Fishing the White River
The White River isn’t just a great trout stream — it’s one of the best in the world. Here in Arkansas, having a fishery this rich right in our backyard is something we don’t take for granted. Anglers from across the globe come here for the chance to land a trophy trout, drawn by the river’s clear waters and unmatched scenery. Watch the video below by Bluff Line Media, and you’ll see exactly why the White River is a destination worth experiencing.
An Arkansas Treasure
Flowing through north-central Arkansas in the heart of the Ozarks, the White River is one of America’s top trout fisheries, its cold, oxygen-rich tailwaters below the dams creating ideal conditions for trophy brown and rainbow trout.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission stocks hundreds of thousands of rainbow trout in these waters, and while plenty of these are caught soon after their release, some grow into giants — like the state record 19-pound, 1-ounce rainbow pulled from the White. Plenty of 2- to 6-pound rainbows keep anglers busy, but the real legends are the brown trout. Five- to 10-pounders are common, with anglers landing fish pushing into the 20-pound range as well. A few true monsters lurk in the depths.
Below Bull Shoals Dam, the White River’s tailwaters have a reputation for producing world-class trout with browns breaking the 30-pound mark and rainbows nearing 20.
Cutthroat, brook and even golden trout add to the diversity of these famed waters. A bucket-list destination for anglers, the White River is a year-round fishery with some of the largest trout caught in cooler months.
Johnboats and spinning rods have long been a staple on these waters, but driftboats and fly anglers are just as at home. When the river runs low, wade fishing is popular with anglers casting tight loops into the current.
Whether you’re after a record fish or just a weekend on the water, you’ll find everything you need — guides, full-service marinas, fly shops, resorts, campgrounds and cabins — in Arkansas trout country.
Before you hit the water, check the regulations and catch-and-release areas for the trout zone you’re fishing in, and get your Arkansas fishing license and trout stamp at www.agfc.com.
More Than Fishing
Every moment on this river is a chance to connect with nature. It’s a place where the mist rises off the water in the morning light, eagles perch along the banks, blue herons fly in search of a meal and deer might cross the cold water as anglers cast into cold ripples.
Beyond the water, explore Bull Shoals-White River State Park, tour the Norfork National Fish Hatchery, and fish the Norfork tailwaters, another world-class fishery.