In addition to general fishing regulations, statewide species regulations and Department fishing area rules, this section addresses special regulations that apply to public fishing waters. If a species or body of water is not listed, refer to statewide regulations.
Ponds (WMAs)
Channel and/or blue catfish: six combined per day.
Allowed methods: up to two rods and reels per person, bowfishing.
(Within Wildlife Department Management Areas)
Ponds and creeks within Honobia Creek and Three Rivers Wildlife Management Areas require special permits. All resident anglers, except those under 18 years of age on the first day of the current calendar year or are 64 years old or older, and all non-resident anglers regardless of age must possess a Land Access Permit to fish and/or hunt on either the Honobia Creek or Three Rivers Wildlife Management Areas.
Oklahoma State Park Ponds
Channel and/or blue catfish: six combined per day.
Rivers & Streams
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted): six combined per day, only one of which may be a smallmouth bass. Largemouth and smallmouth bass must be 14 inches or longer. No size limit on spotted bass.
Statewide: It is unlawful to take or possess more than 25 nongame fish harvested from a river or stream, (see Statewide Daily & Size Limits for daily limits on shad or species of special concern).
Private Properties: Landowner consent must be obtained to utilize lands with rivers and/or creeks flowing through them.
Scenic Rivers: Use or possession of a cast net is illegal on Baron Fork Creek, Flint Creek, Illinois River, Lee Creek, Little Lee Creek and Upper Mountain Fork River.
Tailwaters
First 1,000 feet below any federal or Grand River Dam Authority dam
At Wister, the tailwater designation extends downstream to the second set of powerlines at the confluence of the old and new river channels.
Fishing limited to only two rods and reels per person. Unlawful to keep a foul-hooked fish (any fish hooked other than inside the mouth) unless taken in a tailwater open to snagging (non-game fish only). Bowfishing prohibited except at Eufaula, Fort Gibson, Heyburn, Hudson, Keystone and Wister. Bowfishing is open on Thunderbird past the first 75 feet from the dam. Gigs, spears and spearguns prohibited, except at Hudson. Snagging prohibited, except at Fort Gibson tailwaters (see additional snagging regulations on Method of Take and Paddlefish Regulations). Each angler must keep their fish separate, marked with their name and customer ID number or lifetime license number when fishing in tailwaters, Wister tailwater is closed to noodling.
Bureau of Reclamation tailwaters
Fishing closed year-round at Arbuckle, Fort Cobb and Foss. Fishing closed for the first 75 feet from dam at Altus-Lugert, McGee Creek, Thunderbird and Tom Steed.
Bowfishing, noodling, trotlines, throwlines, limblines, juglines and yo-yos are prohibited on the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River from the spillway of Great Salt Plains Lake downstream to State Highway 38 Bridge.