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Public Fishing Areas: Special Regulations

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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.

  = Conservation Passport Area

Upper Illinois River & Tributaries

Daily/Size Limits:

Illinois River upstream from Horseshoe Bend boat ramp, Barren Fork Creek and Flint Creek; 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.

Methods:

Prohibited methods: snagging and noodling. Bowfishing, speargunning, and gigging are prohibited, except for the following methods/seasons:

Upstream from the Horseshoe Bend boat ramp to State Highway 51/U.S. 62 bridge: Gigging is permitted from Dec. 1 to March 1. Speargunning is permitted from Dec. 1 to March 31. Bowfishing is permitted from June 1 to March 31 in the Upper Illinois River only.

Upstream from State Highway 51/U.S. 62 bridge: Gigging, bowfishing and speargunning are permitted from Dec. 1 to March 31.

Possession or use of cast nets prohibited.

Upper Poteau River and Fourche Maline River and Tributaries

Le Flore
Methods:

Prohibited methods: gigs, spears, and spearguns.

Vanderwork 

Washita
Daily/Size Limits:

Channel and/or blue catfish: six combined per day.

Methods:

Allowed methods: up to two rods and reels per person, bowfishing.

Vincent

Ellis
Daily/Size Limits:

Channel and/or blue catfish: six combined per day.

Methods:

Allowed methods: up to two rods and reels per person, bowfishing.

W.D. Mayo

Le Flore, Sequoyah
Daily/Size Limits:

(Includes oxbows, cutoffs, and below dam to state line)

Walleye, sauger and saugeye: six combined per day/16-inch minimum.

Watonga 

Blaine
Daily/Size Limits:

Channel and/or blue catfish: six combined per day.

Methods:

Allowed methods: only one rod and reel per person during trout season (other times up to two rods and reels per person), bowfishing.

Note: For additional trout regulations, see Trout Regulations. The dam at Watonga will be under repair until further notice.

Webbers Falls

Muskogee
Daily/Size Limits:

Walleye, sauger and saugeye: six combined per day/16-inch minimum.

Wichita Mountains WR

Comanche
Daily/Size Limits:

Channel and/or blue catfish: six combined per day.

Methods:

Allowed methods: rod and reel only.