Home

Trout fishing techniques:

Use ultra-light tackle, 4-6 pound line and very small hooks in sizes 8-14.  Fly fishing gear is also an excellent choice for trout fishing.  Live or prepared bait works well but flies and small spinners or jigs are also quite successful.  Keep in mind that artificial lures and barbless hooks are required in some areas -- check current regulations for details.

A special trout license is required for everyone fishing in a designated trout area.  The only exception is that portion of the lower Mountain Fork River from the mouth of Rough Branch Creek downstream to the Reregulation Dam (within Zone II) which is excluded from the trout license requirement (no trout license required).  However, while fishing in this portion of the stream, a valid annual trout license is required to have trout in possession.  All other fishing regulations specific to Zone II, including barbless hooks, artificial flies and lures only, apply.

Also, keep these tips in mind while trout fishing:

• Trout tend to seek out and congregate in calm waters.  So, when fishing in swift waters, cast your bait above boulders or logs and let it drift down through the calm water on the downstream side of the structure.

• Lake Pawhuska, the latest addition to the list of Department winter trout fisheries, has the most bank access and best water quality of any of the trout lakes.

• Most of the rainbow trout in Oklahoma are hatchery fish which are fed a pellet diet that is high in fish oil before they are released. Adding tuna fish, sardine or salmon oil to dough bait can increase your odds for success.