"Close to Home" fishing Opportunities
Under cooperative fisheries management agreements between Oklahoma municipalities and the Wildlife Department, the following bodies of water have special fishing regulations designed to improve and expand Close to Home fishing opportunities in metro areas.
In addition to state fishing license requirements, some municipalities require daily or annual city fishing permits. Check with local officials for details on cost and permit vendor locations. Phone numbers for city offices are listed below.
Close-to-Home Fishing waters have the following additional restrictions:
Fishing is limited to no more than three (3) rods and reels per person, with no more than three (3) hooks per line (treble hooks are considered one hook). No other fishing methods are allowed, except noodling is allowed in the North Canadian River from the NW 10th St. bridge downstream to the MacArthur St. bridge in OKC.
All black bass caught must be released (returned to the water) immediately after being taken; no harvest is allowed.
Channel catfish and blue catfish have a combined daily limit of six (6); no size limits apply.
For all other species, consult the statewide regulations.
Through a generous donation from BancFirst, Oklahoma City provides a special trout season at Dolese Youth Park Pond January 1 to February 28. Only one (1) pole or one (1) rod and reel per person is allowed, the daily limit is six (6) per person per day; no size limit applies. Trout caught and placed on a stringer or held in possession cannot be released (no culling). Close-to-Home limits apply to all other species. No state trout license is required.
Oklahoma City (405) 297-2211:
Dolese Youth Park Pond (north of NW 50th, 1/2 blk. west of Meridian)
Crystal Lake (West of MacArthur SW 15th)
Kids Lake at Wilshire (3 blks. west of May, on the north side of Wilshire Blvd.)
Kids Lake at Grand (3 blks. west of May, on the north side of Grand Blvd.)
Oklahoma River from NW 10th St. bridge includes the May, Western and Eastern Basins. However, wetland ponds at Pennsylvania, Western and Walker Avenues are closed to fishing until 2009.
Route 66 Park Ponds (1/2 blk. west of West Overholser Drive on NW 23rd St.)
Edwards Park Pond (East side I-35 Service Road between NE 10th St. and NE 13th St.) Fishing access may be restricted due to low water conditions
Crystal Lake (1/2 mile west of MacArthur on SW 15th) Special Use Area: for information call (405) 650-2425
South Lake Park Pond East (south of SW 119th between Meridian and Portland)
South Lake Park Pond West (south of SW 119th between Meridian and Portland). Fishing access may be restricted due to low water conditions.
Waters of the Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge (NW 50th and Stinchcomb Rd.)
Zoo Lake (east side only, south of NE 50th and Lincoln Park Blvd.)
Del City (405) 671-2868:
Eagle Lake (3405 E. Reno)
Yukon (405) 354-7208:
Mulvey's (City Park) Pond (2200 S. Holly St.)
Welch Park Pond (615 Annawood Rd.)
Senior Center Pond (1200 Lakeshore Dr.)
Harrah (405) 454-2951:
Heritage Park Pond (1374 N. Church Ave.)
Edmond (405) 216-7641:
Hafer Park Pond (1700 E. 9th, one blk. east of Bryant)
Mitch Park Amphitheater Pond (2733 Marilyn Williams Drive)
33rd Street Park Pond (1/2 blk. east of Boulevard on 33rd)
Lawton (580) 581-3400:
Lake Helen (I-44 and Cache Road)
Mustang (405) 376-7739:
Wildhorse Park Pond (1/2 mi. west of Mustang Rd. on SW 59th)
Norman (405) 366-5472:
Sutton Wilderness Area Pond (1/3 mi. south of Rock Creek Rd. on west side of 12th Ave. NE)
Willow Pond (in Northeast Lions Park, north of Robinson on Northcliff Ave.)
Last modified: January 9, 2007