Chris Loper (in back) was part of a camping and fishing party from Laurel, Mississippi, hanging out at Cotter Trout Dock recently, and the entire group had a big time catching beautiful rainbows and their fair share of browns, too, like the nice brown above. That's trout guide Matt Davis holding the fish. Thanks to Cotter Trout Dock for the photo.
Brown trout are beginning their annual spawning season, creating the redds in the shoals in such waters as the White River and especially at the Little Red River; anglers who are wading are urged not to disturb the redds when they come upon them.
In that same Mississippi contingent of fishermen at Cotter Trout Dock, Mike Shirley (photo below) landed this pretty rainbow.
While some outdoors lovers in north Arkansas may have turned their attention to whitetails in the woods, anglers are still taking advantage of a good bite from the trout. Remember, though, that from Bull Shoals Dam to the North Fork River access at Norfork, an emergency order issued by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission requires all trout to be released after catch. Below the Norfork tailwater and White confluence at Norfork down to Guion, anglers may keep two fish, but only one over 14 inches long.
There are sections closer to Bull Shoals Dam that are also annually catch-and-release for brown trout from Nov. 1-Feb. 1 for the spawn.
That doesn't mean an angler can't enjoy catching some trout, though. The folks at Cotter Trout Dock say the tailwater continues to offer all-day action for anglers with enough fish to satisfy their fishing urge. Bull Shoals Lake is close to 6 feet below the normal pool and generation from the dam is averaging minimum flow with quick pulses of up to three units for a couple of hours on some days.
They say it's the right time of the year to switch to orange, white and/or sunrise colors for egg pattern flies or PowerBait. With the lower flows, keep that bait in the main channel and as deep as possible without snagging. With this being the start of spawning season for browns, their bite will be fickle. Fresh river minnows or various-sized sculpins are good bets, but dangle them near the bottom.
And dress for Arkansas's weather, even if it can be so unpredictable in this mid- to late fall period. We saw temps in some places as low as 29 degrees earlier this week, and by Friday we're looking at the 70s again. This will affect not only the trout anglers, but everybody trying to fish around the state. The front from earlier this week and the big drop in temperatures may have stunned some of the swimmers, but with the warm-up, look for more activity all around. Crappie are feeling it, stripers in the northern lakes are active, and bass have been good as they chase their big fall meals before winter sets in. And, even if the fishing isn't the best on certain days, surely this scenery around the state is!
