The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission unanimously approved new trout harvest regulations on January 16, 2026, marking a significant step in the recovery of the state’s world-renowned trout fisheries following a catastrophic production crisis at two critical hatcheries.
The new rules, effective February 1, 2026, replace the emergency catch-and-release orders enacted in October 2025 and signal cautious optimism that the White River system can sustain limited harvest while its fish populations recover.
The New Regulations
Under the approved framework, restrictions vary by location:
Upper White River and North Fork River (Bull Shoals Dam to Norfork Access, and Norfork Dam to Norfork Access):
- Daily limit of two rainbow trout, both must be under 14 inches
- All brown, cutthroat, and brook trout must be released immediately
Lower White River (Norfork Access to Highway 58 bridge at Guion):
- Daily limit of two trout of any species
- Only one trout over 14 inches may be kept
Beaver and Greers Ferry Tailwaters:
- Daily limit of two trout of any species
- All trout over 14 inches must be released immediately
These regulations will remain in effect until further notice.
A Crisis Years in the Making
The new rules represent the latest chapter in what officials have called an unprecedented challenge to Arkansas’s trout program. The crisis began in early April 2025 when severe flooding struck the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery in Mammoth Spring, damaging equipment and infrastructure while washing countless trout out of the raceways before they could grow to catchable size. The state-owned facility has been operating at only 50 percent capacity since the disaster…