 Wildlife Department Fisheries technician Charles Baker runs a netful of trout from the stocking tank to the Blue River. Trout stocking is under way at all six of the state's seasonal trout fishing spots. (Matt Gamble/ODWC)
Anglers needn’t hang up
their gear just because winter’s getting near. There’s still plenty of fishing
fun to be found at Oklahoma’s seasonal and year-round trout fishing areas!
Each year, the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation stocks trout at six seasonal trout fishing
areas across the state, beginning Nov. 1 and continuing into March or April. Those areas
are Perry CCC/Lake Perry Park, Robbers Cave, Blue River, Lake Watonga, Medicine
Creek and Lake Carl Etling. For more information, go to wildlifedepartment.com/fishing/trout-information.
In addition to these
“cold weather” trout fisheries, the Department also operates two year-round
trout fisheries in the Lower Mountain
Fork River below Broken Bow dam and in the Lower Illinois River below Tenkiller Ferry Dam. Trout are normally
stocked in these areas every week or two, as long as water conditions are
conducive to trout survival.
Anglers on the Lower Mountain Fork are currently seeing lower flows of water in the river because of unscheduled repairs by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to a release valve at the Broken Bow Lake spillway. The low flows are not due to bridge repairs. Don Groom, Southeast Region Fisheries supervisor for the Wildlife Department, said trout stocking will continue despite the lower flows, but most stocking will take place in downstream areas rather than in upper areas closer to the dam until repairs to the spillway valve are completed.
Trout, both rainbows and
browns, are introduced species to Oklahoma. They thrive in colder waters and
make excellent table fare. Using ultralight fishing gear with 4- to 6-pound
test line and small hooks can lead to some thrilling action. But anyone can
catch trout using regular angling gear with small jigs or spinners, prepared
bait or live bait.
Trout fishing is also
available from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28 at two Close to Home Fishing locations in
major urban areas: Oklahoma City's Dolese
Youth Park Pond and Jenks' Veterans Park
Pond.
Trout anglers must
carry a resident or nonresident fishing license while fishing. In addition,
trout anglers at Dolese Youth Park Pond must have an Oklahoma City fishing
permit.
The Wildlife
Department's winter trout fishing areas are:
-
Blue River: This river flows through the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting
Area near Tishomingo. Trout stocking season runs Nov. 1 to March 31. From
Tishomingo, go 4 miles east on State Highway 78 and then 6 miles north. Bank
access and wade fishing is available throughout the area. Primitive camping is
allowed at the Blue River campground.
-
Lake Carl Etling: This lake is at Black Mesa State Park in
Cimarron County. Trout stocking season runs Nov. 1 to April 30. From Boise
City, go 28 miles west on U.S. 325. Boat ramps are on the south and east sides
of the lake. Primitive and developed camping facilities are available at the
park.
-
Medicine Creek: This trout fishery runs through the town of
Medicine Park from the Gondola Lake Dam on the north to the State Highway 49
bridge on the south. Access is easy from a sidewalk along the creek's east
side. Trout stocking season runs from Nov. 1 to March 15. Camping and lodging
are available nearby.
-
Perry CCC/Lake Perry Park: This 32-acre lake was built in the mid-1930s
and offers ample bank access and a boat ramp on the west side of the lake. From
Perry, go a mile south on State Highway 86. Trout stocking season runs Nov. 1
to March 31. Lodging is available in Perry.
-
Robbers Cave: In Robbers Cave State Park, the Robbers Cave trout fishery is in
the Fourche Maline River directly below Carlton Dam to the south boundary of
the park. Trout stocking season runs Nov. 1 to March 15. From Wilburton, go 5
miles north on State Highway 2. Bank access and wade fishing is available
anywhere within state park boundaries. Camping facilities and cabins are
available at the park.
-
Lake Watonga: This 55-acre lake is in Roman Nose State Park. Trout stocking
season runs Nov. 1 to March 31. From Watonga, go 7 miles north on State Highway
8A. Bank access and a boat ramp are on the west side of the lake. Camping and
lodging are available at the park.
Trout fishing regulations, including daily and size
limits, restricted areas and maps, can be found in the current Oklahoma Hunting
and Fishing Regulations Guide, available
at wildlifedepartment.com,
in the "OK Fishing and Hunting Guide" mobile app for Apple
and Android,
or free in print from license dealers statewide.
 The flow of water from Broken Bow Lake into the Lower Mountain Fork River has been reduced, as seen in this photo, so repairs can be made to a release valve. The Wildlife Department plans to continue stocking trout in downstream areas even as the water flow is reduced. (Don Groom/ODWC)
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