“Catching rainbows has seldom been easier than it’s been the last few weeks, undoubtedly due to the low water we’ve had. The pattern from Bull Shoals Dam continues, with minimum flows (less than 700 cfs) in the morning and a full four or five units (12,000-plus cfs) during the late afternoon/early evening hours. (I don’t like to use the word 'pattern' — once we begin to depend on a certain water level, somebody changes it — but it appears one has been established. For now.) The lake level is now 660.13 feet msl, nearly 1 foot below pool level for this time of year.
“Silver blades on an orange or brown Rooster Tail, or a silver Vibrax Blue Fox with an orange or bubblegum pink bell, will bring in a good share. A bronze Colorado Spoon, one-sixth ounce, is always a good choice in lower water.
“The bigger browns have been looking for sculpins and shad. Keep your eye on the tip of your rod for a little tremor and watch that brown snatch your bait. Play it slowly, carefully, no rapid movements, and you’ll be able to net it for a picture. If you are new to fly-fishing, we’ve found the red San Juan Worm or a red-and-silver Midge is a good way to catch your first trout on a fly.
“Come on over and join us as we stay cool angling for a fat, energetic rainbow on the White River.”
Calico Rock Area
(updated 7-30-2026) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “With the cooler temperatures late last week, we saw the dams releasing less water with lower water levels over the weekend, with levels as low as 2.5 feet. With the rise in temperature early this week, we are seeing water rising in the morning to as high as 8 feet and then dropping throughout the day. Fishing remains good with drift-fishing using silver inline spinners; Uncommon Bait UV eggs and shrimp are working well.
“During the lower water we were seeing success with lures such as the Thomas Colorado quarter-ounce spoons in nickel/gold, Rapala CD7 in brown trout and Dynamic HD Trout in ghost brown.
“This week, we have seen several stockings, with 1,400 rainbows stocked here at the Calico Rock boat ramp, and additional stockings at Mt. Olive and Sylamore Creek, and 3,500 stocked between Shipps Ferry and Red’s Landing using the AGFC stocking raft.”
