Arkansas Trout Anglers Face New Catch Limits Starting In 2026

If you love fishing in the Natural State, there's no secret that Arkansas has some of the best trout fishing around. However, trout anglers will have to abide by new trout regulations passed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for 2026.

AGFC Adopts Limits on Four of Arkansas’s Famous Trout Tailwater Fisheries

According to the AGFC, Trout anglers on the White River from Bull Shoals Dam to the Norfork Access and on the North Fork River from Norfork Dam to the Norfork Access will be able to keep two rainbow trout under 14 inches. All other trout species must be released immediately in these waters.

All of these new regulations will go into effect on February 1, 2026, and will remain in effect until further notice. Fishing on Beaver Lake or Greers Ferry Tailwaters, the daily limit will be two trout of any species.

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Reason Behind the AGFC Regulatory Change For Trout Fishing in Arkansas

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has enacted a regulatory change aimed at encouraging trout fishing on affected waters following the conclusion of a temporary emergency order implemented last year to reduce the statewide trout harvest.

The order was established after significant trout shortages occurred at both federal and state hatcheries, the Norfork National Fish Hatchery, and the AGFC's Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery.

Both hatcheries experienced unforeseen fish die-offs caused by natural events, resulting in the near-total loss of trout production at both facilities.

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The commission adopted a temporary restrictive limit system on the waters dependent on hatchery-stocked trout, designed as a proactive step to conserve remaining fish populations while assessing the extent of losses and working toward recovery efforts.

Stocking schedules are improving, and hatchery operations are stabilizing. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission adjustment is intended to restore angling opportunities and support Arkansas’s trout fisheries