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Trout Fishing Information

Fishing Methods
The trout fishing season is open all year. Fishing from the bank, wade fishing, and fishing from flat-bottomed river John boats are all popular methods of trout fishing. Fly fishing, spin fishing, and bait fishing are all popular. Several local stores and shops sell all types of tackle.

Boat Rentals
Rent river John boats from trout docks and some resorts. If you are not experienced in running a river boat, listen to what the rental service operators tell you. They'll explain all you need to know to have a fun, safe fishing trip. While boating accidents do occur, almost all can be avoided by using common sense and heeding the advise of the boat renters.

Fishing Regulations
Both the White River and the North Fork River have varying regulations which change from time to time. If you fish with a trout fishing guide your guide will know all the laws and regulations. If you are fishing without a guide, pick up a copy of the Arkansas Trout Fishing Guidebook. These are available anywhere you buy a fishing license. You can also read fishing regulations, plus buy licenses, at the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Web site.

River Access
Public access points all along both sides of the White River and North Fork River have boat launch ramps, parking, and spots for bank fishing. Many resorts and trout docks have private river access for their guests. Several river resorts are right on the river banks so all you need do is walk out of your cabin to trout fish.

Guided Trout Fishing Services
There are numerous reasons why hundreds of experienced trout fishermen hire guides. And if you have never fished either river before, we highly recommend fishing with a guide for at least a full day. While the guides may not reveal all their top trout fishing secrets, they will talk about river boating safety, trout feeding habits, baits, and the many different fishing regulations. As a general rule you'll catch more trout, and larger trout, fishing with a guide. The reason that experienced fishermen still hire guides is because doing so allows them to concentrate more on fishing and less on boat driving. Further, the top guides can't be beat for knowing where to fish on any given day.

Beginners, Children, & Women Welcome
Almost all trout fishing guides work equally as well with beginners, men, women, and children. If you have never trout fished let your guide know. They'll do all the work for you, like bait hooks, rig lines and lures, cast, net the fish, and remove trout from your hook. All you need do is have a good time!

White River Trout Fishing Articles

Davy Wotton's Fly Fishing Report
This report is presented for the serious fly fisher and is updated monthly or as conditions change. It is written by Davy Wotton of American International Schools of Fly Fishing.

Live River Cam at His Place Resort
Real-time views of White River water levels and beautiful sunsets over the water. Refreshes every 30 seconds. Located at His Place Resort just upstream from the Highway 62 bridge at Cotter. A combination of gravel bars and deeper holes clearly show what water levels are on the upper White.

See more live trophy trout like this massive rainbow in action at:
"Spectacular Trout Power"
One of the few places in the world where trout can be seen leaping like salmon. 75 digital images of White River System trophy rainbow, browns, and cutthroats in their struggle to leap the waterfalls at Dry Run Creek. These are real photos, not "PhotoShop" creations. If you enjoy trout fishing you'll love these photos!

How To Fish Minnows For Larger High Water Trout
Use minnows to catch large browns in winter months, and when water is high

Winter Shad Kills Offer Extreme Trophy Fishing
When shad kills start, so does the best trophy brown action

Arkansas Fishing Regulations
Link to Arkansas State Game & Fish Commission web site

Successfully Fly Fish Big Water
Another good article showing success with a fly rod in strong currents

Fly Recommendations for the White River
Dale Fulton, a long-time river fly fishing guru, gives a list of effective White River flies

On The Fly with Dale Fulton
Thinking of learning to fly fish? It's easy!

The North Fork River has about 3.5 miles of top trout fishing, and the White has over 60 miles of top trout fishing water. When you fish the White you'll most likely fish a lot more water. The White is also wider and deeper than the North Fork, which is why many fly fishers who wade fish prefer the North Fork River.

Both the White River and the North Fork River have four trout species - brook, brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout. However, if you are pursuing primarily brook trout, fish the North Fork. If you are a trophy trout fisherman, trophy trout inhabit both rivers. Simply because of its size the White River yields more trophy catches in a year than the North Fork.

The North Fork enjoys one major advantage over the White River, and that is the outflow water from the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. This outflow is very rich in nutrients which feeds the aquatic insect population in the North Fork. Trout in the North Fork grow large quite fast. For many years the World All Tackle Record for brown trout was held by a brown trout caught on a night crawler in the North Fork River. This trout still holds second place in the World All Tackle records.

Almost all professional guides and resorts conduct trout fishing trips on both rivers. Ask your lodging host and guide their opinion on the matter, and if you are a fly fisher, stop by the local fly shops where you'll get informed opinions as well. The debate is way too detailed to cover here!