Bull Shoals Lake Fishing Report

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 661.58 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).

Ken Minsky of Ken Minksy’s Loch Leven Guide Service said it’s fair to say the dog days of summer are upon us. Don’t expect lots of change from week to week in the foreseeable future. The water continues to warm and the fish are relating to the thermocline. Early mornings, evenings and after dark are going to be the best times to catch walleyes moving to shallower water. Primary points and structure along bluffs will produce the best chances to catch a bite during the day. Getting bait to their depth zone of 35+ feet and keeping it there is paramount to triggering a strike. Jigs, trolling lead core line and downriggers will certainly help getting bait to those depths. Try flats and break lines along flats as well as primary points during the evening and early morning hours. Look for smallmouths in 6 to 12 foot depths along bluffs during twilight hours as well as shaded areas during the day. Crappie are hitting near deeper brush piles in 35 to 45 feet of water. Spotted bass and largemouth bass are working shad near the surface along bluffs and primary points in the mornings and evenings, however, you’ll have to chase them around a bit with the electric motor to stay with them. Trotlines along the main lake have been hit and miss the last week, mostly miss, so expect to move them a time or two until you find a location producing a consistent catch.