Rivers and Creeks

The following water bodies have regulations that differ from statewide regulations for one or more species of fish. Anglers should keep in mind that municipalities, national wildlife refuges and the Chickasaw National Recreation Area (Lake Arbuckle) have the authority to set fishing regulations on waters in their jurisdiction that may differ from either the statewide regulations listed in the General Regulations section or the individual lake regulations listed below.

Arkansas River (Keystone dam downstream to the Arkansas state line)

Daily/Size Limits: Sauger; six per day/16-inch minimum.

Methods:

• From Keystone Dam downstream to Interstate 44 bridge in Tulsa; snagging is prohibited, and keeping a foul-hooked fish (any fish hooked other than inside the mouth) is prohibited.
• In the tailwaters area immediately below Webbers Falls Lock and Dam; bowfishing, gigs, spears, spearguns and snagging is prohibited in the first 1,000 feet. Trotlines, throwlines, limblines, juglines and yo-yos are prohibited below Webbers Falls Lock and Dam for a distance of one mile.

Baron Fork Creek (see restrictions on fishing methods on Upper Illinois River and Tributaries)

Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area

Daily/Size Limits: All species of black bass; six combined per day/14-inch minimum. Channel and/or blue catfish; six combined per day/only one blue catfish over 30 inches. All crappie; six combined per day/no size limit. Possession limit is twelve (12) of all species of game fish after the first day.

Methods: Fishing limited to one rod and reel per person during trout season (other times no more than two rods and reels per person). No other method of fishing allowed.

Note: For more trout regulations, see Trout Regulations section.

Lower Canadian River (downstream from Eufaula dam for one mile)

Methods: Gigs and spears, spearguns, and snagging prohibited. (Also see Tailwaters regulations.)

Caney River (Below Hulah Lake dam)

Methods: Bowfishing prohibited from Hulah dam downstream 1,200 feet to the re-regulation dam. Gigs, spears, spearguns and snagging prohibited from Hulah dam downstream to the confluence of old and new river channels. (Also see Tailwaters regulations.)

Flint Creek - (see regulations on fishing methods on Upper Illinois River and Tributaries)

Glover River from confluence with Little River upstream to the “Forks of the Glover”

Daily/Size Limits: All species of black bass; six combined per day/no size limit on largemouth or spotted bass, however, smallmouth bass have a 12-inch minimum of which only three smallmouth greater than 12 inches may be included in the daily limit of six black bass.

Grand (Neosho) River (below Grand Lake-Pensacola Dam)

Methods: (Also see Tailwaters regulations.)

• Bowfishing prohibited below turbine outlets downstream to State Park and below spillway outlet downstream to highline crossing. The next ½ mile below the highline crossing is closed only when the spillway gates are discharging water and for seven days following closure of the gates.
• Gigs, spears and spearguns are prohibited below turbine outlets downstream to State Park bridge and below spillway outlets downstream for one mile.
• Snagging is prohibited below turbine outlets downstream to State Park bridge and below spillway outlets downstream to highline crossing. The next ½ mile below the highline crossing is closed to snagging only when spillway gates are closed.
• Noodling is prohibited below turbine outlets downstream to State Park bridge and below the spillway outlets downstream to highline crossing, except noodling shall be legal the day of and two days following closure of spillway.

Lower Illinois River (From Tenkiller dam downstream to the confluence of the Arkansas River)

Daily/Size Limits: Sauger; six per day/16-inch minimum. Largemouth and smallmouth bass; six combined per day/14-inch minimum.

Methods: From Tenkiller Dam downstream to the U.S. 64 bridge; fishing limited to one rod and reel per person. No other method of fishing allowed. (Also see Tailwaters regulations.)

Note: For more trout regulations, see Trout Regulations section.

Upper Illinois River and tributaries (includes Baron Fork Creek and Flint Creek)

Daily/Size Limits: Illinois River upstream from Horseshoe Bend boat ramp, Baron Fork Creek and Flint Creek; all species of black bass; six combined per day/ no size limit on largemouth or spotted bass, however, smallmouth bass have a 9- to 12-inch protected slot limit of which only one smallmouth greater than 12 inches may be included in the daily limit of six black bass.

Methods: Snagging and noodling are prohibited at all times. Bowfishing, speargunning, and gigging are prohibited, except for the following methods/seasons:

• Upstream from Horseshoe Bend boat ramp; bowfishing and speargunning are permitted from Dec. 1 through March 31. Gigging is permitted from Dec. 1 through March 1.
• Upstream from State Highway 51/U.S. 62 bridge; gigging is permitted from Dec. 1 through March 31.

Kiamichi River (below Hugo Lake dam)

Methods: Trotlines, throwlines and noodling are prohibited from Hugo dam downstream to first railroad bridge. (Also see Tailwaters regulations.)

Lee Creek (including Little Lee Creek)

Daily/Size Limits: All species of black bass; six combined per day/no size limit on largemouth or spotted bass, however, smallmouth bass have a 9- to 12-inch protected slot limit of which only one smallmouth greater than 12 inches may be included in the daily limit of six black bass.

Little River below Pine Creek Lake dam

Methods: Trotlines, throwlines, limblines, yo-yos and juglines are prohibited from the dam downstream for a distance of 2,000 feet (Also see Tailwaters regulations.)

Lower Mountain Fork River trout area (below Broken Bow dam)

Methods: Fishing limited to one rod and reel per person. No other method of fishing allowed. (Also see Tailwaters regulations.)

Note: For more trout regulations, see Trout Regulations section.

Oklahoma River (North Canadian River from NW 10th to NE 10th, Oklahoma City)

See “Close to Home” Fishing area regulations.

Upper Poteau River and Fourche Maline River and tributaries in Le Flore Co.

Methods: Prohibited methods of fishing: gigs, spears and spearguns.

Lower Poteau River (downstream from Wister dam to ¼ mile past confluence of old and new river channels)

Methods: Prohibited methods of fishing: trotlines and throwlines. (Also see Tailwaters regulations)

Medicine Creek trout area (Gondola Lake dam south to State Highway 49 bridge)

Methods: Fishing limited to one rod and reel per person during trout season. Fishing limited to rod and reel and bowfishing. No other method of fishing allowed.

Note: For more trout regulations, see Trout Regulations section.

Lower Red River (below Lake Texoma)

Denison Dam downstream to the mouth of the Shawnee Creek: We advise anglers to meet all fishing license requirements for both Oklahoma and Texas. See map below. If you are fishing in Oklahoma waters, an Oklahoma fishing license is required, unless exempt. If you are fishing in Texas waters, you need a Texas fishing license. A Lake Texoma fishing license is not valid below Denison Dam.

Mouth of Shawnee Creek downstream (east): If fishing in the Red River, anglers must possess an Oklahoma fishing license, unless exempt.

For all of the Lower Red River:

Daily/Size Limits: Striped bass and/or striped bass hybrids; five combined per day/no size limit.

Methods: Bowfishing for paddlefish is prohibited year-round. See Tailwaters regulations for other daily, size, and fishing method regulations.

Robber’s Cave (From Carlton Lake dam downstream 1.5 miles to the State Park boundary)

Methods: Fishing limited to one rod and reel per person during trout season (other times no more than two rods and reels per person). No other method of fishing allowed.

Note: For more trout regulations, see Trout Regulations section.