Arkansas Game and Fish Weekly Fishing Report: White River Trout, Mid-October
Every week, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) publishes the Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report, written by Jim Harris, Managing Editor of Arkansas Wildlife magazine. The October 15 edition has good news for north central Arkansas trout anglers. Here are the highlights.
This Week’s Hot Topics
- Quieter water. Many White River guides are busy with deer season, so there is less boat traffic and fewer anglers on the best spots.
- Cotter: rainbows are active on flashy baits such as blue-and-silver spoons, a gold-and-red Cleo, and an orange jig over the shoals. Browns are spawning and are a tougher bite; sculpin patterns and egg-colored baits are getting some takers.
- Calico Rock: water rises each morning from under 3 feet to 5 or 6 feet by late morning. Small spoons, drifted eggs, and trout-pattern minnow baits are producing.
- Weather: sunny skies, cool mornings, and warm afternoons.
- Regulations: limits and size rules differ by stretch of river, so check the current rules before you go.
The full report opens on agfc.com in a new tab. When you finish reading, close that tab to come back here.
For more fishing and hunting information, visit the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at agfc.com. Current trout regulations are at agfc.com/fishing/trout.
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Source: Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report (Oct 15, 2026), Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, by Jim Harris. Summarized here with permission. Header photo courtesy of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. Lodge Between the Lakes is an independent business and is not part of AGFC.