1,050 miles of shoreline, Bull Shoals lake is the largest lake in Arkansasand one of the most popular lakes in Arkansas! The area is characterized by shallow droughty soils and limestone rock outcroppings. jig-and-frogs, grubs, and crankbaits. Restrictions. 14oz. **Go to the ParkCache listings to find all 53 caches. Just looking for information about how good of a population of big blues there are in Bull Shoals. Channel catfish is also rich in vitamins and minerals and has a fairly low concentration of methyl-mercury compared to other predatory freshwater fish. These points can always hold some fish, but spring and fall tend to be the best times to target bass and other fish off the points. Its quite common to come across individuals that are 15 17 inches (38 43 cm) long as their populations are stable. Missouri residents 16 years of age and older who fish the Arkansas portion of Bull Shoals Lake should take advantage of the $10 White River Border Lakes Permit. Sport fishers catch this massive fish in the conventional way, with rod and reel, or with their bare hands! Many different species of bass are available to go along with walleye, catfish, trout and panfish. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Though bluegills are much smaller compared to the monster fish of Bull Shoals, anglers joyfully bait them because they are good eats. Abundant in many lake systems across the US, it is now a popular sporting fish. We fished from about 7 til 1:30 am and got absolutly no bites. These creek arms hold fish year round. Fish Reported: Flathead catfish pulled out of river systems close to Bull Shoals Lake can easily exceed a weight of 50 pounds (22.7 kg). Try using lures that are sized for all 3 species of fish and you should run into all 3 species of fish here. Spotted Gar, Anglers in Bull Shoals Lake often come across brown trout that are scarred yet able to function as normal. Redear Sunfish, Black Crappie, ferociously (hell gladly attack a human intruder) but leaves before the brood has Fluctuations of river flows and lake water levels have also made it difficult to observe patterns in their spawning behavior. Beautiful, quiet coves are abundant, and the fish are too! In 2016, Debra, an Illinois native and New Orleans transplant, purchased her family home overlooking beautiful Bull Shoals Lake. MDC has created fish attractors in these lakes by sinking trees and other objects for fish to gather. Anglers from all over the country eagerly seek out the largemouth bass in spring and fall, when communities tend to remain close to waters surface in banks, rocky points, and clear channels. In 1996 Diane Lacefield of Mountain Home speargunned a 68 The chestnut lamprey attaches itself to this species skin, like a leech. In this environment, jigs and craw rigs are quite effective at luring them. Elite Series tournament was held right here in 2016! Flathead catfish are native to most of the Arkansas Ozarks waters, Bull Shoals Dam was completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1951. Fishing Tackle pounds are occasionally caught. Alligator Gar, It also gives their brood MOYAK Mondays 7!! Bluegill, From late spring through summer, anglers report good fishing at night on Bull Shoals Lake. The water never freezes over on Bull Shoals Lake - so you can dive year-round. During the spring, fall, and early winter months, bass can be found relatively shallow along rocky points, banks, and channel swing areas. This unique adaptation helps it feed on other small fish, crayfish, and insects. Dawn and dusk are prime times for fishing walleye as they tend to be more active during darker hours of the day. fisherman. Black bass, white bass, crappie, and other species flourish. Catfish (channel, blue and flathead): 10, combined total of these three species This is when they are most likely to spawn. gradual shores, Daily limit: Using lighter line is key to getting more bites in clear water, especially in the middle of the day when the sun is out. We facilitate and provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy, and learn about these resources. Thanks in advance. We were shocked to have such a strong bite with such low water flow. I just moved to Harrison, AR and was hoping you all could give some information. Crappie: 15 fishLength limit: To catch cats in the Bull you need a depth finder. Crankbaits, jigs, plastic worms, and spinner baits are common lures to use here for bass. Black bass: minimum 15" on largemouth and smallmouth bass; minimum 12" on spotted bass The fall colors offer a breathtaking display only nature can provide. It is an ambush predator that prefers to hide and wait in the shade of aquatic macrophytes as it monitors its surroundings for prey. the normal period of protection given by the male. Bluegill is a secondary fish species and a key part of the food chain in Bull Shoals Lake. Large concrete dams have become instrumental in creating valuable reservoirs all over the world. The Bull Shoals Dam, which is an enormous structure in Northern Arkansas, was built in 1947 - 1951 to produce hydroelectric power and prevent flooding. Strictly freshwater and riverine forms now exist due to widespread introduction across the US and limited access to coastal environments. we need a good trip. I appreciate any info you all can pass on to me. Fishing Report for Bull Shoals Lake, Arkansas. black bass fair on top water baits and soft plastics. They Nice and quiet in there. There are lots of good places but Pot Shoals is a good place. The many tributaries associated with the lake support this species complex life cycle and ensure that fished populations are replenished each year. Bull Shoals Lake has a bedrock bottom, so plan on fishing plenty of hard bottom while fishing here. Bull Shoals Lake is also gaining popularity on the national stage, ahost toevents like Brostock in 2011 and 2012 and theBassMasters Elitetournament in April 2016. Fluorocarbon line or at the very least, a fluorocarbon leader will help get more bites too. to have the lake 30' above full pool and yet the Corps of Engineers is still holding water back. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This fish is a frequent angler favorite all over the US because individuals congregate in isolated clear water areas with rock formations. Thanks for the information Arky. Keeping up with the current fishing reports and being able to adapt and find new spots is key to having success here. It is easily identified by its iridescent blue to purple coloration and dark-shaded bands. Bull Shoals Lake is known for its excellent Largemouth Bass fishing, with some weighing up to 12 pounds have been caught. The rest of the year, larger bluegills tend to remain in deeper waters. After the spawning season in spring, smallmouth bass tend to move into the lakes main water column, where they remain suspended. Flatheads inhabit pools in streams and are found throughout the lakes. This snout, formally referred to as a rostrum, and its head, are covered in sensory receptors that can lead the fish to its favorite treat, zooplankton. Whether you're visiting Bull Shoals Lakefor the world renowned bassfishing, or bringing the family for arelaxing weekend of watersports and boatingon the lake, you won't have too much trouble finding a secludedspot on the water. . Some of the creeks will have murkier water while others will be really clear, so there are a lot of variables that come into play on a trip here early in the year. In lake systems where they have been introduced, they were able to quickly establish their populations and outcompete native species. Naturally occurring populations have been considerably reduced from their range, so they are protected by state and federal laws. Jigs and live bait are quite effective at luring this species. I miss it. Black Crappie, Walleye, Other times of the year, fish will move into water 30 to 40 feet deep. Interestingly, this is the only species of sunfish with teeth on its tongue! When searching the creek arms to find fish, you may have to search for certain water temperatures, shoreline cover or schooling baitfish to find the better bite on each particular day. This small species rarely grows to more than 2 pounds (0.9 kg) and 10 inches (25 cm). You can usually find fish quickly or rule a spot out with good electronics when searching for these suspended fish. noticed several which were full of persimmons. I focus solely on bass fishing in the Bull Shoals Lake Fishing for them can be quite challenging, but they do tend to follow bait fish over a considerable distance. Unlike other sunfish, this one is able to thrive in polluted, oxygen-poor waters. Flathead spawning later in the year than it does for Channels and Blues, entices a female in, spawns with her, then runs her off. Freshwater Fishing ** Welcome to Bull Shoals-White River State Park, one of 52 beautiful . Some of the creek arms will be much better in the spring as fish move into the shallows to spawn and then again in the fall as bait fish move into the creeks. We protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of the state. and bottom bouncing. There was a definite slump in action late last week when the weather pattern shifted from 20 mph winds to hot and flat calm. Instructions Download the ZIP files on this page and open/unzip them. The state record was fished in the lake in 1969 and was a sturdy specimen that weighed 7 pounds and 5 ounces (3.3 kg). Austin Lake GPX 967.00 B Make sure you use your electronics and look for baitfish when fishing deeper water. Black Bass: Good Water Level (Range): normal The Arkansas resident went bass fishing on Bull Shoals Lake on Feb. 18 with a bait he made. View Bull Shoals Boat Dock Fishing Report Anglers target a variety of fish along the rocky shorelines throughout the lake. At maturity, a paddlefish can reach a length of 5 feet (152 cm) and weigh up to 60 pounds (27 kg)! Lead Hill looked like the closest place to put in. This lake has a lot of main lake points. At night they come up and cruise the banks at night to feed. It favors cool, clean lakes that are associated with well-oxygenated tributaries leading up to shallow rivers. This Arkansas fresh water reservoir is a popular angling destination for catching Black Crappie, Walleye, and Black Sea Bass. Fishing spots and depth contours layers are available in most Lake maps. Just plan accordingly with the things you will need for a week on the lake. They feed on swarms of these in rivers, channels, lakes, and even in drainage basins. On average, this sunfish can fit in a single hand. There was quite a bit of rain the last few days. Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. There are also lots of Hybrid, Smallmouth, Spotted, Striped (Striper), and White Bass. Pond Informer is growing community of pond & lake professionals, ecologists, and scientific writers, with a passion for all things ponds, wetlands, and sustainable conservation. Closer to dusk and dawn, they prefer to stay in open water. High water levels throughout 2020, 2021, and 2022 also produced substantial year classes of largemouth bass and spotted bass, but anglers will have to wait a few more years before these fish reach 15 inches and 12 inches in length, respectively. Bluegill, Roadrunners, collared lizards, tarantulas, wild hogs and black bears are some of the more uncommon wildlife residents.A printable brochure (3.2m pdf format) is available for download.Trails: From the trailheads there is 32 miles of maintained trails which follows along open glades, forested ridgetops and Long Creek, the primary drainage of the area. Striped bass: only 3 striped bass may be included in the aggregate. They are generally more common in rivers and streams than in lakes. This fascinating fish can live for as long as 30 years, making it one of the most long-lived freshwater species in North America. This nutritionally rich game fish has several subspecies across the US. Channel catfish are here in good numbers, but you can also catch blue catfish and flathead catfish too. A subspecies with distinctly golden coloration was stocked, in the thousands, into the Bull Shoals Lake system. catfish. Black Bass (largemouth, spotted, smallmouth combined): 10 Smallmouth Bass (including hybrids of smallmouth and other bass): 4 Length limit in Ozark Zone is 12 inches long; otherwise, length limit is 10 inches long. Some fish over 60 pounds are possible here. Tim "HOTDAWG" Curtis has guided on the White River, Bull Shoals Lake, and Crooked Creek since 1974. Pontiac is on the Little North Fork River arm. Different times of the year, different weather, different styles of fishing, fishing for other types of fish, the possibilities are almost endless. Its main color is silvery-white, with a darker dorsal region similar to that of white bass. One of our biologists has observed zebra Fishing Rigs These successful recruitment years will provide good fishing opportunities now and in future years. still fishing, Channels are I have been asked by the IN-Fisherman staff and Arkansas tourism to serve as a catfish guide on Bull Shoals or a close surrounding body of water in November from the 14th-20th. which they will eventually (painfully?) Anybody with any advice on bait or location to try? I almost always put in around Spring Creek, or Pontiac. Bull Shoals Lake is an awesome multi-species fishing lake. The available fish in Bull Shoals Lake are Black Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Whitebass, Catfish, and Striped Bass. Look for vapor lights 1 mile up south bay across from pt 16. Bull Shoals Lake offers anglers some good fishing for largemouth bass. successful even in the clear, bass-heavy waters of the Arkansas Ozarks. Saltwater Fishing. Warmouth. the best of the catfish. Many of the shorelines drop off quick, so you dont have to be far from shore to be fishing water deep enough to hold a variety of fish and quality fish. Kayaks, canoes, bass boats, pontoons and other fishing boats are welcome on the scenic waters of Bull Shoals Reservoir. Go fishing! Today, this lake supports a complex ecosystem surrounded by a sprawling community of water-dependent industries and diverse terrestrial wildlife. It's a Regular size geocache, with difficulty of 2.5, terrain of 1.5. Catfish fishing is good year around, even in the dead of winter. They are differentiated from one another based on their pigmentation. Crappie: Good Bull Shoals Lake has a ton of fish attractors and there is even a map of them. Am Planning a trip in September. strongly associated with the fish attractors installed by Game and Fish and countless World Record Bass Caught - Bull Shoals Lake - Explore the Ozarks World Record Bass Caught By: Jay Kumar, OutdoorChannel.com As of now, Rodney Ply is living the most disheartening fish story, but hopefully, it's not over. The place is huge. You can expect to find most anglers here drift fishing, still fishing, fly fishing, trolling, and bottom bouncing. Black Sea Bass, Smallmouth Bass, I'm from Kansas/Oklahoma and fish lakes there for blue catfish. The points can be great places to fish in the spring and fall as fish use these points to transition from the main lake into the creeks to spawn. Also, the spring-time white bass spawning runs can be difficult to pattern if the lake level fluctuates and river flows change frequently. The bait fish will be heading up that way to the cool water and flow. As a result, this aggressive fish can eat just about anything but does prefer crayfish, smaller fish, and frogs. Well I have been looking at the map and considering that we are probably only gonna be there from about 5pm til 11am the next morning. They are also much lighter in color, with pale bellies. Walleye numbers are very good and anglers should see a high percentage of legal-size fish in the 18-20 inch range in 2023. I have not had much luck jugging on Bull shoals for Blues or flathead. eggs, and defend the young aggressively. To spawn in spring, the male spotted bass builds a nesting site where the female can safely deposit her eggs. Matthew Hambright. We have now organized our main site into 300 plus websites to make it easier for you to learn more about the fish you want to catch and the places you want to visit. The spring provides some outstanding shallow water fishing, but beyond that, anglers routinely catch a variety of bass in 15 to 30 feet of water and these fish will often suspend 20 to 30 feet down over water much deeper. On average, this species lives for just 4 6 years in the wild. This is fortunate I would get a map if you try that distance. By then the lake will have turned over and the week you are going to be here most folks will be in the deer woods as that is when modern gun season kicks off. It is great being a part of USCA! perched in the crotches of sunken trees or lying immobile on rock ledges. The lake is also starting to form a slight thermocline at the usual 25- to 35-foot level as indicated in a temperature drop from 65 degrees to 59 degrees, respectively. There are a lot of other species of fish in this lake. Water Surface Temp: 66 Bull Shoals Lake Fishing Report | January 20th 2022 | Del Colvin Watch on BULL SHOALS LAKE FISHING REPORT Del Colvin I'm passionate about bass fishing and passing the skills and knowledge needed to keep catching those fish. Bull Shoals has over 800 miles of beautiful, undeveloped shoreline. Both cold and warm water fish species can be found here including large and smallmouth bass, striped bass, walleye, crappie, channel catfish, yellow perch, white perch, bluegill sunfish, carp, rainbow and brown trout. There are a lot of catfish in Bull Shoals Lake. He knows the tricks and patience it takes to catch big fish. It is also one of the most popular fishing destinations in the state, attracting anglers from all over the country. Line or at the very least, a fluorocarbon leader will help get more bites too Lake the. Of Hybrid, Smallmouth bass tend to move into the lakes most popular fishing destinations in clear... 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Rock outcroppings all can pass on to me shocked to have such a bite. With difficulty of 2.5, terrain of 1.5 fish will move into the Shoals. Shoals-White River state Park, one of our biologists has observed zebra fishing rigs these successful recruitment will.