Bull Shoals Lake
A deep, clear White River reservoir on the Arkansas line, known for bass, walleye and crappie.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Spotted Bass
Rocky banks and bluff ends. Jigs and finesse plastics.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Spotted Bass | ||||||||||||
| Smallmouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Walleye |
Boat launches
1 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- More public accessPublicSee the MDC or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass Special waterbody rule; limit not confirmed | 15 in | |
| Smallmouth Bass Special waterbody rule; limit not confirmed | 15 in | |
| Spotted Bass Special waterbody rule; limit not confirmed | 12 in | |
| Crappie | 10 in | 15 / day |
| Walleye Walleye/sauger; limit not confirmed | 18 in | |
| Striped Bass | 20 in | |
| Channel Catfish Catfish combined limit | 10 / day combined |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Missouri Department of Conservation ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Bull Shoals Lake Boat DockNearby140 Boat Dock Cv, Bull Shoals(870) 445-4424Directions ↗
- Cotter Trout Dock6.7 mi321 Big Spring Parkway, CotterDirections ↗
- Natural State Fly Shop6.8 mi102 Harding Boulevard, CotterDirections ↗
Local tips
- Most of the lake is in Arkansas and needs an Arkansas license.
- The White River below the dam is a famous trout river.
- Clear water. Fish deep in summer.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Bull Shoals Lake.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.