Natural State Fly Shop

05/28/2026

05/25/2026

Here we are in the last week of May. Memorial Day, also known as Decoration Day, Monday May 25th. While we all know what the day represents and we all need to take a moment to Honor those that have gone before us for our nation.

We here at Natural State Fly Shop want to also Honor our community and the small part we play in it. We especially want to express our Thanks for the folks that have helped make us part of the Cotter Community. While there is a long list of friends at your fly shop, the organizations that meet with us are very important to us.

A Big Thank You for letting us have you meet or be involved with us.

North Arkansas Fly Fishers come in weekly to tie Flies, discuss the latest Fish habits and what is the hottest fly of the week. Every Friday between 12:00 noon and whenever they have to go on with their day, there truly is some great knowledge that is shared, with some friendly ribbing included.

Every other Monday evening we get to host the Project Healing Waters - Mountain Home, Arkansas Program for a few hours of Fly Tying and Comradery. I have only been personally involved with the group a couple three times but can already understand that this is an honor to be invited to be involved.

Our Manager, Court Blank is working hard heading up the Local Trout Unlimited (Chapter 698) Women’s Group, otherwise known as Drift Sisters. It is really good to see this group grow and enjoy their place in our community.

With next Saturday being the end of the month, we will be hosting our “Last Saturday of the Month Community Get Together”. If you are thinking about being in Cotter over the weekend you should come by and hang out. We always start around 5:30 and end whenever. It is a celebration for our community, and all are invited. There is always someone that has a mostly believable story to tell and it is always good to catch up with friends and meet new folks. You really should come by!

With the very light rains we have had some of our lakes are not really filling up.

Beaver Lake is at 1121.54 (Top of Power Pool is 1121.43). They have a couple of Spillway Gates open to get the lake below the top of power pool. Their Generators are down for maintenance causing the need for the gates to release water. Wading on the Beaver tailwater will be on hold until they get the lake level down.

Table Rock Lake is at 916.32 (Top of Power Pool is 916.7). They have been steadily generating to keep the lake below the Top of Power Pool. Tomorrow’s Generation Forecast maintains those flows. Fishing from a boat may be the only way to fish the Table Rock Tailwater.

Bull Shoals Lake is at 656.17 (Top of Power Pool is now 662.0). Minimum Flow with a late afternoon bump has be the norm for the past few days and will continue per the Generation Forecast.

Norfork Lake is at 553.67 (Top of Power Pool is 556.75). Minimum Flow with a possible late afternoon bump has also been the norm on Da’ Fork. With their siphon back online the 200cfs Minimum Flow will be continuing for a while.

We do have some measurable rain in our area’s weather forecast but we all know how fast that can change. Our Caddis Hatch is waning but Dry Flies and Emergers are still fooling fish regularly.

You should make plans to Get Out There and Live Your Life Like You Mean It!

We’ll see you at Your Fly Shop Saturday Evening! Become part of our Community!

05/19/2026

As y’all know Natural State Fly Shop is part of other businesses, one being Cotter Trout Lodge. So folks come in and we talk about how their days were going. When they say they had a “Great Day” I ask who was your Guide, most I know personally and understand why they had a Great Day! Then they sometimes show me pictures. I almost always say “Don’t show a Shop person your photo because I will text to myself just to show it off!”

Last weekend was really fun because of our Lodge Guests and their White River experiences. I know that some may not be back but because of our interaction, we basically become friends more often than not. Getting to share their accomplishments makes this part of the “job” much more fun!

See attached photos!

Guides Steve Lopez, Ben Stephens and Ryken Campbell all had Lodge Guests that had Great Days! (Hope I spelled everyone’s name right) When the guests tell me just how nice the guides were, well, Huge Thanks to these folks for helping our businesses be more!

Today we got a pretty good rain event! Maybe we will get some more late this week but one never knows.

Beaver Lake is at 1121.73 (Top of Power Pool 1121.43). With both of their Generators down for Maintenance they are releasing water over the spillway, basically enough to get back to Power Pool. From somewhat reliable sources it is going to be a while before the generators are back online, so this spillway release will continue when we get rains!

Table Rock Lake is at 915.67 (Top of Power Pool is 916.0). They will probably have to generate as long as Beaver is releasing water. Tomorrow’s Generation Forecast shove about 1/2 a generator most of the day with a bump late afternoon.

Bull Shoals Lake is at 655.67 (Top of Power Pool is now 662.0). They have been at Minimum Flow most of the days with a late afternoon bump to as much as 4-5 generators. Tomorrow’s Generation Forecast shows Minimum Flow all day!

Norfork Lake is at 553.22 (Top of Power Pool is now 556.75). They have been at Minimum Flow during the day with a single Generator in the afternoons. The good news is that the Siphon “ is back online! So maybe a while before we see that 400cfs flow again. The Generation Forecast shows a bump around 5:00pm for a few hours!

With my Fly Shop schedule and my “Life” schedule it is good to get to know some of these Lodge Guests, and it helps Our Community grow!

Maybe you can come by after your “Great Day” and tell us the story!

Live Your Life Like You Mean It!

05/19/2026

Project Healing Waters - Mountain Home, Arkansas Program at your Fly Shop every other Monday night … great group, tying Flies, catching fish

04/26/2026

A Special Sunday at Natural State Fly Shop

Sound on!

04/24/2026

We need to make a Change to our Birthday Celebration for Henry!

We need to move the (Sunday April 26th) party to the Fly Shop (across the road from the Sands Restaurant.

Plus now we will start at approximately 12:00 Noon and run until whenever Henry has had enough Celebrating.

If you previously made plans with others Please contact everyone to let them know of these changes!

While the Fly Shop will be open for business we want this to be about Henry so don’t worry about anything other than celebrating our Good Friend and Mentor!