Norfork River fishing conditions · Arkansas

Now until 7 pmRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 65. Water is 55°, close to the 55° rainbow trout like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Frost Advisory until Sunday 9 am

Right now: 65 for rainbow trout, marginal · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

653 pm
65
65
656 pm
51
51
519 pm
51
51
51Sun
51
51
513 am
51
51
516 am
51
51
519 am
51
51
6112 pm
61
61
613 pm
51
51
516 pm
51
51
519 pm
51
51
51Mon
51
51

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: 55°F
Wind: 0 mph
Light: Daylight
Sky: Mostly Cloudy
Air: 59°F
Barometer: Falling
Moon: 5% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Arkansas regulations for these waters.

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

65MarginalNow until 7 pm

Water

55°

35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Right in rainbow trout's ideal range. Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

14" maximum · 2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Arkansas (since Feb 1, 2026): on the Norfork tailwater and the White River from Bull Shoals Dam to the Norfork Access, 2 rainbow trout a day, both under 14"; every other trout must be released. From the Norfork Access to the Hwy 58 bridge at Guion, 2 trout with only 1 over 14". Elsewhere the statewide limit is 5 trout a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Arkansas

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Dec (no water record for Jan–Apr), from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on rainbow trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

65MarginalNow until 7 pm

Water

55°

35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Right in brown trout's ideal range. Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

no harvest

Catch and release only today. Arkansas: on the Norfork tailwater and the White River from Bull Shoals Dam to the Norfork Access only rainbows under 14" may be kept, so every brown trout must be released. Below the Norfork Access a brown must be at least 24" and counts as the one fish over 14" in the 2-trout limit.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Arkansas

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Dec (no water record for Jan–Apr), from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on brown trout

The water

Water temperature55°F
Barometer30.19 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunset today5:07 pm
Sunrise tomorrow6:38 am
MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
Minor solunarToday 3:40 pm–4:40 pm
Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
Minor solunarTomorrow 5:50 am–6:50 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Arkansas Game & Fish has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

A short, intensely productive tailwater below Norfork Dam that joins the White at Norfork — famous for wild brown and rainbow trout in clear, cold, weedy water. A technical wade fishery and a perennial trophy-brown destination.

AR: 2 rainbow trout a day, both under 14"; every other trout must be released. From Long Hole down to the River Ridge walk-in access is catch and release with artificial lures and barbless hooks. Dam-generation flows change quickly.

WaterRiver
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesArkansas
WhereBaxter County · 36.2458, -92.2438

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

White River (Bull Shoals tailwater)16 mi · ArkansasNo window clears the barFrost Advisory

53Sit it out

Bull Shoals Lake22 mi · ArkansasBest now until 7 pmFrost Advisory

59Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Norfork River?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Norfork River you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Norfork River?

Norfork River is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Norfork River?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Norfork River against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Norfork River have?

Norfork River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. AR: 2 rainbow trout a day, both under 14"; every other trout must be released. From Long Hole down to the River Ridge walk-in access is catch and release with artificial lures and barbless hooks. Dam-generation flows change quickly.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Norfork River?

state agency regulations apply at Norfork River. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Norfork River tidal water?

No. Norfork River is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.