pressure due to it being used only for education purposes and youth and mobility-impaired fishing. Cooks Lake is open to fishing for youths under 16 or mobility-impaired anglers who must possess the AGFC mobility impaired access permit, and up to two guests (who may also fish), during the specified fishing season. Fish from the 140-foot mobility-impaired accessible dock or launch a boat. Fishing will be allowed only on Fridays and Saturdays March through August, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., water level pending. Before launching, please check in at the Nature Center classroom and report back before leaving. For information or unscheduled closures, please call the center at 501-404-2321. White River/Arkansas River (Pool 2)(updated 5-15-2025) Webbs Sporting Goods (870-946-0347) in DeWitt (1970 S. Whitehead Drive) reports that catfish are biting well on cut bait, and the hydroelectric dam has water flowing. Water levels are staying roughly the same daily. Crappie are still spawning and staying in shallow grassy areas. They are biting on chartreuse jigs and crickets.As always, thanks to all our customers for shopping at Webbs Sporting Goods!
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