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Bull Shoals Reservoir
Bull Shoals enjoys wide recognition as a prime fishery. Holding
several Arkansas and Missouri state records, the lake’s reputation
is well justified. Opportunities abound for many species, ranging
from pan fish to walleye. A fish attractor program to improve
habitat and enhance fishing success has resulted in over 450
attractors being placed in Bull Shoals. A map showing their location
is available from the Visitor Information Center.
The White River, downstream of Bull Shoals Dam, is the premier trout
fishery in the central United States and has yielded Arkansas state
records for cutthroat and rainbow trout. Floating down the river in
an Ozark johnboat and fishing for brown, brook, cutthroat, and
rainbow trout is an experience found nowhere else.
Fish Species
Bull Shoals Reservoir contains several species of game and pan fish
including:
Dominate Species:
Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Walleye, White Crappie,
Bluegill, Long Ear sunfish, Channel Catfish and Flat Head Catfish.
Secondary Species:
White Bass, Bullhead, Carp, and Black Crappie
Limited Species:
Rainbow Trout, Paddlefish, Warmouth, Striped Bass
Seasonal Fishing
Techniques
Spring:
Rising warm water in spring draw fish from the depths of Bull Shoals
causing them to become more active seeking shallow spawning
locations. The colored water of the Theodosia arm will warm first
followed by the larger creeks like Big Creek and the Sugarloaf Creek
Arms.
 As
the fish move shallow specific cover becomes important to each
species; Largemouth Bass tend to hold to wood cover like laydowns
and brush piles, Spotted Bass will move to chunk rock points and
bluff ends and Smallmouth Bass will hold on isolated rock piles and
mixed pea gravel / rock banks. Popular baits include; suspending
jerkbaits like Smithwick Rouges or Lucky Craft Pointers, 4” single
tailed grubs on ¼ oz. jig heads, tight wiggling crankbaits like a
Storm Wiggle Wart and small jig and craw combos such as a Jewel
Eakins’ Jig and Craw. After the fish have spawned they will move put
into open water and suspend, topwater baits like Cotton Cordell
Redfins, Heddon Spooks and Lucky Craft Sammys are all very effective
baits. Bull Shoals has a reputation for its walleye population, in
early spring walleye will make a run up the White River, Theodosia
Arm and some of the major creeks to spawn. When making their
spawning run walleye will “stack up” in deeper pools and channel
bends, suspending jerkbaits, single tailed grubs and small
crankbaits are all effective baits for these fish.
Summer:
Summer offers some of the most exciting action Bull Shoals has to
offer early and late in the day. Schools of Spotted Bass chase shad
on the surface during the low light hours of the day, topwater baits
like; Heddon Spooks, Lucky Craft Sammys and Cotton Cordell Redfins
will all catch these aggressive bass. During the heat of the day
conditions can be much tougher, look for fish to move out to deep
ledge rock points and channel banks up to 50’ deep. Jewel football
and spider jigs matched with a Chompers’ jig trailers, tube baits,
and Carolina rigged french fries or finesse worms are all important
baits during the summer. Slowly work the bottom in these areas
paying special attention to any wood or rock cover you may run into
with the bait. Largemouth will tend to be shallower than Smallmouth
or Spotted Bass, they will hold in the large number of brush piles
set by Arkansas Game and Fish Department and by individual anglers.
Texas rigged Berkley Power worms and Jewel Eakins’ jig and craw
combos are your best bet in the heat of the day. The majority of the
walleye caught during the summer are taken in the upper half of the
lake by anglers trolling bottom bouncing live night crawler rigs and
jigs tipped with minnows from 20’ – 40’ deep.
Fall:
Cooling water in fall revitalizes the fishing on Bull Shoals. Ledge
rock points and channel swing banks on the main lake and in major
creek arms are primary locations to find all three species of black
bass.
 Jewel
football and spider jigs matched up with Chompers’ jig trailers,
tube baits and tight wiggling crankbaits like Storm Wiggle Warts are
all important baits in these areas. Large willow leaf bladed
spinnerbaits fished near standing cedar trees can produce big
Largemouth this time of year, cast beyond the timer and run the bait
directly into the tree to be successful. Walleye can be caught in
the same locations as bass in the fall, suspending jerk baits like
Smithwick Rogues or Lucky Craft pointers are key baits. Some of the
biggest walleye taken every year are caught at night in the fall on
flat gravel points and flats with suspending jerkbaits.
Winter:
The deep clear water of Bull Shoals is perfect for offshore fishing
in the winter. Groups of Spotted Bass follow large schools of
threadfin shad throughout the lake using them as both a source of
food and cover. As the water temperature drops several shad will die
off and drop down to the waiting bass. Using high quality sonar
anglers will find these schools of shad and the groups of fish below
them and then they will drop spoons, drop shot rigs and blade baits
through the shad mimicking the dieing shad and triggering strikes
from the bass. Walleye are difficult to catch and find until late
winter when they being to make their annual spawning run up the
rivers and larger creeks in the upper end of the lake.
Bull Shoals Lake, Guide Fishing Branson and Focused Fishing
Professional Guide Service in Branson, Missouri offer angling
enjoyment regardless of the season. Call Guide Fishing Branson or
Focused Fishing Professional Guide Service today to book a memorable
fishing experience.
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