Bullshoals Lake is located in the northern part of Arkansas and the southern part of Missouri. It was rated the “best general fishing lake” found in the state of Arkansas by the Game and Fish Commission due to the variety of species found in the lake. The elusive walleyes just happen to be one of the many species found in this lake.
There are many parks and campgrounds located up and down the lake for visitors to enjoy. You can go camping and swim, take part in one of the many water sports or take advantage of the excellent walleye fishing. This lake has miles of “lake arms” and secluded coves where the fishing is excellent so it’s easy to find a good, easy accessible fishing spot.
Bullshoals Lake Fishing Tactics
Once you find your fishing spot, several tactics can be used to catch walleyes. Many of the ones caught on Bullshoals Lake weigh between 10 and 15 pounds but some have been caught weighing in at 19 pounds. Of course, the ones that weigh less than 10 pounds are more common. Using the following tactics can help to increase the odds of you reeling in one of the bigger fish.
Here are five walleye fishing tactics to try when fishing on Bullshoals Lake:
1. Use a medium, to medium-heavy action rod when fishing this lake. Combine this with test line between 6 to 10 pounds and this will help to increase the odds of catching more walleyes.
2. This species will be suspended at different depths throughout the lake depending on when you go fishing. The easiest way to determine the depth is with a fish finder. However, if you don’t have access to one of these, you can always give vertical fishing a try. Start at the bottom and slowly work your way up using your fishing line as a guide for depth. When you find the right depth for walleyes, you can usually continue fishing this depth throughout the duration of your fishing trip.
3. When night fishing this lake, use clear or blue fluorescent fishing line and then use a black light so you can see when the fish hits your line. The black light will make the fishing line more visible but this type of lighting won’t disturb the walleye with their sensitive eyesight. Regular lights, such as lanterns, will scare them away.
4. Use the smallest tackle possible for the size fish you want to catch and this will increase the number of bites you get because any size will be able to take your bait. However, if you want to seek out just the largest walleyes, you may want to increase the size of your tackle slightly. This will limit the number of bites you get but encourage the larger fish to strike. Just be careful not to go too large because even the bigger walleyes have a small mouth.
5. When the walleyes are out in the deeper parts of the water, try drifting or trolling over the sunken islands, long points and other natural structures found in the lake because this is where they will most likely be found.
Bullshoals Lake is an excellent place to relax in the fresh air and reel in a nice mess of fish and the tactics above can help improve the amount of success you have.
Bullshoals Lake Fishing Tips
When fishing this lake, pay close attention to your surroundings and take your time maneuvering through the water and on land, if you’re unfamiliar with the area. Being around water can be a little tricky at times but staying alert and aware of your surroundings can help prevent a lot of accidents. You also have the option of hiring a guide to take you out on the water a few times. This way, you can learn your way around while being with someone who is familiar with Bullshoals Lake.
Learn as much about the lake as you can but keep in mind that the hot spots will change every year. The best way to find walleyes and the best fishing spots each time you hit the water is by using electronics. Depth finders will help you determine where the fish are suspended throughout the lake and a good GPS system will help you navigate around the lake much easier.
Walleye fishing is a great way to spend your free time with friends and family. Seeking out this species is fun and exciting because they are a challenge to catch. Not only are they an elusive fish but they also put up an amazing fight when you get one hooked.
These are the reasons why so many anglers seek out walleyes and Bullshoals Lake is an excellent place to fish for them. It has a lot to do with the combination of man-made and natural structures found throughout the lake.