North Fork River

It’s often said that good things come in small packages, and Arkansas’s North Fork River bears this out. Meandering for just five miles between Lake Norfork Dam and the White River, this waterway packs in a lot of outdoor beauty and some of the best fishing in the entire state. Trout fishing is the headliner on the North Fork, thanks to regular water releases from the dam that keep the water between 47 and 58 degrees. This creates the ideal fish habitat and brings anglers from all over the world to Arkansas to test their skill against the wily brook, brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout, all of which can be found here. At low water, wade fishing is popular while float fishing is recommended when the water is high. Any one of the guide shops in the area can advise the first-timer on river conditions as well as special catch-and-release guidelines.