Calico Rock, Arkansas (updated 7-18-2024) -- Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “We saw ‘normal’ water levels during the week with depths as much as 8 feet or more and dropping to around 4 feet. Fishing was steady drift-fishing with Uncommon Baits UV eggs and corn with or without sliver inline spinners. On Sunday we saw depths fewer than 3 feet most of the day. Fishing was amazing using artificial lures such as quarter-ounce spoons in nickel and/or gold, Rapala Countdowns CD5 in silver or anything with a blade that provides a flash.

The storms Tuesday night/Wednesday morning caused the river to flood. As of 4:30 p.m., the river at Calico Rock was at 17.6 feet and still rising, while Norfork has crested. Hopefully by Saturday the river will be clear enough to fish.

Jeff Moore from Batesville caught this 25-inch brown trout and released it after the photo was taken to fight another day. He caught it earlier this week, just upriver of Jenkins Fishing Service dock in Calico Rock. The water was in perfect shape at this time, but by midweek, flooding in north Arkansas had caused the river at Calico Rock to rise to 18 feet. In other spots, overflowing water wrecked some trout docks and caused significant damage.

We did receive a stocking of more than 1,000 rainbows at the Calico Rock boat ramp and another 1,000-plus just upriver at the Chessmond Ferry boat ramp.