Tailwaters of Lake Norfork Dam, the North Fork meanders for a mere 5-miles before joining the White River. Expert anglers and inexperienced fishermen alike enjoy exciting, year-round fishing adventures on this perfect cool water trout stream. Cool waters from the Norfork Dam flow into this picturesque five-mile long mountain river creating a perfect world-class trout stream. The North Fork River remains at 47 to 58 degrees during all seasons providing an ideal year-round habitat for Rainbow, Cutthroat, German Brown and Brook. At low water the river offers great fishing for anglers whom like to wade. Access is plentiful with much provided by private resorts. Quarry Park, just below Norfork Dam, has both a concrete boat launching ramp and public access for bank fishing and wading. Bank fishing at the mouth of Dry Run Creek, which enters the tailwater in Quarry Park, is popular.  The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Norfork Public Access also provides bank fishing. Baxter County Road 63 roughly parallels the river from one end to the other. The Ark. 5 and railroad bridges mark some of the deepest holes.

The Norfork National Fish Hatchery practices continuous stocking of this tail water trout stream, and record-breaking trophy catches of the North Fork River include a world record German brown trout caught in 1989 that weighed almost 39 pounds. Browns are not the only bruts in the river, recently an outing by Patrick Monroney of Fayetteville caught an estimated 24.7 pound rainbow trout in the catch and release area on the North Fork River. The state record for rainbow trout is 19.1 pounds and was caught by Jim Miller of Memphis in 1981 on the White River. Unfortunately for Monroney, his catch will not be considered a state record since it was caught in the catch and release area and could not be officially weighed.

Fishing resorts on the beautiful and peaceful North Fork provide excellent lodging, equipment rentals, jon boat rentals and professional guide services.  Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Ozarks and fed by the cool waters of Norfork Lake, the North Fork River is a beauty to behold and a joy to fish.