The Trout Management Program would like to remind folks that the Bull Shoals Catch-and-Release Area (White River, directly below Bull Shoals Dam) closes to fishing on Saturday, November 1 and will remain closed through January 31, 2026. Each year, we close the area to protect spawning fish.
The seasonal Brown Trout catch-and-release area, which extends from the wing dike at the Bull Shoals/White River State Park to the bottom of the State Park, also took effect and will remain in effect until January 31, 2026.
Although we currently do not allow harvest of any trout from the seasonal catch-and-release area due to the temporary emergency order, we still require anglers to use only artificial lures or flies with barbless hooking points and prohibit night fishing from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.