by Jill Rohrbach
In Arkansas, trout fishing is a favorite outdoor activity on the tailwaters of the Norfork, Bull Shoals, and Beaver dams that impound the White River. While the lakes created by these impoundments are popular in their own right for fishing — bass and other species — the frigid waters below the dams have gained a national following among trout anglers.
This ribbon of water winding through the Ozark Mountains of North Central Arkansas is a state treasure offering anglers of all abilities a great fishing experience. It’s popular with kids and families that want to catch a bunch of fish and have the excitement of rods bent all day. For experienced anglers, there are numerous species and trophy trout to target.
The White River is one of mid-America’s premiere trout streams, famous for record rainbow and brown trout. It is the only state in the Southeast to stock rainbow, brown, cutthroat, and brook trout. Catching one of all four species in a single day is a feat known as the “Ozark Slam.” But the river now yields even more species worth wetting a line for. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has worked to introduce new golden and tiger trout too.
AGFC stocked golden in 2019 and tiger in 2020. The golden rainbow trout is a color variant of the same genetic rainbow trout species stocked by AGFC. They were a temporary addition to the Bull Shoals tailwaters. Tiger trout are a cross between brown trout and brook trout that are capable of growing much larger than their brook trout lineage. In the short period of time since the stocking of tiger trout, people have caught them as big as 27 inches.
Additionally, the eggs of Bonneville cutthroats were planted in the river by a regional Trout Unlimited chapter several years ago with much success. Anglers are now catching sizable Bonneville on a regular basis. Rainbow trout populations also require annual stockings, while brown trout can reproduce successfully in Arkansas.
Plenty of rainbows are caught fairly soon after their release, but some get exceptionally large, like the state record 19-pound, 1-ounce rainbow and 10-pound, 2-ounce cutthroat caught on the White. There are plenty of rainbows in the 2-to 4-pound class. Anglers catch pretty big rainbow trout in the range of 20 to 22 inches on the Upper White.
Regarding brown trout, anglers have a good chance of catching 5 to 10 pounders and there’s the possibility of landing 18 to 24 pounders. The size limit for keepers changed from a 16-inch minimum length (two fish per day daily limit) to one fish with a 24-inch minimum length limit in 2010. As a result of the change, AGFC has seen a sizable improvement of that size category. A few anglers per year also have the once-in-lifetime experience of landing a true monster of 20 pounds or greater on this tailwater.
Before the dams, which were built for power generation and flood control, the White River was full of smallmouth bass and other warmwater fish. When the cold water discharge wiped out the smallmouth fisheries, the federal government mitigated the damage through the annual stocking of trout, which can handle the cold water temperatures.
Since trout fishing is a byproduct of power generation and flood control, water release from the dam and therefore fishing strategies can change from morning to afternoon or sometimes within hours. The fish bite or not with the rise and fall of the water. Of course, the right lure in the right color, such as an egg pattern or jerkbait, or live bait, like worms, also come into play. Bait, lure, and fly choices all change with the seasons too.
Fishing with a guide who knows the river takes the guesswork out of the experience. Guides can put anglers on fish based on current conditions as well as extoll knowledge that can be used when fishing on your own.
For example, some guides fish from johnboats using corn for bait, with clients reeling in rainbow after rainbow and throwing them back to catch another day. Other times, guides have more experienced anglers in swift water throw jerk baits, often with a shad pattern. They jerk and pause the bait through the eddies and current breaks to entice big browns. Earthworms are another go-to bait. Bank fishing without a guide is also common and numerous public access points can be found along the river.
Fly anglers commonly wade fish the White River during low water generation periods. There’s nothing like spending an afternoon with a fly rod in hand during a spring caddis hatch or throwing big streamers in the winter. Fly fishing from drift boats is also widely seen on the river now.
Trout season never closes. In fact, some of the largest catches are made during the cooler months.
A favorite section for many anglers is below Bull Shoals Dam. On this stretch of the river, you’ll find that resorts are as plentiful as guide services. Some resorts line the river and have their own guides. It could be Cranor’s Lodge sitting 100 feet from the White River or Gaston’s White River Resort with its iconic cabins and pink cottages spread along the banks. The centerpiece is its restaurant with large glass panels along the back allowing for a full view of the river below. Other cabins are perched on secluded mountaintops. Modern hotels near city amenities like in Mountain Home are also easy to find.
Fishing in this area also affords the opportunity to visit Bull Shoals-White River State Park, Norfork National Fish Hatchery, and the Norfork tailwaters.
The state park acreage along the shore of the White River contains campsites, tent sites, and Rent-An-RV sites as well as a riverside marina and store offering boat rentals, bait, tackle, and supplies. There is also park land on the shore of Bull Shoals Lake and a 15,744-square-foot visitor center set high above the Bull Shoals Dam.
The small towns of Bull Shoals and Lakeview cater to tourists in this area through marinas, restaurants, and lodging options. Near Beaver Dam tailwaters, the town of Eureka Springs has an artsy and Victorian vibe, plus tons of eateries. The town of Norfork, located at the confluence of the North Fork River and the White River, is one of the oldest settled areas in northern Arkansas. Here you’ll find the Jacob Wolf House Historic Site, the last remaining two-story dog-trot public structure in the United States, and Norfork Brewing Company offering great craft beer and food.
Guide services, full-service marinas, resorts, camping, and cabins are all available in most of the trout zones of the state.
Each section of the White River offers a unique experience. It’s truly a welcoming water for casual bait anglers as well as serious spin-casting and fly-fishing folks. If you love seeing a fish chase a lure and the feel of setting the hook in the flash of that moment, the White River is calling.
In addition to the excellent fishing, the White is a place to immerse yourself in nature. You can watch blue herons and geese fly up the river, eagles nest in trees and even deer cross the cold water.
When You Go
Buy your trout fishing license and trout stamp online at www.agfc.com.
Get familiar with trout regulations, which differ across the state. Check to see what regulations apply to the area you are going to fish. Be aware of catch-and-release areas, specifically the seasonal brown trout catch-and-release area, Nov. 1 through Jan. 31, on the Bull Shoals tailwaters during spawning season.
AGFC fishing regulations can be found online at www.agfc.com/en/fishing/general-fishing-regulations/. Hard copies of the guidebook can be found at many locations across the state, including, AGFC offices and nature centers, local bait/tackle shops, and sporting goods sections in stores like Walmart and Harps, and other outdoor outfitters.
Tips for handling trout:
• Avoid touching fish with dry hands or a towel. Always wet them first.
• Keep the fish in the water as long as possible; only take it out to remove the hook and take a quick photo.
• If the hook is embedded in the fish, cut the line and release the fish. Don’t try to rip the hook out. Many fish can survive, and later pass, a hook that is embedded.
• Don’t play the fish for an excessive amount of time. Land it as quickly as possible and release it.
• If fishing during the spawning season, avoid trampling on redds, which are areas of cleared gravel where trout spawn.
