Anglers heading to Arkansas’ most popular trout waters this year will want to check the fine print before casting a line.
The 2026 Arkansas Fishing Guidebook is now being delivered to bait shops and license dealers statewide, including locations around Bull Shoals, Norfork and Greers Ferry, with updated regulations that directly affect fishing on local tailwaters. The guidebook is also available online at www.agfc.com/guidebooks.
Published by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the guidebook outlines fishing regulations for public waters across the state and includes identification guides for commonly caught game fish. A special trout section features maps and access points for destinations such as the Bull Shoals, Norfork, and Greers Ferry tailwaters, helping anglers locate boat ramps and bank access areas.
Among the most significant changes this year are revised trout harvest limits following trout stocking shortages in 2025. A flood at the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery and a later die-off at Norfork National Fish Hatchery reduced available rainbow trout, prompting the commission to adjust limits on several tailwaters.
From Bull Shoals Dam to the boat ramp at Norfork Access, anglers may now keep two rainbow trout under 14 inches per day. All other trout must be released immediately.
On the White River from Norfork Dam to the Norfork Access boat ramp, anglers are also limited to two rainbow trout under 14 inches per day, with all other trout required to be released.
From Norfork Access to the Arkansas Highway 58 bridge at Guion, anglers may keep two trout total. That limit may include two rainbow trout under 14 inches, or one rainbow trout under 14 inches and one larger trout — either a rainbow or brook trout over 14 inches, or a brown, cutthroat or tiger trout over 24 inches. All other trout must be released immediately.
At the Greers Ferry Tailwater, anglers may keep two trout under 14 inches per day. All other trout must be released immediately.
The updated guidebook reflects the commission’s efforts to protect trout populations while maintaining fishing opportunities at popular destinations that draw anglers from across the region year-round.
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