Page 28 - March/April 2020 - Outdoor Oklahoma

Fishing May Be Closer Than You Think!

TAKeMeFiShiNG.orG CLOSE TO HOME
FISHING SITES

Oklahoma City: (405) 297-1426
• Crystal Lake (6625 S.W. 15th)
• Dolese Youth Park (5105 N.W. 50th)
• Edwards Park (1515 N. Bryant Ave.)
• Kids Lake (3200 W. Wilshire Blvd.)
• Kitchen Lake (5501 S.E. 119th)
• Route 66 Park (9901 N.W. 23rd)
• South Lakes Regional Park (4210 S.W. 119th)
• Zoo Lake (2101 N.E. 50th) east shoreline only
• Southern Hills North (2710 Faith Ave.)
• Southern Hills South (2810 Faith Ave.)
Choctaw: (405) 390-8198
• Choctaw Creek Park (2001 N. Harper Road)
• Ten Acre Park (N.E. 10th Street and
Choctaw Road)
Del City: (405) 671-2868
• Eagle Lake (3405 E. Reno)
Edmond: (405) 216-7641
• Mitch Park (1501 W. Covell Road)
By Michael Bergin, Senior Information Specialist • Bickham-Rudkin Park (450 E. 33rd St.)
The state’s Close to Home Fishing (CTHF) Program was designed as El Reno: (405) 262-4070
a partnership between the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conser- • Legion Park (620 S. Reno Ave.)
vation and municipalities across the state to provide urban angling Enid: (580) 554-1536
opportunities. Small bodies of water are stocked with fish and man- • Meadowlake Park (1200 W. Rupe)
aged with special regulations, ensuring opportunities exist for anglers • Government Springs North Park (300 S.
who may only have a little time on their hands and nowhere to go. 5th St.)
But these special “honey holes” of the CTHF Program can contrib- • Crosslin Park (1520 W. Oxford Ave.)
ute to an even grander purpose than providing casual urban fishing • City of Enid Water Works (1400 block W.
locations. That goal is passing along the fishing tradition to a new Chestnut Ave.)
wave of sportsmen and women whose willingness to adopt this Guthrie: (405) 282-2773
cherished pastime is key to sustaining fisheries management as we • Mineral Wells Park (901 S. Division)
know it. • Highland Park (1102 E. Warner)
Fish conservation is funded by anglers when they purchase fish- Harrah: (405) 454-2951
ing licenses. In addition, their purchase of certain fishing equipment • Heritage Park (1374 N. Church Ave.)
includes federal excise taxes that are then redistributed to states Jenks: (918) 299-5883
by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and those funds must be used • Veterans Park Pond (E. 101st and Elm)
for conservation. While Oklahoma fishing traditions are currently Lawton: (580) 581-3400
strong, it’s critical that today’s anglers help newcomers adopt the • Medicine Park - Medicine Creek
sport. But that’s more than simply taking someone fishing one time. • Elmer Thomas Park - Lake Helen (Interstate
It can be difficult for urban dwellers who are fond of fishing to 44 and N.W. Cache Road)
find time to go, let alone take someone. But that time and mentor- Moore: (405) 793-5090
ship is exactly what it takes to pass along the fishing tradition. And • Little River Park (700 S.W. 4th) (Closed for
even then, newcomers need frequent exposure to learn what equip- repairs)
ment to purchase, bait to use, knots to tie, and regulations to follow. • Buck Thomas Pond (1903 N.E. 12th)
These things tend to be learned over time and with experience. The Mustang: (405) 376-3411
Close to Home Fishing Program addresses another important need: • Wild Horse Park (1201 N. Mustang Road)
a place to go. Norman: (405) 366-5472
For those mentors dedicated to seeing their heritage thrive, ef- • George M. Sutton Urban Wilderness Area
forts such as Oklahoma’s Close to Home Fishing Program can be an (12th Avenue N.E. and Rock Creek Road)
outstanding resource. And carrying the fishing pastime forward is • Norman Lions Northeast Park (1800
a goal that local anglers should embrace or risk losing this valuable Northcliff Ave.)
heritage. • Griffin Community Park (1001 E. Robinson)
Close to Home waters exist in Oklahoma City, Choctaw, Del City, Yukon: (405) 354-7208
Edmond, Enid, Guthrie, Harrah, Jenks, Lawton, Moore, Mustang, • City Park (2200 S. Holly St.)
Norman, Tulsa and Yukon. Oklahoma fishing license requirements • Welch Park (615 Annawood Road)
apply (unless exempt), and some municipalities require daily or an- • Robertson Activity Center (1200
nual city fishing permits. Check with local officials for details. Lakeshore Drive)

26 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA