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Overview
Fishing

Trout

Trout are not native to Arkansas. Arkansas’s trout fisheries are the result of cold-water discharge downstream from many U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams.

Before these dams, the White River was full of smallmouth bass and other warmwater fish. The coldwater discharge wiped out the smallmouth fisheries.

The federal government mitigated the damage through the annual stocking of trout, which can handle much colder water temperatures. Brown trout can reproduce successfully in Arkansas, but rainbow trout populations require annual stockings.


The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will hold a series of public meetings around Arkansas as part of its process to develop a new statewide plan to guide trout management in The Natural State.

These seven public meetings will be held in an open house format to allow individuals to meet with fisheries biologists and other AGFC staff one-on-one to learn about trout fishing and trout management efforts and how the new plan will influence future decision-making regarding Arkansas’s world-famous trout waters.

Trout management public meetings
Hardy
5:30-7 p.m. Sept. 24
Hardy Civic Center, 301 W Main St, Hardy, AR 72542
Springdale
6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 26
J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center
3400 N 40th St, Springdale, AR 72762
Mountain Home
1-3 p.m. Sept. 28
Baxter County Library, Knox Rooms A and B
300 Library Hill, Mountain Home, AR 72653
Hot Springs
6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 30
Hot Springs Convention Center and Bank of the Ozarks Arena
134 Convention Boulevard, Hot Springs, AR 71901
Little Rock
6-7:30 p.m. October 1
AGFC Headquarters
2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205
Mountain Home
6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 2
Vada Sheid Community Development Center
1600 S. College St., Mountain Home, AR, 72653
Heber Springs
6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 7
Heber Springs Community Center
201 Bobbie Jean Ln, Heber Springs, AR 72543

Important Trout Resources

Trout Waters

Get Information About All Trout Water Locations

Trout Fishing Regulations

Click for Trout Fishing Guidebook PDF

State Fish Hatcheries

Find Coldwater Fish Hatcheries in Arkansas

Scheduled Trout Stockings

Get the full Trout Stocking Schedule

Get Your Trout Permit Today