Oklahoma’s fishing action can be great year-round, but many anglers especially look forward to this time of year for some rewarding seasonal trout fishing.
Beginning Nov. 1 each year, the Wildlife Department's Fisheries Division begins stocking trout at six designated trout fishing areas across the state, in addition to the two trout stocking sites that receive fish year-round.
The seasonal trout areas are Perry CCC/Lake Perry Park, Robbers Cave, Blue River, Lake Watonga, Medicine Creek and Sunset Lake in Guymon. Regular stocking will continue at these sites until March 15 or March 31, 2021. For more details, go to www.wildlifedepartment.com/fishing/trout-information.
Two rivers in Oklahoma that run cold enough year-round to support trout fisheries are the Lower Mountain Fork River below the Broken Bow reservoir dam and the Lower Illinois River below Tenkiller Ferry Dam. Trout are stocked in those areas every week or two.
Residents of the state’s two largest urban areas can also get in on some trout fishing at two Close to Home Fishing locations: Oklahoma City's Dolese Youth Park Pond and Jenks' Veterans Pond. These areas will be stocked from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28, 2021.
Rainbow trout and brown trout are non-native species in Oklahoma, as they thrive in colder waters. Anglers using ultralight fishing gear with 4- to 6-pound test line and small hooks can experience to some thrilling action. Trout are tasty table fare, too.
If you're ready to hit the cold water for some Oklahoma trout fishing, the Wildlife Department's R3 Fishing Coordinator, Skylar St. Yves has you covered with these tips and tricks for making it happen.
- Don P. Brown is an information & education specialist for the Wildlife Department