Trout fishing/kayaking on the Norfolk/white river in Arkansas

My favorite fishing on the planet. We stay at Gastons and hire their guides though. I figure, if I'm going up there I might as well hire the local knowledge. Regardless, its better than being at work. Have fun.

During the summer we caught browns and rainbows using shrimp on the bottom. During the winter and early spring we used the minnows. January through April is probably the best time for browns. But they can be had year round if you are patient and try for them.

Local knowledge helps a ton. The right size hooks and leader will make all the difference. I find recently that the generation schedule is pretty much there is no generation schedule. They seem to open and close gates on a whim. You've got to the prepared for the unknown. Tactics change for rising water versus falling water as well as steady water.

20 something years ago when we started going up there they would turn them all off at night and the river would fall to gravel. In the morning they would start adding generators and we could fish the rising water all the way to Cotter and beyond. Now there is a minumum flow that they may stay at for days on end and then boost or retract here and there.

I recommend the Spring River...they don't generate electricity on that river, therefore the water level remains constant and wade-able. Beware of the "aluminum hatch" on the Spring in the summer time though.