The Friends of the Norfork National Fish Hatchery is a nonprofit citizens group chartered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to support and promote the hatchery. As a citizens group, the Friends group is able to promote the Norfork National Fish Hatchery in a manner that the hatchery, as an agency of the federal government, cannot do for itself.
The Norfork National Fish Hatchery was established in 1955 and is a cold water hatchery primarily for the production of trout to restock the tailwaters below Norfork, Bull Shoals and other dams. The hatchery is responsible for raising three kinds of trout: rainbow, brown and cutthroat. In addition, Norfork National Fish Hatchery also provides trout to reservoirs and in cooperation with state game and fish agencies, distributes fish throughout Arkansas and other nearby states. The Hatchery's geographic area covers eastern Oklahoma and the White River Basin in Northern Arkansas.
The Norfork Fish Hatchery is the largest hatchery in the National Fish Hatchery System and provides the most economic impact of any National Fish Hatchery in the country. The hatchery is the economic driver of Baxter and Marion Counties for fishing, lodging, and retail sales. In 2012, the hatchery provided $91.1 million dollars of economic output and created 994 jobs in the state. The Norfork National Fish Hatchery is also the most visited tourist attraction in Baxter County with nearly 250,000 visitors annually.
The Norfork National Fish Hatchery produces 500,000 lbs of Rainbow, Brown, and Cutthroat Trout annually from its 96 raceways. This number represents over 2.5 million fish being released recreationally per year in Arkansas and Oklahoma, with 92% of Norfork Hatchery fish being released back into Arkansas waters.
Over 7,000 annual visitors fish Dry Run Creek each year. This one of a kind stream is filled with trout, including some monsters that get caught each day. For kids under the age of 16 and mobility impaired individuals, it would be tough to find a better place to come wet a line and have a great chance at catching a true wall hanger (of course we ask that you take a picture and release the fish to be caught again as this is a catch and release area)! Bring your camera and the kids and use either the handicap accessible platforms built to fish specific holes or try your hand at getting out into the water and wading for the day.
The Norfork National Fish Hatchery hosts a large number of schools each year and nearly 2,000 kids visit the hatchery for fishing, fly tying, and fish biology classes. During the summer months, the Friends of the Norfork Hatchery puts on many events tailored around children and trout fishing including Trout Camps, Fishing Derbies, Hatchery Outdoor Adventures, and Fly Tying Classes.