Arkansas
White River below Bull Shoals Dam at Bull Shoals
Current River Rating
Fair · 61
Conditions are mixed. Review the details below before heading out.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Partial water evidence · Medium confidence
Should I Go?
Consider
Recommended Window
Saturday, 6:00 PM–9:00 PM
Why
- Water temperature is within the preferred trout range.
- Air temperature is outside a comfortable fishing range.
- Flow observation is unavailable.
Favorable Factors
- Recent precipitation has been light.
- Light wind should make casting and boat control easier.
Cautions
- Very clear skies may make trout more cautious in shallow water.
Timing Evidence
Window confidence: High
Current Readings
- Flow
- Not available
- Gage Height
- Not available
- Water Temperature
- 57 °F
- Observation Time
- Sep 5, 2026, 8:00 AM
Updated recently · USGS station 07054502 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
82°F
Feels like
87°F
Wind
2 mph E
Wind gust
3 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 12:15 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 4 AM
Clear
Temp 78°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 2 mph
Sat 8 AM
Clear
Temp 79°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 1 mph
Sat 12 PM
Clear
Temp 99°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 1 mph
Sat 4 PM
Clear
Temp 103°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 2 mph
Sat 8 PM
Overcast
Temp 93°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 7 mph
Sun 12 AM
Overcast
Temp 84°F
Chance 5%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Overcast
High 103°F / Low 75°F
Chance 4%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 13 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Overcast
High 104°F / Low 78°F
Chance 6%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 22 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Drizzle
High 82°F / Low 70°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.01 in
Max gust 23 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Clear
High 103°F / Low 67°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 10 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
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Fishing Overview
White River below Bull Shoals Dam at Bull Shoals, Arkansas. Monitoring-Backed from USGS (live 00010). USGS 07054502 is below the dam, not Bull Shoals Lake and not 07054501 at the dam or 07057370 near Norfork. AGFC manages trout from the dam to the Highway 58 bridge at Guion.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at White River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
The Bull Shoals tailwater is Arkansas's flagship White River trout fishery. StrikeTracks publishes Monitoring-Backed conditions from USGS 07054502 using live water temperature. This is not Bull Shoals Lake, not the Norfork tailwater, and not the separate Calico Rock pin farther downstream still inside the Guion trout-water boundary. Current emergency harvest rules are reach-specific. Flow Context remains default-deny.
Target species
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
AGFC Bull Shoals Tailwater rainbow trout. USGS 07054502 live 00010. Not remapped to 07054501, 07054527, or 07057370.
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
AGFC Bull Shoals Tailwater brown trout. Brook and tiger trout appear in AGFC trout-water regulations and are not treated as selector primaries here.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Tailwater
Cold White River tailwater immediately below Bull Shoals Dam in Marion County. Distinct from the reservoir and from the North Fork / Norfork tailwater.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Dry flies
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Spinning
- Streamers
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Public trout fishing is documented by AGFC Bull Shoals Tailwater pages from the dam downstream through Cotter toward Guion. Catalog coordinates are USGS 07054502.
Stocking information
AGFC has stocked rainbow and brown trout here since the 1950s. Confirm current official stocking and emergency harvest notices.
- Stocked
Rainbow Trout
Stocked · Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
- Stocked
Brown Trout
Stocked · Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Official sources
AGFC trout-water rules apply from Bull Shoals Dam to the Highway 58 bridge at Guion. 2026 emergency limits: dam to Norfork Access, two rainbow trout and all trout over 14 inches must be released; Norfork Access to Guion, two trout with only one over 14 inches, plus remaining brown/cutthroat/tiger/brook minima. Cutthroat trout are described in regulations only and are not a StrikeTracks selector. Confirm current official regulations. Generation is a wading hazard.
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Parachute-style dryGeneral attractor dry family — not a claim that a named mayfly is hatching.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for trout rivers without destination hatch timing.
- Elk-hair-style dryGeneral dry/attractor family. Pattern choice only — not a report that caddis are hatching.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral streamer family. Not a forage or insect Hatch event.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Marion, Arkansas
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Marion
Management Category
AGFC year-round trout tailwater
Regulation Scope
White River Bull Shoals tailwater to Guion
Regulation Summary
Bull Shoals Tailwater: AGFC trout-water rules from the dam to Highway 58 at Guion, including current emergency harvest limits. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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