(870)435-6529
The White and North Fork (Norfork) Rivers are recognized as two of the premier destination trout rivers in the United States. Because these rivers are located below huge Army Corp of Engineer hydroelectric dams, water conditions change on an almost daily basis. The rivers may be low and wadable one minute and deep and fast the next, so please exercise caution when wade fishing. Remember: it is better to be stuck on the wrong side of the river than to be stuck in a frigid and turbulent flow. While the best wading opportunities exist when the river is low (no power generation occurring), our trout feed at all water levels. Sometimes, the optimum conditions to catch big fish are when the water is high, and drift fishing from a boat is the most effective technique. The guides at Arkansas Trophy Trout can and will produce fish no matter what the water conditions are.

The White River (Bull Shoals Tailwater): With the completion of Bull Shoals Dam in the early 1950’s, the White River was transformed from one of the best smallmouth bass fisheries in the country to a trout stream. This was because the flow that powers the generators at Bull Shoals Dam draws water from over 100 feet below Bull Shoals Lake. At first, the locals were not happy with the destruction of their bass habitat, so to mitigate the loss, money was allocated to start a trout-stocking program. Within two years, the White River was yielding seven to ten pound rainbow trout and a thriving tourism industry based on trout fishing began to develop. Initial stockings of brown trout were thought to be unsuccessful in the early 1970’s, but as time would tell, the brown trout in the White River can grow to world-class size. Several world record browns have been taken from the White, and an astounding 85% (or more) of the browns found in the river are of wild stock.

Bull Shoals Dam controls water releases through 8 huge generators rated at 391 megawatts when they are all operating at capacity. This is enough power to supply over 350,000 households every hour!!! When no generators are in operation, the in-house unit squeaks out a mere 45 cubic feet per second, and this is the current minimum flow. These magical times when the river is dead low offer wading fishermen the chance to fish a variety of techniques and patterns. During low water, the river is characterized by clear riffles, shallow runs, and deep pools, and there are plenty of places to sight fish.  It’s like an extremely wide spring creek. A wealth of public accesses along the White offer wade-in fishing, but the most interesting way to experience this river is by floating it and stopping to wade along the way. When all eight generators are churning, the White can rise 9 to11 feet vertically and the power crest is over 26,000 cubic feet per second. Although most fly fishermen do not consider high water to be ideal conditions, with a boat and a little practice, the fishing can be explosive. The best flows for high water fishing range from 6,000 to 20,000 cubic feet per second (usually more than 6 units operating can make things tricky and tough). If the water is heavier than that and no shad kill is occurring, it is time to fish the Norfork Tailwater. On a decent day a beginner (with a guide) can expect from 10 to 35 fish on the White with a fly rod. Most fish caught are rainbows from 10 to 16 inches (except in the Catch and Release Areas where the fish run larger) and there is ALWAYS the chance to hook a brown from 5 to 20 pounds!!! Landing one is a different story.

North Fork River (Norfork Tailwater): This relatively short tailwater (4.8 miles), ten miles south of Mountain Home, Arkansas is quickly becoming recognized as one of the best trout streams in the world. Starting at Norfork Dam, the Norfork gently rolls through picturesque scenery until it joins the White River (the confluence is 44 miles downstream of Bull Shoals Dam). During low water the ‘Fork is every fly fisherman’s dream; riffles, pools, and runs that are easily accessible and fished. It is hard to find a place anywhere on both rivers where getting hung up on your back cast is a problem. Norfork is also one of the few public fisheries where a “grand-slam” of trout fishing is very possible. A ‘slam is when a brook, brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout are all caught (and released, hopefully) on the same day by the same person. That is what adds to the charm of the ‘Fork. This river is also quietly becoming the best brook trout fishery south of the 45th parallel (this parallel line runs east/west approximately through Petoskey, Michigan and all points east or west). A 20-inch (five pound) brook was caught last year and there are bigger ones out there. Norfork can be crowded on the weekends, but there is more than enough excellent water for everyone. On a decent day, a beginner with a guide can catch 15 to 40 fish ranging from 11 to 18 inches, and there is always the chance for a lunker over 20 inches. During high water, the Norfork can produce ‘hey-day’ type fishing with lots of brookies, rainbows, and browns. Because there are only two power generators at Norfork Dam, good fishing can be enjoyed even during the heaviest flows. In our opinion, the Norfork tailwater has the potential to be the best trout stream in the country with the implementation of more restrictive regulations. Slowly but surely things are starting to change, and conservation is becoming a bigger priority for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, so we may see the resurrection of this amazing trophy trout producing fishery in the near future. Check the reports section for the latest on the conservation trends, and feel free to call me any time.
(870)435-6529 (h) or (870)404-9027 (c)

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gcflyfsh@infodash.com