Trout Area Information

Trout Season:

Year round.

Designated Trout Area / Size / Location:

7.75 miles of Illinois River from Tenkiller Dam to Hwy. 64 bridge near Gore in Sequoyah County.

Bank Access / Boat Ramps:

The Lower Illinois River Public Fishing and Hunting Area – Simp and Helen Watts Management Unit offers public fishing access to almost one mile of the trout stream and 320 acres of public hunting opportunity (see map). To reach the area, travel north on SH 100 from Gore approximately four miles. Turn east onto county road E0990 and travel approximately one mile to the entrance. Park in the designated parking area only. The area is managed for walk-in access only.

Four other public access sites are available along the state designated trout stream, including a pool off the river located immediately below the dam which allows trout fishing even during high power generation. Another good site is located at the River Road Public Access Area about six miles downstream from the dam. The Gore Landing Public Access Area, operated by the city of Gore (918) 489-2636, offers camping and a boat launching ramp.

Special Regulations: Daily limit

Brown trout – one over 20 inches in length. Rainbow trout – six, no minimum length. From USGS stream gauge downstream to Gravel Pit County Road: one over 20 inches in length.

Fishing in the Lower Illinois River Simp & Helen Watts Management Unit from the USGS stream gauge downstream to Gravel Pit County Road is restricted to artificial flies and lures only and barbless hooks only, except that single barbed hooks 3/0 or larger, may be used only when fishing with natural bait.

Lower Illinois River Public Fishing and Hunting Area

Simp and Helen Watts Management Unit – all general trout fishing regulations apply (see Trout Regulations). No overnight camping is allowed on the area.

Lower Mountain Fork River

Trout Season:

Year round.

Designated Trout Area / Size / Location:

12 mile portion of the Lower Mountain Fork River and its tributaries from the Broken Bow Reservoir spillway downstream to the U.S. Hwy 70 bridge. About five miles of this designated trout stream lies within Beaver’s Bend State Park, in McCurtain County.

Bank Access / Boat Ramps:

Bank access is unlimited within the state park and downstream to the Re-regulation Dam. Another public access point exists at Presbyterian Falls. Boat ramps are located just upstream of and below the Re-regulation Dam.

Notes of Interest:

Camping and cabin facilities are available within Beaver’s Bend State Park and below the Re-regulation Dam. For information call the park at (580) 494-6300.

Trout Regulations:

• Brown trout – Daily limit: one; size limit: 20-inch minimum.
• Rainbow trout – Daily limit: six combined from Red and Blue Zones. See Zone regulations below.

Special Regulations by Zone:

Blue Zones: (From the Broken Bow Reservoir spillway downstream to the Lost Creek diversion structure; from the first Hwy 259A scenic bridge downstream to the State Park Dam; and from the mouth of Rough Branch Creek downstream to Hwy.

70 bridge):

• Rainbow trout – Daily limit: six; no minimum size limit.
• Use of bait and barbed hooks is permitted.

Red Zones: (From the Lost Creek diversion structure downstream to the first Hwy. 259A scenic bridge, including the Lost Creek channel; and from the State Park Dam downstream to the mouth of Rough Branch Creek):

• Rainbow trout – Daily limit: one; Size limit:
  20-inch minimum.
• Possession of any trout less than 20-inches is prohibited.
• Use of bait or barbed hooks is prohibited in the Red Zone. Fishing is restricted to barbless hooks, artificial flies and artificial lures only.

ANS Alert - Didymo, an aquatic nuisance species commonly referred to as “rock snot,” has been identified in the Lower Mountain Fork River. To prevent spreading this undesirable organism, please clean and dry waders and other fishing equipment after use in the Lower Mountain Fork River.

Blue River

Trout Season:

Trout are stocked from November 1 through March 31 of the following year.

Designated Trout Area / Size / Location:

6.25 miles of Blue River flows through the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area located in Johnston County, four miles east of Tishomingo on Hwy. 78 and six miles north.

Bank Access:

Bank/wading access is available throughout the area (see accompanying map).

Notes of Interest:

Camping facilities available only at the Blue River Campground area (see map). Special access is provided for handicapped persons confined to wheelchairs. For information, call (580) 443-5728. For complete public use restrictions, see Wildlife Department Fishing Lakes.

Special Regulations:

From Nov. 1 to Feb. 28, the portion of the Blue River which enters the north side of the property and flows to the end of the first walk in trail is catch and release only. (See shaded area on map.) Fishing is restricted to barbless hooks, artificial flies and lures only. Starting March 1, special regulations do not apply. Also, NO CAMPING and NO VEHICLES are allowed except in designated parking areas of the Carl R. and Ruth Walker Landrum Wilderness and the Bill and Valerie Plaster Wildlife Management Unit. Nonhunting and nonfishing visitors to the area are required to possess a Wildlife Conservation Passport, unless exempt (see License Requirements & Exemptions).

Quartz Mountain

Trout Season:

Trout are stocked from November 1 through March 15 of the following year.

Designated Trout Area / Size / Location:

North Fork of the Red River from Altus-Lugert Dam downstream to the low water dam at State Hwy. 44A within Quartz Mountain Nature Park, which is located in Kiowa County, 18 miles north of Altus.

Bank Access:

Best access along the entire length of the North shore.

Notes of Interest:

Camping and lodge facilities are available at the nearby Quartz Mountain state park. For information, call the park at (580) 563-2424.