Public Fishing Areas: Special Regulations

First 1,000 feet below any federal or Grand River Dam Authority dam at Wister, the tailwater designation extends downstream to the second set of powerlines at the confluence of the old and new river channels. 

Fishing limited to only two rods and reels per person. Unlawful to keep a foul-hooked fish (any fish hooked other than inside the mouth) unless taken in a tailwater open to snagging (non-game fish only). 

Bowfishing prohibited except at Eufaula, Fort Gibson, Heyburn, Hudson, Keystone and Wister. Bowfishing is open on Thunderbird past the first 75 feet from the dam. 

Gigs, spears and spearguns prohibited, except at Hudson. 

Snagging prohibited, except at Fort Gibson tailwaters.

Each angler must keep their fish separate, marked with their name and customer ID number or lifetime license number when fishing in tailwaters. 

Wister tailwater is closed to noodling. 

Dam/Spillway regulations are different for the Lower Mountain Fork River.

Bureau of Reclamation Tailwaters Fishing closed year-round at Arbuckle, Fort Cobb and Foss. 

Fishing closed for the first 75 feet from dam at Altus-Lugert, McGee Creek, Thunderbird and Tom Steed. 

Bowfishing, noodling, trotlines, throwlines, limblines, juglines and yo-yos are prohibited on the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River from the spillway of Great Salt Plains Lake downstream to State Highway 38 Bridge.

(Downstream from Horseshoe Bend boat ramp to dam)

All crappie: 15 combined per day/10-inch minimum.

(Downstream from Horseshoe Bend boat ramp to dam)

Prohibited methods: gigs and spears downstream of Horseshoe Bend boat ramp. Speargunning is legal when used with scuba, except taking flathead catfish from June 15 through July 15 is prohibited.

Note: Fishing regulations may differ between Oklahoma and Texas portions of Lake Texoma. Check the Texas Fishing Guide for details.

Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass: five combined per day/14-inch minimum for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Striped bass and/or striped bass hybrids: 10 combined per day, of which only two may be 20 inches or longer. White bass: 25 per day/no size limit. All crappie: 37 combined per day/10-inch minimum. Flathead catfish: five per day/20-inch minimum. The attempt to take or harvest alligator gar is prohibited May 1-31. Alligator gar harvest must be reported within 24 hours via E-Check at wildlifedepartment.com.

Texas Side: During May, no person shall take alligator gar from, or possess alligator gar while on, the Red River (including Lake Texoma) and all tributaries that drain directly or indirectly to the Red River on the Texas/Oklahoma border in Cooke, Grayson, Fannin, Lamar, Red River, and Bowie counties.

Channel and/or blue catfish: six combined per day.

Allowed methods: up to two rods and reels per person.

Walleye, sauger and saugeye: six combined per day/18-inch minimum.

Prohibited methods: bowfishing, gigging, spearing, spearguns, snagging, and noodling within the Little River upstream of Franklin Road in Cleveland County.

Illinois River upstream from Horseshoe Bend boat ramp, Barren Fork Creek and Flint Creek; black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted): six combined per day, only one of which may be a smallmouth bass. Largemouth and smallmouth bass must be 14 inches or longer. No size limit on spotted bass.

Prohibited methods: snagging and noodling. Bowfishing, speargunning, and gigging are prohibited, except for the following methods/seasons:

Upstream from the Horseshoe Bend boat ramp to State Highway 51/U.S. 62 bridge: Gigging is permitted from Dec. 1 to March 1. Speargunning is permitted from Dec. 1 to March 31. Bowfishing is permitted from June 1 to March 31 in the Upper Illinois River only.

Upstream from State Highway 51/U.S. 62 bridge: Gigging, bowfishing and speargunning are permitted from Dec. 1 to March 31.

Possession or use of cast nets prohibited.

Prohibited methods: gigs, spears, and spearguns.

Channel and/or blue catfish: six combined per day.

Allowed methods: up to two rods and reels per person, bowfishing.

Channel and/or blue catfish: six combined per day.

Allowed methods: up to two rods and reels per person, bowfishing.

(Includes oxbows, cutoffs, and below dam to state line)

Walleye, sauger and saugeye: six combined per day/16-inch minimum.