Oklahoma

Fishing in Oklahoma  

With the huge Lake Eufaula, and Lake Texoma, along with more man-made lakes than any other state of the USA, Oklahoma stands out as yet another wonderful fishing destination. Fishing in Oklahoma is indeed a memorable experience with its wide fishing opportunities.

Top Spots

The state has been divided into 5 regions:

Deep Fork River

Central

Lake Arcadia, situated on the Deep Fork River, has 1,820 acres of surface area and 26 miles long shoreline. Lake Stanley-Draper Marina provided ample opportunities for fishing and fishing is available from shore and boat and also piers which are covered or uncovered. For fishing from coast, daily permit costs $3 and annual one costs $15. These permits are at sale at the lake, so also are Oklahoma State fishing licenses. Other major lakes in this region are Hefner, Overholser, Wes Watkins and Thunderbird. Fishes found are largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel, flathead and blue catfish, walleye, rainbow trout

Northeast

Tulsa urban fisheries attract anglers for several reasons. As the lakes and streams are tranquil, they offer quietness from routine hectic life. They include some beautiful lakes like Crescent Pond, Garden Ridge Pond, Brookwood, Lynn Lane Reservoir, and so on.  The Hudson Lake and the Markham Ferry Dam situated on the back of Grand River are the dream destinations of every angler. With 12,000 acres of water the lake is known to be the best bass lake in Oklahoma. Variety of bass like largemouth, black, white, spoteed, and hybrid striped bass are found here. Other major water bodies in the northeast are lakes of Birch, Carl Blackwell, Copan, Eucha, Ft. Gibson, Grand, Greenleaf, Hudson, Hulah, Kaw, Keystone, Oologah, Skiatook, Sooner, Spavinaw, Tenkiller, Webbers Falls, Bell Cow and Chandler, and Lower Illinois River with ample variety of fishes which make the fishing in Oklahoma exciting.

Northwest

This region has the lakes of Canton, Ft. Supply, Great Salt Plains, Watonga and Etling. At Watonga Lake, there is winter trout fishing and trout competitions in spring and summer, major being Watonga Trout Derby. Along with rainbow, there are ample crappie, channel catfish, largemouth and sunfish. Great Salt Plains Lake is famous catfish fishing destination. The Byron State Fish Hatchery stocks this lake regularly with blue catfish, hybrid striped bass and hybrid saugeye. You can fish year round in the dam region and a section of the lake east of nonth-south extension of State Highway 38. Also you can enjoy the Annual Saugeye Derby held every winter.

Southeast

This region has lakes of the Arbuckles, Broken Bow, Eufaula, Hugo, Konawa, McGee Creek, Murray, Pine Creek, Robert S. Kerr, Sardis, Texoma, Wister, Lower Mountain Fork River and Blue River. Lake Eufaula is one of the state’s top 25 Bass Lakes and also one of the top10 crappie lakes. It is the state’s largest man-made lake. Of course with the variety of bass, like smallmouth, white, largemouth, and meanmouth (which is a hybrid of smallmouth and spotted bass), and crappie, other fishes too are abundant here, and they are skipjack herring, sunfish, channel catfish, blue catfish, walleye and saugeye.

Southwest

This region has lakes of Atlus-Lugert, Ellsworth, Foss, Ft. Cobb, Tom Steed, Waurika, and Lawtonka. The Foss Reservoir is the largest reclamation lake has an impressive fishing of sand bass, striped bass, catfish, crappie and walleye. Lake Atlus-Lugert offers year-round fishing of largemouth, hybrid striped, and white bass, crappie, walleye, and catfish.

Atlus-Lugert Lake

Close-to-Home Fishing

Excellent ‘Close-to-Home’ fishing opportunities in metro areas are offered by the agreements between Oklahoma municipalities and the Wildlife Department. The areas under these are Crystal Lake, Delese Youth Park, Edwards Park, Kids Lake, South Lake Regional Park, Zoo Lake and so on.

Fishing Clinics

The Department of Wildlife Conservation, OK, organizes statewide fishing clinics in which participant learn to tie knots, casting, fish identification, and are allowed to fish for 1 hour with baits and tackle provided by the department. These clinics are open to public.

With such an exciting fishing opportunities and programs, you must now sure be feeling to go fishing in Oklahoma.