Trout, lakes & family ponds · checked September 23, 2026
Fishing in Northwest Arkansas
Where to fish from Fayetteville and Bentonville: the Beaver Tailwater trout water an hour away, the in-town lakes, AGFC's stocked family ponds, and the famous White River tailwaters worth the longer drive. Rules come from AGFC's 2026–27 Fishing Guidebook (in effect July 1, 2026).
Orange pins and badges are open this weekend, from each place's posted schedule.
The essentials
Licenses (AGFC 2026–27)
- Who needs one
- Everyone 16 or older must carry an Arkansas fishing license.
- Resident
- Fishing license $10.50 · trout permit $10 (the 3-day resident trip license no longer exists)
- Nonresident
- Annual $60 · 1-day $15 (new) · 3-day $30 · trout permit $20
- Trout permit
- Required to fish the Beaver, Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters and the Spring River, and to keep trout from any Arkansas water.
- Buy online
- ar-web.s3licensing.com
Source: agfc.com
Beaver Tailwater rules (the closest trout water)
- Where
- The White River below Beaver Dam near Eureka Springs, about 7.5 miles to Table Rock Lake. About 1 hr 10 min from Fayetteville (estimate).
- Limit
- 2 trout a day; every trout 14 inches or longer goes back. One rod.
- Lures-only zone
- From about half a mile below the dam to about 100 yards above Parker Bend Access: barbless artificial lures or flies only, no bait or chumming.
- Generation
- Check the dam schedule before wading: Southwestern Power posts it daily around 3 PM (BEV column), or call the Corps line at 417-336-5083.
- Note
- AGFC's tailwater pages still show an October 2025 emergency banner; it was replaced Feb 1, 2026. The guidebook limits above are current.
Source: agfc.com
Trout water
Trout (tailwater)
Beaver Tailwater
Dam Site Park, below Beaver Dam, near Eureka Springs
- When:
- Year-round; watch the generation schedule
- Admission:
- Fishing license + trout permit
- What's there:
- Access at Dam Site Park, Parker Bottoms, Bertrand, Parker Bend (walk-in, accessible) and Houseman (boat ramp)
Lakes in town
- Family-friendly
City lake (194 acres)
Lake Fayetteville
1330 E Lake Fayetteville Rd, Fayetteville
- When:
- Sunrise to sunset; closed Thanksgiving and Dec 23 – Jan 14
- Admission:
- Lake access fee (16+): $5 a day or $40 a year, plus a boat permit
- What's there:
- Crappie, bass, bluegill, redear, catfish; marina with boat rentals; no wading
City lake (389 acres)
Lake Sequoyah
6608 E Lake Sequoyah Dr, Fayetteville
- When:
- No-wake lake
- Admission:
- No city permit or fee
- What's there:
- Boat ramp and courtesy dock; bank access from spur trails
- Family-friendly
City lake + AGFC family pond
Lake Bentonville
2100 SW I St, Bentonville
- When:
- Sunrise to 11 PM
- Admission:
- State license only; rod or pole only, electric motors only
- What's there:
- Fishing docks and a ramp; stocked with catfish (June) and trout (winter)
Stocked family fishing ponds (AGFC)
AGFC stocks catfish in spring and fall and rainbow trout from the week before Thanksgiving through February. Limits: 3 catfish, 5 trout, 25 bream; release largemouth.
- Family-friendly
AGFC family fishing pond (trout)
Lake Atalanta
Lake Atalanta Park, Rogers
- When:
- Trout stocked in winter
- What's there:
- An accessible fishing jetty
- Family-friendly
AGFC family fishing pond
Murphy Park Fishing Pond
Murphy Park, Springdale
- When:
- Catfish stocked June 25, 2026; trout in winter
- Family-friendly
AGFC family fishing pond
Lake Springdale
Lake Springdale, Springdale
- When:
- Catfish stocked June 25, 2026; trout in winter
- Family-friendly
AGFC family fishing pond
Shaw Family Park Pond
Shaw Family Park, Springdale
- When:
- Catfish stocked April 17, 2026; trout in winter
Guides & fly shops
Trout & walleye guide, fly lessons
Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service
Near Eureka Springs (Beaver Tailwater)
- When:
- Beaver Tailwater, Beaver Lake and Table Rock
Guides since 1954, boat rentals, float camps
Cotter Trout Dock
Cotter, AR (White River)
- When:
- White River below Bull Shoals
Fly shop + guided trips
Spring River Flies and Guides
Spring River area, north Arkansas
- When:
- Spring River
On the calendar
Verified events for the season, updated every night.
- Sat, Oct 31PM
Studio Class | Slip Casting Ceramics
Arts & Culture:Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art· Bentonville
$150 - Thu, Oct 155:30PM
Fly Fishing Film Tour
Live Music:TheatreSquared· Fayetteville
Worth the drive
Trout (tailwater)
Bull Shoals Tailwater (White River)
Bull Shoals–White River State Park, Bull Shoals
- When:
- Year-round; catch-and-release areas below the dam (fully closed Nov 1 – Jan 31) and at Rim Shoals
- Admission:
- License + trout permit; 2 rainbows a day above Norfork Access, release 14"+
- Family-friendly
Trout (tailwater)
Norfork Tailwater & Dry Run Creek
Quarry Park below Norfork Dam
- When:
- Year-round; Dry Run Creek is for anglers under 16 and mobility-impaired anglers only (catch and release)
Trout (spring-fed)
Spring River
Mammoth Spring, AR
- When:
- Year-round, 58°F spring water
- Admission:
- 5 trout a day, 1 over 14"; brown trout minimum 16" (new July 1, 2026)
Quick answers
- Where can I fish for trout near Fayetteville?
- The Beaver Tailwater below Beaver Dam near Eureka Springs, about 70 minutes away (our estimate). In winter, AGFC also stocks rainbow trout in Lake Atalanta, Lake Bentonville and the Springdale family ponds.
- Do I need a trout permit in Arkansas?
- Yes, to fish the tailwaters (Beaver, Bull Shoals, Norfork) and the Spring River, and to keep trout from any Arkansas water. It's $10 for residents and $20 for nonresidents, on top of a fishing license.
- Is there a fee to fish Lake Fayetteville?
- Yes: a lake access fee for ages 16 and up, $5 a day or $40 a year, plus a boat permit if you launch. Lake Sequoyah and Lake Wilson have no fee.
- When does AGFC stock trout in the family ponds?
- Starting the week before Thanksgiving, through February. Catfish are stocked in spring and in September–October.
Dates, hours and prices are as each business posted them on September 23, 2026, and they change. Spot something out of date, or run one we missed? Tell us.
Nobody paid to be on this list. Inclusion is editorial.