Frequently Asked Questions (Fishing)

A: No. If you are a Texas resident who is 65 or older, you can take advantage of the reciprocal agreement between Oklahoma and Texas. This agreement allows anyone 65 and older to fish in the other state without having to buy a license.

A: No. All nonresidents who are 65 and older (except Texas residents) are required to buy a fishing license in Oklahoma. A nonresident one-day fishing license costs $15, and a nonresident six-day fishing license costs $35.

A: No. You must have either a Texas license to fish on the Texas side of Lake Texoma, or you can buy a Texoma fishing license for $12, which allows you to fish both sides of the lake.

A: No. A fishing license is required for Oklahoma state park waters.

A: In most all cases a fishing license is required. For more information, contact your local game warden.

A: The lake’s operator sets rules about camping, so one should first determine the proper source for camping information. The Wildlife Department allows camping in designated areas at its 15 Department-owned lakes, but specific rules may differ for each lake. For a list of public lakes and contact information, go to wildlifedepartment.com.

A: These are watershed flood control reservoirs built by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Most are on private land, so you would need permission from the landowner to fish on the property.

A: Yes. Trout season is the period during which trout are stocked, and certain other restrictions apply. You may catch and keep trout year round. See trout regulations for daily bag limits and size restrictions.

A: No. Law enforcement personnel are permitted to check licenses of those fishing in your pond (landowners and their immediate family are exempt), but you do not have to allow other people to fish in your pond.

A: Yes.

A: Such a list doesn’t exist. Watershed lakes or flood control projects were created through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and most are on private land. You will need to contact the landowner for permission to fish on the property.

Contact the Oklahoma Tax Commission - (800) 522-8165 or www.tax.ok.gov, or your local tag agency.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol manages boating laws and safety.  Contact the OK Highway Patrol, Troop W – Lake Patrol - (918) 681-4959

Contact the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), (405) (405) 702-8100 or www.deq.state.ok.us

The ODWC does not trap or remove nuisance wildlife.

Contact a certified Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO), list online HERE.

The ODWC does not respond to or accept injured wildlife brought to any office.

It is encouraged to leave young wildlife alone.

For help with injured wildlife contact a certified wildlife rehabilitator, list online HERE.

The ODWC does not remove dead wildlife or roadkill.

Contact the owner or operator of the street/highway for roadkill removal.

The ODWC does not manage any properties that have camping fees or that takes reservations for camping. For rules and regulations on camping on areas managed by the ODWC visit DEPARTMENT-MANAGED AREA RULES.

For camping fees and rules be sure to contact the operator, owner or caretaker of the site.

To report a fish kill contact the Fish Kill Hotline (800) 522-0206 or Wildlife Department (918) 348-2746 or (918) 683-1031.

To report invasive species contact the Wildlife Department (918) 348-2746 or (918) 683-1031.  For information on aquatic invasive species in Oklahoma go HERE.

Contact Oklahoma Tourism - (800) 652-6552 or TravelOK.com

ODWC Fish Hatcheries do not sell fish.  For a list of licensed hatcheries that sell fish in Oklahoma check out the Aquaculture Program through the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture.

Contact Oklahoma City - (405) 297-1426 or OKC.gov/parks