“Best bait? Berkley or X-Factor pink worms for rainbows – better when drift-fishing from a boat. A lot of anglers elect to use the ‘mouse tail,’ ready-made with a white egg at the top. Thread it to cover the eye of your hook and dangle the rest of the imitator worm like you would a live red wiggler. Experiment with the orange or white Power Worm, too, to lure the more curious ones.
“The average size of the rainbows here in the Ozark region of The Natural State seems to be increasing and they’re still attracted by a flash of gold (think Little Cleos, quarter-ounce for now). This is great water for stick baits. The glass blue Husky Jerk minnow is magic. The bigger brown trout have been looking for sculpins, red worms and shad.
“Keep anglin’ and stay aware of surroundings with the higher water. Prepare for the heat and come ready to catch some great trout on the White River.”
Calico Rock Area
(updated 7-10-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said that this week the saying “wash, rinse and repeat” applies. “We continue to see water levels near 11 feet. We continue to have success drift-fishing using silver inline spinners with a No. 2 hook with 2 Uncommon Bait UV eggs and tipped with shrimp. If needed, add an extra weight to get to the bottom.
“The last couple of days, the guides report slower fishing first thing in the morning but improving throughout the rest of the morning. It still requires some moving around to find fish, and you may only catch one or two trout in each spot.
“On Wednesday, Norfork Dam opened gates to spill an additional 500 cfs. I expect we will see dingy water early Thursday, but it should clear up. Calico Rock received one stocking of 1,600 rainbows with additional stockings at Chessmond Ferry and Red’s Landing.”
Allison/Mountain View Area
(updated 7-10-2025) Jack’s White River Fishing Resort reports did not have a report this week, but mostly recently they said that their White River guides — Bart, Braiden, Caleb, Chris and Irvin all consistently limited out on rainbow trout with excellent success across the board. Among the highlights: 17-inch rainbows were landed on multiple outings — a great size and exciting for anglers; the guides round excellent results using End of the Line TR Orange and Royal Blue Power Eggs and Jack’s handmade hammered silver spinners — this winning combo brought solid bites in varied conditions.
