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The White River transforms from a tiny mountain stream into a massive piece of water by the time it enters the Mississippi River, some 720 miles downstream from its source.

Between the two points is a series of dams that have turned the river’s once-turbid warm waters into a thriving trout fishery.

The White River is a truly world class fishery like few others anywhere in the world and our home waters below Bull Shoals Dam and the Norfork Dam are the finest of this river’s 3 tailwaters.  

 
Below Bull Shoals Dam, anglers have landed browns north of 30 pounds, but even on a normal day, it’s not out of the question to net an 11- to 20-pound fish, and 5- to 10-pounders are a regular occurrence.  

The Norfork River is only 5 river miles of trout water but it is a gem in our state.  The river is a tailwater with Norfork Lake being its source. 

The Norfork River also held the Brown trout record in 1988 with a weight of 39 pounds.

Photo Courtesy: Brian Seevers, St louis 8-3-2019

The Norfork also offers a chance to catch five species of trout (Golden trout Were Stocked This Spring) with the rainbow being the most common in the river. Read: Trout Anglers Have Struck Gold on The white River

The White River and Norfork river system is stocked with trout by the AGFC Commission, putting nearly 1.5 million Rainbow trout in the river each year, in addition to fingerling stockings of Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Brook trout, and Golden trout.  

Don’t let the shear number of Trout in this river system fool you, White River trout are just like trout everywhere – they are finicky and elusive. Techniques should always include finesse as well as skill.

Its reputation as a brown trout fishery is well deserved, producing some monster “once in a life time” fish, but also holds good numbers of 19″- 24″ fish.  Chasing these trophies can be an immensely rewarding challenge.

The White River is also heavily stocked with 12″-14″ rainbow trout to provide consistent sport all year round on all water levels for all skill levels.  Some rainbows, and cutthroat,  can be still found well over 20″, truly remarkable captures.  Brook Trout are not uncommon.

If you’re ready to pursue a trophy trout your best bet is fishing with a top pro guide. Any trout weighing four or more pounds is considered a trophy, but trout weighing much more are caught every year. Fishing for trophies is very different from fishing for trout in the 12 to 18-inch size. Tell your guide you want to fish for trophy trout and he’ll explain the process.

You can book a guide by contacting Mike Roach at [email protected] or try calling 870-291-1144, I say try calling because living in the Ozarks has some limitations, good phone service is one of those limitations. The most efficient way to book your next trip is to send me a email with your contact information and I will contact you right away or as soon as I get off the water. I can accommodate any size group. Visit us on our Facebook Page:  Moccasin Creek Guide Service.

I will include some pictures of fish we caught last week, August 2nd – August 11th 2019, below.

Trout Fishing World Records

Brook Trout: 6.57 kg (14 lbs. 8 oz.)
Cutthroat Trout: 18.59 kg (41 lbs. 0 oz.)
Bull trout: 14.51 kg (32 lbs. 0 oz.)
Rainbow trout: 21.77 kg (48 lbs. 0 oz.)
Lake trout: 32.65 kg (72 lbs. 0 oz.)
Brown Trout: 19.08 kg (42 lbs. 1 oz)

Arkansas Man Reels In Whopper Trout On White River Video

References: Big Billy Kinder Outdoors. 

The seasons can actually change before your eyes when its fall on the White River.

This spring fed trout haven flows through the incredibly beautiful hills and mountains of northern Arkansas.

There are more trout than people here….my kind of place. Between 1.7 and 1.8 million hatchery trout are released every year in the stretches of the White and Norfork rivers.

From the Bull Shoals dam to the confluence of the 4 ½ mile Norfork river and well beyond, the federal fish folks make sure that this is one of, if not THE top U.S. destination for trout fishermen.

My most recent trip to these waters was in mid September. You definitely needed a jacket to start the day. Temps in the forties and a 20 mph boat ride first thing in the morning combines to put the wind chill somewhere down around “brrrrr Nellie!”

The chrystal clear water is actually warmer this time of day and year that the air temp, causing a ribbon of fog along the top of the river. That makes a great photo op from high atop one of the mountains that line the stream.

By 9am your shedding the jacket, shorts and t-shirts should be perfect thereafter because the seasons have changed on the river from late fall to summertime again, right before your eyes. My favorite way to fish the White and Norfork rivers are on foot with fly rod in hand. I like to walk the river on low water and pick little spots apart. “Fishing to a fish”.

This trip didnt allow that tho. Because of spring flooding, the dams at both Bull Shoals lake that feeds the White, and Norfork lake that obviously feeds the Norfork have been releasing a lot of water all summer long.

More than usual this year. That’s not a problem, you just fish em differently. In past years I’ve done it on my own and had success catching fish…lots of fish.

A boat rental comes in to play, my fly rod goes back in the tube and the spinning gear comes out. Your line to the side of the boat as you drift your bait towards waiting trout is the ticket. This time around I didn’t mess with a boat rental.

I went with a couple of guys that fish this river nearly every day of their lives. Mike Roach and Paul Price are pros, and I caught a LOT more fish than on my self guided floats.

They handle the boat, you set the hook and grin. They make it a very easy day for the fisherman. Visit the guides and outfitters page here on the website for their contact info.

By the way, it’s a few bucks more but worth every penny…don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy Paul and Mike’s shore lunch. Your morning catch, prepared on a gravel bank complete with salad, taters and dessert. Yes! There is no additional fee for the bald eagles soaring overhead keeping an eye on your lunch.

My friend Rick Pope, owner and founder of Temple Fork Outfitters not only produces some of the best fly rods on the planet, but uses them as well…all over the world. He tell’s me that this river system is amongst the very best, if not alone at the top for north American fly waters. He should know.

If you want to catch the next world record (that’s happened several times over the years in this neck of the woods) that fish will more than likely come from the Norfork.

If you want to catch a load of eaters and still have the opportunity to catch big fish, it’s the White. To complete a White River slam, you must produce to hand a rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout in a single day.

I was 3 out of 4 on two days of my trip. All I was missing was the brookie. They are in there but are the toughest to put in the boat. Numbers are not as high as the other three species.

The river is perfect for world class anglers, and first time worm drowners. If you decide to go, be sure to leave an afternoon open to take the kids to the Federal Fish Hatchery at the base of the Norfork dam. They’ll give you a tour, you will be amazed.

Big Billy Kinder Outdoors.

Bill Kinder
President
Kinder Productions, Inc.
Big Billy Kinder Outdoors
BBKO RADIO NETWORK
SALEM RADIO NETWORK
www.bbkoradio.com
(817) 360-8090

You can book a guide by contacting Mike Roach at [email protected]  or try calling 870-291-1144, I say try calling because living in the Ozarks has some limitations, good phone service is one of those limitations.

The most efficient way to book your next trip is to send me a email with your contact information and I will contact you right away or as soon as I get off the water. I can accommodate any size group.

Visit us on our Facebook Page:  Moccasin Creek Guide Service.

————————————————Images From 8-2-2019 – 8-11-2019—————————————————-

Red with his Brookie.

Red with one of seven nice Brown trout in the 5lb to 10lb bracket.

One of Brian Seever’s nice Browns caught on the Norfork River.

Red is all smiles as he closes out his trip with 2 nice Browns in the last hour of the last day of a 2 day trip.

Nice Cutthroat.

The next 2 pictures were from 8-11-2019, Sunday morning.

You can book a guide by contacting Mike Roach at [email protected]  or try calling 870-291-1144, I say try calling because living in the Ozarks has some limitations, good phone service is one of those limitations. The most efficient way to book your next trip is to send me a email with your contact information and I will contact you right away or as soon as I get off the water. I can accommodate any size group. 

Visit us on our Facebook Page:  Moccasin Creek Guide Service.