LegendaryIntroducedStocked
10
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta · Salmonidae
Ghost of the tailwater. State-record 40+ pounds.
Common
12–20 in
Max
40+ in
Weight
40+ lbs (state)
Best Bite Windows
When brown trout feeds · time-of-day read
Right now · 12:00 PM · MIDD window
DORMANT35%feeding activity
Off-peak · slow near cover
24-hour bite curvetaller = more feeding · scrub the clock
12a6a12p6p12a
DAWN
77
MORN
52
MIDD
38
AFTE
67
DUSK
89
NIGH
88
Big browns hunt the dark · streamer magic
Solar + LunarMED-HIGH lunar pull
Major feeds7:48p – 9:48p5:05a – 7:05a
Minor feeds5:25a – 6:25a7:57p – 8:57p
Solunar window 8:03p – 9:33p
Full MoonNew Moon
Day · Generation schedule dominates in tailwaters. Feed on invertebrate hatches (mayflies, midges) during low-generation windows.
Night · Large Brown Trout are nocturnal hunters; slight Full Moon advantage. Streamers after dark on low-generation nights.
Tailwater · Generation schedule overrides lunar influence in tailwaters. Check SWPA/USACE release schedule first.
Habitat
TailwatersStreams
Range
White River, Little Red, Norfork tailwater.
Diet
Sculpins, crawfish, shad, other trout.
Tackle box · top lures
Top picks · Fall pattern
1
1/8oz White Spinner (silver blade)
with silver blade
Flash triggers reaction strikes in moving water.
AGFC
Lures from AGFC reports + species data — verify regs at agfc.com/fishing.
Ready-to-fish boxes for Brown Trout
Gear up locallyPartner
Tale Waters & Tides
The home water for Arkansas anglers
Pocket Fishing Guide is powered by Tale Waters & Tides — gear, guides, and the stories behind the water. Plan your next trip with us.
How to fish it · techniques
Big fly, big fish
Fish overcast, high-flow days
Respect redds in winter
Book a guidePartner
Rileys White & Buffalo Outfitter
Your White & Buffalo River outfitter
Guided float trips, canoe & kayak rentals, and riverside cabins on the White and Buffalo rivers.
Fun fact
Rip Collins caught a 40 lb 4 oz brown trout on the Little Red River in 1992 — held the IGFA world record for two decades. That fish is why anglers still drive overnight to cast at dawn.
Status
Stocked
Introduced · Salmonidae
Regulations
Bull Shoals Tailwater Catch-and-Release Zone — Brown Trout · From Bull Shoals Dam downstream to Rim Shoals
0 per day
AGFC regulations Always confirm current size & daily limits with AGFC before keeping fish.