White River and Norfork River and Buffalo River Guided Trout Fishing Float Trips and Overnight Trout Fishing Camp Trips

For over 50 Years Cotter Trout Dock has been conducting exceptional guided trout fishing float trips and camping float trips on Arkansas' White River and North Fork River and smallmouth bass fishing trips on the Buffalo National River in Northern Arkansas.

What We Offer.....It's As Much The Relaxation As It Is The Great Trout Fishing!

Float" trip? You guessed it, that means you'll drift down the Arkansas White, North Fork  or Buffalo rivers at a comfortable pace to fish for trout, as you watch scenery and wildlife. Your guide does everything for you and lets you catch the trout. And if you choose, you may also enjoy a grand White River, Arkansas fishingtradition that dates back well over 100 years - the Shore Lunch.

An Arkansas trout fishing "camping" float trip is a truly therapeutic adventure. When the trout fishing day is over you'll camp on our private 15 acre wooded island. You enjoy a tasty steak dinner cooked over oak coals, then relax with your friends around the campfire until retiring to your tent to sleep on a comfortable cot. In the morning you'll watch our cooks prepare your breakfast over the campfire as you sip hot coffee.

Over the last 50 years we've heard thousands of happy customers claim that our Arkansas Ozarks float trips are unforgettable fun and relaxation. Those who have never fished in their lives come away amazed at the fun they had, and how much they relaxed in such a short time. And the seasoned fishers make the same claim.

As the world we live in becomes ever more stressful, the therapeutic value of a good float trip has become more valuable than ever before. That's why people from all walks of life today are once again discovering how much fun this 100 year old White River, Arkansas float trip experience can be. Corporate, church, and other groups find that an Arkansas camping float trip is a great way for employees and members to get to know one another like they would with few other methods.

To learn more, please visit each section of this Web site. You'll find that most of your questions will be answered in detail, but please feel free to phone us with any questions you have.

Fishing Trip Planning Services

Cotter Trout Dock is open all year around. We've been in the same location since 1954- just after trout were introduced into the Arkansas White River. We are fully licensed and insured. We are very safety conscious and are inspected by the National Park Service on a regular basis. We do not have any hidden charges.

When you book your fishing trip with Cotter Trout Dock, we'll make your room reservations at the accommodation of your choice. We'll be happy to make reservations at restaurants or attractions for your group. For corporate groups we can pay for rooms, meals etc., and your company can write one check to us.

We'll be happy to pick you up at either the Marion County Airport in Flippin or the Baxter County Airport in Mountain Home and provide transportation between the dock and your motel accommodations at no extra charge. We gladly provide rods and reels at no charge.

Fishing Float Trips - Half Day, Full Day and Multiple Days

Brown trout like this one are not uncommon, we see our guests catch many every year. You'll also catch rainbows, cutthroats, and brooktrout.

Our Arkansas trout fishing float trips range in length from an 8 mile 1/2 day trip, to camping trips of several days covering about fifteen miles per day. All trips are fully outfitted with all you need for a safe, comfortable excursion. Trips are conducted by a professional, well-trained guides with many years experience. We are famous for our excellent shore lunches and camp meals.

We are happy to "put-you-in" at any point on the rivers and "take-you-out" at any point on any river.

Our most requested trip leaves the Cotter Trout Dock dock at 7:00 AM and you fish 14 miles to the Buffalo City public access ramp.  At 4:00 PM we bring you back to the dock in our vans.
Learn More About Our Fishing

White River, Arkansas - Producer of Several Line Class Trout World Records

The cold, crystal clear White River flows from Bull Shoals Dam 18 miles above Cotter, Arkansas, our starting base. For the next 60 miles its chilled waters are perfect for rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout, as well as providing natural air conditioning that keeps you comfortable even during July and August. The Arkansas White River receives regular trout stocking, plus it has good populations of native trout.

The scenery is primarily Arkansas Ozark forests and bluffs with some open fields. There are homes along the river banks in some areas, but for the most part the scenery is primitive. You'll see several types of animals, birds (including blue herons and eagles), and wildflowers along the way.

Overnight and Extended Camping Float Trips

After fishing all day a large corporate group pulls up to camp for the night on our private 15 acre island.

Cotter Trout Dock owns a 15 acre island in the middle of the Arkansas White River directly in front of the mouth of the Buffalo River. Your privacy and solitude is guaranteed! We maintain multiple grassy, shaded camp sites on our island so that we do not need to combine groups. Your campsite is for your group alone. This private campground is for our overnight float trip guests only.

Overnight trips are from 2 to 6 days. Depending on the length of your trip and water conditions, you might elect to float both the Buffalo National River and the White River; or float the North Fork and White Rivers. All trips are tailored to your individual requirements.
 Learn More About Our Camping

Smell The Coffee .. . And The Bacon . . . And The Steaks

Campfire bacon frying over oak coals is one of many tasty dishes our skilled cooks prepare on camping float trips.

At Cotter Trout Dock in Cotter, Arkansas, we are famous for our shore lunches and camp cooking. Field & Stream and other outdoor magazines have written several articles about us, and they all raved about our meals. But the article we are most proud of is one that appeared in Gourmet Magazine. They had many good things to say about our meal and our guides. We bet you will too! We use top quality ingredients like corn-fed beef, hand-picked tomatoes, and cooks who know what to do with them.

You may change the menu to accommodate the tastes and diets of your group - low fat, Kosher, etc. You'll need to bring your own alcohol, but we can special order anything else.
Learn More About Our Meals