Arkansas' Trout Fishing Waters

Home to trout waters that have produced a world-record brown and countless personal bests, Arkansas is a bucket-list fishery for anglers chasing their next great catch.

Below towering dams, Arkansas’ tailwaters run cold, their depth and flow dictated by the pulse of hydroelectric releases, creating an ever-changing yet ideal habitat for trout—browns that grow massive and rainbows that fight like they belong in wilder waters. Add in the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s top-tier trout management—stocking more than a million trout, mostly rainbows, each year—plus the natural reproduction of Arkansas’ brown trout, and you’ve got a fishery that rivals the best in the country.

World-record browns. High-energy rainbows. Elusive tiger and golden rainbow trout. The Arkansas Grand Slam—brook, cutthroat, rainbow and brown—sometimes achieved in a single stretch of water.

Whether you love throwing marabou jigs in deep runs, drifting a hand-tied dry fly through a riffle, bouncing nymph rigs along the river bottom, or bait fishing with live minnows, Arkansas has waters open year-round for fly anglers and spinning rod fanatics. 

White River (Bull Shoals Tailwater)

If you’re chasing monster trout, look no further. In north central Arkansas, the White River below Bull Shoals Dam is a powerhouse fishery, producing some of the biggest browns in the world. The river’s cold, oxygen-rich flow is an all-you-can-eat buffet of sculpins, shad, and aquatic insects, fueling huge, predatory trout that will test your skill, your gear, and maybe even your sanity if you get a lunker to the boat but fail to net it.

Want to throw streamers and watch brown trout ambush them like river wolves? Winter is prime time. Want to hit the beautiful chaos of the caddis or mayfly hatch? We’ll see you in spring. Love nymphing? Prefer jigging, bait fishing or twitching jerkbaits? This 100 miles of river has you covered, 365 days a year.

The White River is dynamic and ever-changing. One cast could land a feisty 14-inch rainbow, and the next could hook the trout of a lifetime. Anglers chasing the Arkansas Grand Slam find fortune in these waters.

White River (Beaver Tailwater)

Stocked with rainbows and an underrated brown trout population, this 7.5-mile stretch of the White River below Beaver Dam is an escape from the crowds. Often overshadowed by the Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters, the Beaver tailwater is full of potential, whether you're battling a 23-inch brown or watching river otters dart through riffles while blue herons stand statuesque along the banks.

North Fork River (Norfork Tailwater)

The North Fork River below Norfork Dam is just 4.5 miles long, but it packs a serious punch before reuniting with the White River. Smaller and more akin to western streams, it’s Arkansas’ best cutthroat trout fishery, though rainbows and browns make up the bulk of the catch, and the state-record brook came from these waters.

Flowing into the Norfork Tailwater is Dry Run Creek, a dream stream for anglers 15 or younger or those with mobility impairments. This natural creek, running alongside the Norfork National Fish Hatchery, boasts exceptional fish thriving on the hatchery’s food-rich outflow.

Little Red River (Greers Ferry Tailwater)

Some rivers give up big fish. Some give up lots of fish. The Little Red River does both. In 1992, it produced a world-record brown trout—40 pounds, 4 ounces of pure muscle and attitude. That record fell in later years, but the Little Red still churns out legendary fish, especially in fall and winter when big browns go into overdrive during spawning season. The browns are now 100 percent wild from natural reproduction of fish established in the 1970s.

The 30 miles of trout water below Greers Ferry Dam are also full of stocked rainbows, making it an excellent fishery year-round.

Spring River

The Spring River is a cold-water anomaly. Fed by Mammoth Spring, which pumps nine million gallons of 58-degree water per hour, this constant, cold flow feeds a 10-acre lake before sustaining a trout fishery for roughly 12 miles downstream.

Stocked rainbows dominate the bite, but occasional browns and even smallmouth bass in the lower stretches give anglers variety.

Ouachita River Tailwaters

The Ouachita River tailwaters below Blakely, Carpenter, and Remmel dams aren’t year-round trout fisheries, but each fall through early spring, AGFC stocks them with rainbows, turning these waters into seasonal gems. The fish grow fast and fight hard, making this a prime spot for novice anglers looking for action.

Each of these tailwaters only sustains a trout fishery for about a mile or two. The scenic backdrop of the Ouachita Mountains turns a short season into an unforgettable experience.

Little Missouri River

Since most of Arkansas' trout streams are in the state's northern Ozark Mountain region, the Little Missouri River in southwest Arkansas has a surprise waiting. Flowing from Lake Greeson, this 6.5-mile stretch is stocked with rainbows and browns from November through April, offering high catch rates and light fishing pressure.

The Thrill of the Catch

Arkansas rivers hold those electric moments anglers crave. Your heart hammering as a heavyweight slams your line. The thrill of a colorful rainbow cartwheeling across the surface on the end of your hook.

But trout fishing here is more than the catch. It’s trading tips at the boat ramp, swapping stories over a cold drink in a small-town fly shop. The quiet pull of the river itself, drawing you into something bigger than a day on the water.

This is a trout fishing state—one that belongs in the same conversation as the Rockies, the Appalachians, or anywhere else anglers chase the thrill of the catch.

So flip the bail. Strip in that slack. And set the hook. In Arkansas, the bite is always on.

What to Know

• Want the latest on where the fish are biting? The AGFC Weekly Fishing Report delivers updates from marinas, guides, and local anglers straight to your inbox—hot bites, top lures, water levels, and more. Sign up online and stay one step ahead on the water.
• Detailed information on Arkansas’ fisheries and regulations are available in the annual Arkansas Fishing Guidebook, available at sporting goods stores around the state and online.
• Buy your Arkansas fishing license and trout permit online .