🎣 Fishing Reports
Bull Shoals • Table Rock • Norfork Lake • Taneycomo • White River • and more
Reports updated nightly — pulling the most current conditions from AGFC, MDC, and local guides so you wake up knowing what the fish are doing.
🎣 Fishing Summary
Bull Shoals Lake • Norfork • Table Rock • White River • and more
Bull Shoals is running heavy right now—three to four generators pushing 9,000–12,000 cfs, and Del Colvin says water temps are holding at a pleasant 84°F. The lake is approaching power pool at 662 feet msl, which is great news for structure, but once generation slows down this summer, watch for that thermocline to set up and bunch the fish tight. Right now the transition window is wide open: main lake points and deeper structure in 20–30 feet are holding bass and stripers early and late, with shad patterns working best. Lake Taneycomo is firing on all cylinders with consistent generation and trout on the hunt; Spring River just came alive after that rain pushed flows above average and cleared up by midweek. The mood across the region is solid—you're in a sweet spot where water movement is keeping baitfish active and fish aggressive.
🏹 What's Working — Baits & Lures
- Shad pattern baits, 3–4 inches, main lake points and dam zones (Bull Shoals, early/late)
- Pheasant Tail Nymph #16–18 (Norfork River tailwater, moderate current seams)
- Black Leech pattern (Spring River, post-rain flush)
- Zebra Midge #18–20 (White River below Cotter, morning generation windows)
- 1/2 oz chartreuse spinnerbait (Table Rock Lake, main lake structure, dawn/dusk).
🎮 How They're Fishing
- Early/late shad jigging on main lake points in 20–30 ft (Bull Shoals Lake, first light and last two hours)
- Indicator nymphing with tight-line drifts in tailwater slots (Norfork River below dam, moderate generation)
- Drift-fishing leech and Woollie patterns in pocket water (Spring River, elevated flows)
- Deep structure probing on bass humps mid-depth (Table Rock Lake, thermocline forming).
💡 Guide's Insider Tip
Del Colvin warns: once summer generation slows, Bull Shoals will thermocline hard and bunch fish tight—get your deep-structure knowledge dialed in now while the transition window is still open.
🏆 Top Picks Right Now
The White River below Cotter holds steady trout action during generation windows; time your morning float for the tailwater rise (typically 9–10 a.m.), drift silver inlines and nymphs through the deeper runs, and you'll stay connected. It's the region's most reliable producer this time of year. ---
Bull Shoals Lake
Bull Shoals Lake measured 662.01 feet msl Wednesday, fast approaching desired power pool elevation, with generation continuing with three units (9,000 cfs) in the morning, rising a little earlier than it has been, to almost 12,000 cfs (four generators) by midafternoon. (updated 7-9-2026) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302), delcolvinfishing.com , said Wednesday that the water temperature is around 84 degrees. “Feels great to jump in for a swim if you get hot. The Corps of Engineers have been running big water. Not looking forward to the summer squeeze. Once generation s…
Table Rock Lake
Fishing for black bass should be excellent in 2026. Largemouth bass are plentiful throughout the lake as a result of the high lake levels in past years. Fall 2025 electrofishing surveys revealed good numbers of largemouth bass in the 15”-18” range. These surveys also revealed an abundance of spotted bass in the 11”-14” range, with just three percent of the spotted bass captured in the fall 2025 surveys exceeding 15”. Due to the high abundance and slow growth rates of spotted bass in Table Rock Lake, the minimum length limit is planned to be reduced to 12” in 2026. Anglers are encouraged t…
White River
Cotter Area (updated 7-9-2026) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “Change is hard for some folks, so we hang on to the best of our world: Trout fishing on the White River here in the beautiful Arkansas Ozarks continues to produce great catches and tons of action. The beauty, peace and hospitality you’ll find in Cotter, Trout Capital USA, and the whole of north-central Arkansas will keep you coming back for more.” Calico Rock Area (updated 7-9-2026) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “Last week we saw the river crest in the morning around 10 feet, dropping…
Norfork River
[USACE Norfork Dam — 3016 CFS total release] # Norfork Tailwater Report – July 10, 2026 With just over 3,000 CFS flowing, we're in solid moderate conditions this morning. Water clarity is good—visibility to about 3 feet—and wading is comfortable in most sections. The mix of turbine and spillway release keeps temperatures cool and trout active. Fish are holding in moderate current seams and around structure. Focus on nymphing with Pheasant Tail and Zebra Midge patterns in sizes 16–20, working the deeper slots along the banks. Egg patterns are still worth a shot in pocket water below the dam. …
Norfork Lake
(updated 7-9-2026) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake water level has dropped a bit to 1,125.35 feet msl. Water temperature is in the mid-80s. “Summer is here and the lake is starting to show a good thermocline in certain areas. “ Stripers are on fire very early and late. Look from Point 6 to the dam. Shad is the bait of choice. Brooders and bluegill will also work right now.
Lake Taneycomo
The word “consistency” isn’t in the fishing dictionary — except maybe when it comes to the generation schedule on Lake Taneycomo lately. It definitely hasn’t pertained to catching trout here on our lake. Weather patterns may have contributed to these fickle fishing trends. We’ve had mini-fronts move through several times a day with rain and some wind, yielding reports that trout fishing is good one day and not-so-good the next. Operators have been running anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000 cubic feet of water throughout the day and night for almost three weeks now. Non-stop water flow is great …
🚴 Float Rivers
Live gauge readings — Buffalo, Crooked Creek, Spring & Kings
| Type | Period | Time (CDT) | Duration | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major | Moon Overhead | 9:27 AM | 2 hrs | Past |
| Major | Moon Underfoot | 9:27 PM | 2 hrs | Upcoming |
| Minor | Moonrise | 1:54 AM | 1 hr | Past |
| Minor | Moonset | 5:01 PM | 1 hr | Upcoming |
- Work the major periods: Regardless of moon phase, the major solunar windows above are your best shot at active fish.
- Let conditions lead: In mid-phase moons, water temperature, barometric pressure, and bait location matter most.
- Versatility wins: Keep a reaction bait (spinnerbait, crankbait) and a finesse option (drop shot, wacky rig) ready to adjust to fish mood.