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Arkansas punches well above its size for trout fishing. The White River below Bull Shoals Dam is one of the premier tailwater trout fisheries in the United States. The cold, clear water released from the dam holds rainbow and brown trout year-round, and the river has produced brown trout exceeding 30 pounds. The North Fork of the White, the Little Red River, and the Norfork tailwater round out a system of cold-water fisheries with no real peer in the South.
The state also holds excellent largemouth bass, striped bass on Lake Ouachita, and crappie throughout the river delta region in the east. The Arkansas River system supports catfish in numbers that attract serious rod fishermen from multiple states. Mountain fork streams in the Ozarks hold smallmouth bass in clear, rocky runs.
Resident licenses cost $16. If you move to Arkansas for trout, you are making a financially sound decision — the quality per dollar is exceptional. Guide services on the White River are professional and numerous. You will need a trout permit in addition to the base license, but the combined cost is still among the lowest in the country for the quality of fishing you get.
The White River below Bull Shoals Dam is among the best tailwater trout fisheries in the country. Cold water releases from the dam create year-round trout habitat producing world-class brown trout.
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Sources: State wildlife agencies, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Bassmaster, Field & Stream, In-Fisherman, Fly Fisherman magazine. License costs reflect annual resident/non-resident fishing license only; additional stamps (trout, salmon) may apply. Updated May 2026.