White and Norfork Rivers: World Class Trout Fisheries
Arkansas' White River and nearby Norfork River are world-class trout fisheries -- and getting even better.
Wild Brown Trout
In the early 1970’s fly-fishing icon, Dave Whitlock was given permission to use his Whitlock-Vibert boxes to hatch approximately one million wild brown trout eggs from Wyoming in the White. Almost 40 years later this brown population is virtually self-sustaining population. The Little Red or tributary of the White produced a 40 lb. 4 oz brown world record. Every year several brown in the 30-inch plus class are caught and many, many in the 20-inch plus are taken on a regular basis. These monsters are protected by Arkansas fishing regulations that require the immediate release of any brown under 24 inches.
Stocked Rainbow Trout Which Grow Large
In 1952 after the completion of Bull Shoals dam, the federal government built their largest trout hatchery just below Norfork Dam to maintain the trout populations of the White and Norfork Rivers. Over a million are stocked each year.
Making It Even Better
Two coordinated efforts promise to make these Ozark trout streams truly world-class fisheries.
- Bull Shoals and Norfork dams will soon increase the "minimum" river levels (when generators are shut down) by about 9 inches of water. This additional water will provide thermal protection at lease 30 miles down river and will provide a substantial increase in natural trout food (i.e. scuds, sowbugs, aquatic insects sculpin).
- The Federation of Fly Fisherman and Trout Unlimited have begun a 5-year project to add wild rainbows and cutthroats to the White and Norfork Rivers. This project uses the Whitlock Vibert boxes to allow trout eggs to hatch right in the river.
With an increased food supply and several species of wild trout that can grow large, these rivers will become truly world-class trout streams.