Fishing Report for Bull Shoals Lake - 2025-03-28

1. Current Conditions Overview

• Water Temperature: 45°F, which is cooler, favoring species like walleye and smallmouth bass.
• Ice Cover: No ice, making the lake fully accessible.
• Weather: Cloudy with a 29% chance of rain, winds from the southwest at 15 mph.
• Moon Phase: New moon, potentially affecting fish activity patterns.

2. Top Fishing Hotspots (Weighted Predictions)

1. Northern Bay near Creek Inlet (Score: 9/10)

• Location: North shore, near the creek inlet.
• Clarity: Clear, with visibility up to 6 feet.
• Thermal: 44-46°F, cooler water attracting walleye and smallmouth bass.
• Structure: Submerged rocks and weed beds.
• Species: Walleye, smallmouth bass.
• Technique: Jigs or live bait near structures.

2. Eastern Shore Rocky Points (Score: 8.5/10)

• Location: Eastern shore, midway along the lake.
• Clarity: Stained, visibility 3-4 feet.
• Thermal: 45-47°F.
• Structure: Rocky points and drop-offs.
• Species: Largemouth bass, crappie.
• Technique: Crankbaits or soft plastics.

3. Southern Cove near Submerged Logs (Score: 8/10)

• Location: Southern shore, near submerged logs.
• Clarity: Turbid, visibility 2-3 feet.
• Thermal: 46-48°F.
• Structure: Submerged logs and sunken trees.
• Species: Largemouth bass, catfish.
• Technique: Spinnerbaits or nightcrawlers.

4. Western Shore Deep Channels (Score: 7.5/10)

• Location: Western shore, deeper channels.
• Clarity: Stained, visibility 4-5 feet.
• Thermal: 45-47°F.
• Structure: Deep channels and humps.
• Species: Walleye, catfish.
• Technique: Jigs or bottom rigs.

5. Mid-Lake Humps (Score: 7/10)

• Location: Central mid-lake humps.
• Clarity: Clear, visibility 6-8 feet.
• Thermal: 44-46°F.
• Structure: Rocky humps and drop-offs.
• Species: Smallmouth bass, crappie.
• Technique: Jigs or spoons.

3. Water Clarity Analysis

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• Northern Bay: Clear, due to limited wind exposure.
• Eastern Shore: Stained from sediment.
• Southern Cove: Turbid from wind-induced sediment.
• Western Shore: Stained from inflows.
• Mid-Lake: Clear, less sediment.

4. Thermal Gradient Analysis

• Northern Bay: 44-46°F, cooler, attracting walleye.
• Eastern Shore: 45-47°F, moderate activity.
• Southern Cove: 46-48°F, warmer, for largemouth bass.
• Western Shore: 45-47°F, moderate.
• Mid-Lake: 44-46°F, cooler.

5. Top Species to Target

1. Largemouth Bass
2. Smallmouth Bass
3. Walleye
4. Crappie
5. Catfish

6. Weather Impact Analysis

• Today: Cloudy, rainy, winds 15 mph; fish active in shaded areas.
• Weekend: Partly cloudy, warmer, improving activity.

7. Time-of-Day Strategy

• Early Morning: Focus on northern and eastern areas.
• Late Evening: Target southern cove and mid-lake humps.

8. AR Regulations for Bull Shoals Lake

• Catch Limits: Check local regulations.
• Size Restrictions: Minimum sizes apply.
• Special Rules: Gear restrictions possible.

9. Reasoning Appendix

• Weighting: Thermal gradients and clarity high, structure medium-high, weather medium.
• Thermal Gradients: Influence species location and feeding.
• Clarity: Affects visibility and habitat.
• Structure: Provides cover and ambush points.
• Weather: Impacts fish activity and accessibility.

This report integrates all data to provide actionable fishing strategies for Bull Shoals Lake on March 28, 2025.