Hatchery and Stocking Information
National Fish Hatcheries
Trout production for Arkansas trout fisheries is provided by two federal trout hatcheries and four AGFC grow-out facilities. The Norfork National Fish Hatchery (NFNFH) is located below Norfork Dam and Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery (GFNFH) is below Greers Ferry Dam. The NFNFH produces over 400,000 pounds of trout for distribution in public waters including: 305,000 pounds of eleven-inch rainbow trout (560,000), 8,750 pounds of six-inch brown trout (105,000 fish), and 16,250 pounds of six-inch cutthroat trout (195,000 fish). NFNFH also provides 70,000 lbs of rainbow trout for the Jim Hinkle/Spring River SFH and the Pot Shoals Caged Net Pen Facility stocking programs. The NFNFH stocks the Bull Shoals, Norfork, Greers Ferry, and Beaver Tailwaters, plus Blanchard Spring.
The GFNFH produces over 155,000 pounds of trout (rainbow and brook trout) for the Little Red River and the South Arkansas trout waters. This includes 107,000 pounds of eleven-inch rainbow trout (198,390 fish) and 2,500 pounds of six-inch brook trout (30,000 fish). GFNFH also provides 46,000 lbs of rainbow trout for the Jim Hinkle/Spring River SFH and the Jim Collins Net Pen Facility stocking programs.
Norfork National Fish Hatchery Website
Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery Website
State Fish Hatcheries
The Jim Hinkle/Spring River State Fish Hatchery (JH/SRSFH) current production is 650,000 pounds of rainbow trout annually. The hatchery stocks over 1,000,000 11-inch rainbow trout into Arkansas trout waters. The JH/SRSFH is responsible for raising fish for distribution into the Bull Shoals and Greers Ferry Tailwaters, Spring River, Blanchard Spring, the South Arkansas trout waters and the Family and Community Fishing program seasonal trout ponds located throughout the state.
The Pot Shoals Net Pens produce rainbow trout during the winter and spring months for distribution to the Bull Shoals, Norfork, Beaver, and Greers Ferry Tailwaters, Bull Shoals Lake, plus trout for the seasonal Family and Community Fishing Program. Annual production at Pot Shoals is 84,000 pounds (155,000) 11” rainbow trout.
The Jim Collins Net Pens currently produce over 64,000 pounds (117,000) of 11” rainbow trout, in cooperation with the Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery, for distribution in the winter and spring months to the South Arkansas trout waters which include: the Narrows Tailwater, Lake Catherine below Carpenter Dam, Lake Hamilton below Blakely Dam, Albert Pike Recreation Area, Remmel Dam Tailwater and the Upper Little Missouri River.
The Lake Wilhelmina Caged Net Pen Operation cultures 11-inch rainbow trout (6,600 fish/3,600 pounds). These trout are distributed among Family and Community seasonal trout fishing areas located in counties located in the south and western part of the state.
Projected Annual Trout Stocking