When you come around a bend in the river and the size of
the North Fork suddenly doubles, you
are almost at Rainbow Springs.
Stick your hand in the water and see how much colder it
is.
Rainbow Springs [AKA Double Springs] dumps an average of
82 million gallons of 56-59 degree water into the North
Fork River daily, with a recorded
high of 150 million gallons in a day! This effectively
doubles the size of the river.
You are entering the Wild Trout Area!
The Missouri Wild Trout Management
Area
 Between
Rainbow Springs and Blair Bridge is the Missouri Wild
Trout Management Area of the North Fork
River. This area has not been
stocked with Rainbow trout since 1964 and features
excellent fly fishing for wild rainbow trout .
In 1995 the stocking of
Brown trout was stopped in this 5.9 mile stretch of the
river designated as Wild Trout area.
This lack of habitat
competition, along with the protective regulations, have
allowed the Rainbow trout population to steadily improve
in both size and amounts.
Many huge Brown trout
wander upstream from the Special Trout Management Area
and may also be caught in the Wild Trout Area. While 80%
of the trout in this area are native rainbows, when it
comes to trout over 18" in length about 80% are Brown
trout.
Because most of this
portion of the North Fork is privately owned, the best
method to fish the Wild Trout Area is by canoe, or as a
guest of the River of Life Farm.
For catching wild trout,
the North Fork is a true gem of the Ozarks.
Special trout fishing
regulations apply within the Wild Trout Management Area.
These regulations include a limit of one trout per day,
that must measure 18" or greater. This one trout limit
is for either a Rainbow or Brown trout, not both.
Only flies and
artificial lures may be used. Soft plastic baits,
natural and scented baits are specifically prohibited.
These strict harvest regulationsensure there are quality
trout for everyone!
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