Sports
White River fishing report
By Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
Apr 15, 2025
Print this page
Email this article

Cotter, Arkansas -- Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, celebrate! The sun is shining, no rain for several days, we’re beginning to dry out and the river is clearing.

The lakes in the White River watershed have been rising due to recent rains. Water levels have been fairly consistent at between 2,000 and 10,000 cfs, during most of each day over the last week and fishing is good. Water clarity at Cotter and upstream is back to normal (clear to excellent) after a few days of dinginess from creek runoff. It’s taking a little longer to improve downriver due to Crooked Creek and Buffalo River drainage.

The brown bite has switched back and forth between sculpins and minnows — keep both on hand if possible. You’ll still catch some great browns with shad a little further upriver. Our best bait was a 4½-inch Violet Cream Smithwick (white with a soft yellow back), but the spoons were producing really well, too. The Thomas Buoyant red/gold hammered quarter-ounce spoon was a winner. Crawdad season is starting; we’re finding a good supply in ponds and smaller tributaries. Trout love crawdads, but if you can’t get your hands on real ones, shrimp is a close imitator, and the Rebel WeeCrawfish (Stream Crawfish color or the chartreuse/green back) works great, too.

Rainbows have been moving toward sunrise and orange PowerBait, and combining that with shrimp or crawdad tail has been an excellent way to reel in some great-sized fish.

Expect increased generation from Bull Shoals Dam in the coming weeks. Deeper water means more drift fishing, no wading opportunities — but the trout love lots of fresh, cold water and they are feisty and healthy when they get it. Stop in on your way to the river.”

Calico Rock area

Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “The heavy rains last week caused flooding through the weekend. At Calico Rock the White River crested at 28 feet. By Monday afternoon the river was back in the banks. Through Wednesday we have seen very muddy water with signs the water is starting to clear up. Hopefully by the weekend the river will be clear and we can get back to fishing.”

Allison/Mountain View area

(updated 4-3-2025) Jack’s White River Fishing Resort reports they had a great week of fishing with several trips out on the water. The water level fluctuated between 2-5 feet, but despite that, “we were able to hit our limits each time. The guides had success using Sunrise Orange PowerBait, handmade hammered silver spinners, and shrimp as bait. Most of the fishing took place just past the Highway 9 bridge by Hansford Bluff near Round Bottom.

An AGFC staffer took in a guided trip with a friend and a Jack’s guide, Braden, the week before last and had a lot of success with rainbows, mostly catching them up to 6 miles or so north of the resort and drifting downstream rapidly with a pretty strong current. The AGFC had stocked the river with rainbows at Mount Olive and at the Sylamore Access several days earlier, and the stockers were hungry. Best success was by spin-fishing with inline spinners, eggs (like X Factor or something similar) and pieces of shrimp. Make sure to use only about a third of a whole shrimp; anything more is too much for the trout to swallow. We caught some more mature rainbows as well as the stockers, too.

More In Sports
More...
Front Page
  • KHYI's 29th Annual Texas Music Revolution in McKinney June 6-7
    KHYI's 29th Annual Texas Music Revolution will take over historic downtown McKinney on Friday June 6, 2025 and Saturday June 7, 2025, featuring dozens of musicians on a variety of...
  • Fannin County Sheriff’s Office implementing changes to meet increased demand for law enforcement
    Fannin County is changing quickly, and our county government must adapt and adjust expeditiously and efficiently. The Fannin County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO), under the direction of Sheriff Cody Shook and his new leadership team, is implementing changes to meet the increased demand for law enforcement response to a variety of situations.
  • Bountiful blueberries: Walker’s Legacy
    Fannin County is home to several outstanding fruit farms, including peaches and strawberries. The Andy and Debra Walker’s multigenerational blueberry patch is one that fruit enthusiasts won't want to miss. Forty years ago, seven hundred blueberry plants were meticulously planted by Harold and Oleta Walker, a pair of farmers always fighting to be ahead of the next big trend.
  • Music in the Garden at the Creative Arts Center welcomes 78 Live May 22
    We are so pleased to have “78 Live” performing with us at Music in the Garden Thursday, May 22. These are great friends of the Arts Center that play all over the Texoma region. They bring a ton of talent and fun to the stage, and they play a great mix of originals and cover tunes. They will put a huge smile on your face. We will see you there.
  • Monday photo montage
  • On this day -- May 19
    1994 – death of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, American journalist, 37th First Lady of the United States. Jacqueline Lee Kennedy Onassis (née Bouvier July 28, 1929 – May 19, 1994) was an American writer, book editor, and socialite who served as the first lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963, as the wife of President John F. Kennedy. A popular first lady, she endeared herself to the American public with her devotion to her family, dedication to the historic preservation of the White House, the campaigns she led to preserve and restore historic landmarks and architecture, along with her interest in American history, culture, and arts. During her lifetime, she was regarded as an international icon for her unique fashion choices, and her work as a cultural ambassador of the United States made her very popular globally. After studying history and art at Vassar College and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in French literature from George Washington University in 1951, Bouvier started working for the Washington Times-Herald as an inquiring photographer. The following year, she met then-Congressman John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts at a dinner party in Washington. He was elected to the Senate that same year, and the couple married on September 12, 1953, in Newport, Rhode Island. They had four children, two of whom died in infancy. Following her husband's election to the presidency in 1960, Kennedy was known for her highly publicized restoration of the White House and emphasis on arts and culture as well as for her style. She also traveled to many countries where her fluency in foreign languages and history made her very popular. At age 33, she was named Time magazine's Woman of the Year in 1962. After her husband's assassination and funeral in 1963, Kennedy and her children largely withdrew from public view. Even after her death, she ranks as one of the most popular and recognizable First Ladies in American history, and in 1999, she was placed on the list of Gallup's Most-Admired Men and Women of the 20th century. Surveys of historians conducted periodically by the Siena College Research Institute since 1982 have also consistently found Kennedy Onassis to rank among the most highly regarded First Ladies.
More...
Local News
More...
School News
More...
Obituaries
  • Bobbie Jean Shields
    Bonham, Texas -- Memorial service for Bobbie Jean Edwards Shields, 61, will be at Gober Baptist Church Saturday, May 24, 2025. Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with the service to follow.
  • Shirley Lynn Reeves
    Bonham, Texas -- A funeral service in honor of the life of Shirley Lynn Reeves, 77, will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 16, 2025 at Wise Funeral Home Chapel. Bro. Dan Aleman will be officiating the service. The visitation will be the night before from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Wise Funeral Home.
  • Beryl Mackey
    Sherman, Texas -- A celebration of the life of Beryl Floyd Mackey, 90, will be held at Parkview Church of Christ in Sherman, Texas in Sherman, Texas, Friday, May 16 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will take place Thursday, May 15 at Waldo Funeral Home from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
  • Beatrice Louise VanHooser
    Bonham, Texas -- Please join the family of Beatrice Louise VanHooser, 82, to honor their beloved Nanny at Wise Funeral Home Chapel on May 14, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will start 1 hour prior to the start of service. Burial will follow at Sandy Cemetery.
  • Harold Ashlock
    Bonham, Texas -- Visitation for Harold Ashlock is Wednesday, May 14, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Wise Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 1:00 p.m. the following day Thursday, May 15, 2025 at Living Word Church of God with Eddy Prince, Dwayne Evors, Ernie Brown and Brian Rayburn officiating. Burial will follow at Willow Wild Cemetery.
  • Edwina Robbins
    Telephone, Texas -- It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Edwina Robbins, 79, of Telephone, TX. There will be a private celebration of life at a later date.
  • JoAnn Kaulsky
    Dallas, Texas -- A graveside service for JoAnn Kaulsky is scheduled for Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m., Crown Hill Memorial Park, 9700 Webb Chapel Rd, Dallas, TX 75220.
  • Joe Moss
    Bonham, Texas -- The family of Joe Dulaney Moss, 81, will receive visitors on May 9, 2025, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Cooper-Sorrells Funeral Home. The funeral will take place on May 10, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Dodd City Cemetery.
  • Rebecca Dale 'Becky' Massingill
    Bonham, Texas -- A memorial service to celebrate the remarkable life of Rebecca Dale "Becky" Massingill, 72, will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 9, 2025, at Cooper-Sorrells Funeral Home in Bonham, Texas.
  • Joseph Dewayne Ray
    Forney, Texas -- A celebration of the life of Joseph Dewayne Ray, 77, most recently of Forney, Texas, will be held Saturday, May 24, 2025, beginning at 2:00 p.m., at 10325 Richard Cir, Forney, TX 75126.
  • Donald Edward Patterson
    Honey Grove, Texas -- A memorial service for Donald Edward Patterson, 76, of Honey Grove will be held Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at Allen Point Baptist Church, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Bro. Kevin Towery will preside.
  • Patricia Ann Zamagni
    Bonham, Texas -- Patricia Ann Zamagni, 75, passed away at her home in Bonham, Texas on April 28, 2025.
  • Janet Sue (McMinn) Taylor
    Bonham, Texas -- A graveside service for Janet Sue (McMinn)Taylor, 53, will be held at Gum Spring Cemetery Thursday May 1, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.
  • Delois Wilson
    A memorial service for Delois Wilson will be held 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 4, 2025, at Cooper-Sorrells Funeral Home in Bonham. Bro. Mark Posey will be officiating. The family will receive friends and family from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 4, 2025.
  • Lindia Lou Miller
    Bonham, Texas -- A graveside service for Lindia Lou Miller, 63, of Bonham is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 17, 2025 at Oak Hill Cemetery in Whitewright, TX.
More...
Lifestyles
More...
Farm/Ranch
More...
Red River Scrapbook
  • Beyond production: The hazards of Battery Energy Storage Systems
    As the world embraces cleaner energy and electric vehicles (EVs), the production of renewable energy and its storage is driving a shift towards more sustainable technology. However, behind this transition lies a growing concern. Lithium, a key component in batteries, presents significant environmental and safety hazards that are often overlooked.
  • Heritage and culture highlight celebration in Bonham
    Heritage Day Festival headliner Josh Weathers performs for the crowd Saturday night in historic downtown Bonham, Texas. During the annual Bonham Heritage Day Festival, residents paid homage to the original inhabitants of this region -- the Caddo Nation -- and to the intrepid French trappers who ventured up from New Orleans in the 1700s in search of pelts.
  • Bonham to recognize important role of bois d'arc during Heritage Day May 3
    The public is invited to the planting of a "special" bois d'arc tree on the grounds of the historic Fannin County Courthouse at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 3, 2025, during Bonham Heritage Day. The tree was picked out and donated by Texoma’s very own and well-known bois d'arc tree expert, John Baecht, who will have a bois d’arc woodworking station set up on the grounds of the courthouse and will be doing demonstrations the remainder of the day for Heritage Day. What better way to celebrate Bonham / Fannin County’s relationship with bois d’arc than on Bonham Heritage Day.
  • Upper Trinity’s Lake Ralph Hall Project restores historic streams
    Water is flowing through five new streams in North Texas this spring, bringing life back to areas impacted for decades by severe erosion and habitat loss. Upper Trinity Regional Water District (UTRWD) restored the streams as part of environmental mitigation for future Lake Ralph Hall, Texas’s newest major lake under construction near Ladonia.
  • Prehistoric and Caddo artifacts on display at Fannin County Courthouse
    In conjunction with Heritage Day and the Vive le Bois d’Arc celebration on May 3, the Fannin County Museum of History is delighted to have a display of prehistoric and Caddo artifacts in the display case on the 2nd floor of the Fannin County Courthouse.
  • A Bonham legacy at our feet
    You walk into the Credit Union of Texas, Don Toro or Studio 94 on the east side of the Bonham square, into Belle Rae's on the north, into Blessing & Butterflies or The Curiosity Shop on Main south of the Courthouse: do you look down? What do you see when you cross the threshold into these businesses? Do you see Bonham's past?
  • The friendship of Sam Rayburn and Harry S Truman
    I was curious about the relationship between Harry S Truman and Sam Rayburn because of a piece of corn. Currently at the Sam Rayburn Museum there is corn on the cob encased in resin on display in the "Gifts of a Nation" display case. No one is completely certain why Rayburn had it, but Truman has the same one. This is what led me to look into the friendship between Rayburn and Truman. The two men shared a tight bond throughout their political careers. courtesy photo of Harry Truman and Sam Rayburn at the Sam Rayburn House in Bonham
  • Bonham postcards on display at Fannin County Courthouse
    Bonham resident Kay Sisk has collected postcards of Bonham for many years, finding them at trade shows and estate sales. Some of the postcards were given away free by local businesses, and some were sold. The Fannin County Museum of History asked Kay to display some of her postcards in the display case on the 2nd floor of the courthouse.
  • Mabel Gilbert – Early Fannin County pioneer
    Please join us at the March meeting of the Fannin County Historical Commission on March 18 at 6:00 p.m. to learn about the contributions of Mabel Gilbert, a very early Fannin County pioneer, to Fannin County, Dallas and points west. Deborah Cornelius has written a historical novel about his remarkable life and times. Join us at 6:00 p.m. on March 18 at the Fannin County Historical Commission’s office at 1 Center Street in Bonham to meet Deborah and learn about Mabel Gilbert’s time in Fannin County.
  • 'A Time Before Texas' presentation attracts large crowd to Honey Grove
    A large crowd filled Lyday Hall at Honey Grove Library & Learning Center on Saturday, March 1, 2025, to hear what local archeologist Cody Davis and his cohorts discovered in the area that is now covered by Bois d'Arc Lake.
  • New residents find a new fight: sand and gravel mining in Fannin County
    When Kalin and Tricia moved their young family from the city to rural Fannin County, it was a dream they had worked and saved to make come true -- to escape the noise and chaos of the metroplex for a peaceful existence, surrounded by woodlands, wildlife and serenity. Then they heard bulldozers clearing trees.
  • Smithsonian highlights the experiences and impact of Japanese war brides in new traveling exhibition
    "Japanese War Brides: Across a Wide Divide" begins a national tour December 14 at Irving Archives and Museum in Irving, Texas. These young women left their homes to build lives within the complexities of postwar American society. Their experiences reshaped communities by challenging immigration laws and race relations. The arrival of these brides marked the largest women-only immigration event in U.S. history and, by 1960, had increased the population of Asian Americans in the U.S. by 10%.
  • Give a gift of Fannin County history
    The Fannin County Museum of History has several Fannin County history books for sale that might be just perfect for someone you know. The books are available for purchase at the Museum and are also available on Amazon.
  • Historic Christmas newspaper front pages from Fannin County
    Historic Fannin County newspapers often featured beautiful front pages for their Christmas editions. An exhibit of these newspapers is now on display on the 2nd Floor of the Fannin County Courthouse. Visit the courthouse during this season to view this display and beautiful decorations.
  • Lake Ralph Hall update: Five streams are springing to life
    Upper Trinity's contractors are finishing up construction on five new streams near future Lake Ralph Hall, which will flow into the North Sulphur River. The newly connected tributary streams are naturally beginning to flow with rainwater this fall, bringing life back to areas impacted for decades by severe erosion and loss of habitat. Restoring the tributaries of the river to their natural, curved paths helps mitigate the area's severe erosion and provide previously lost habitat.
Columnists
  • Texas History Minute -- Anson Jones, part 2
    In one of the most delicate moments in the history of Texas, Anson Jones stood at the center.
  • Bites: Fannin County and Beyond - Harmony Express
    You probably wouldn’t expect to find flavorful hibachi plates inside a Bonham gas station—but that’s exactly what Harmony Express is serving up. This unassuming spot is quickly gaining a local following for its made-to-order meals, generous portions, and bold seasoning. Whether you’re grabbing it through the drive-thru or eating inside, it’s the kind of surprise that makes you glad you stopped.
  • Texas History Minute -- Anson Jones, part 1
    The last man to serve as president for the Republic of Texas was Dr. Anson Jones.
  • Crow's-Feet Chronicles--Mother's Day
    I received a Mother’s Day card from my daughter Lizann a few years back that said she loved me. When I opened it up, it continued: "But I never forgave you for cleaning my face with spit."
  • ‘Austin’ is a shortened form of ‘Augustine’: The new Holy Father in Rome has long belonged to the Order of Saint Augustine in Roman Catholicism
    For the first time, the Pope is from North America (USA) and South America (Peru).
  • Bites : Fannin County and Beyond - Juniper Kitchen
    Some meals satisfy your hunger. Others feed your soul. Juniper Kitchen in Bonham, Texas, does both — offering diners a fresh take on classic comfort food served with the warmth and familiarity of home.
  • Rebuild our Merchant Marine
    Since WWII the U.S. has had a steady decline in U.S. flagged merchant ships from about 50% of the world's cargo shipping to about 1% today. Our merchant marine has less than 10,000 mariners compared to 50,000 in 1960.
  • Texas History Minute -- Watkins
    It has been said that heroism is defined as holding on for one moment longer. A moment can save a life or change the destiny of a nation. Travis Watkins, a native Texas resident, was one such hero who took charge and held on against overwhelming odds.
  • We need more than today’s 'Mothers’ Day' to save our planet
    In the USA, Mothers’ Day is to celebrate and honor one’s mother and it takes multiple forms.
  • A time to speak
    First They Came is the poetic form of a 1946 post-war confessional by the German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984).
  • Bites: Fannin County and Beyond - Biscuit Bar
    The Biscuit Bar promises big, buttery comfort with a bold motto: "Everything Is Better On A Biscuit." I stopped by the Plano location to see if the food lives up to the hype—and if biscuits really can make everything better. Spoiler: some bites delivered, others missed, but the biscuit itself? Absolutely worth the visit.
  • Texas History Minute -- Glass
    H. Bentley Glass was at one time one of the most famous scientists in the nation. His life was a journey that began with missionary parents and a Texas education. Glass traveled the world, wrote volumes of books, made important scientific discoveries, and in the 1950s and 1960s, helped the entire nation start thinking about science and the ethics of the latest discoveries.
More...