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Lower Illinois River PFHA

Attention Non-Residents

The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission adopted new rules in 2025 that require non-residents accessing certain Oklahoma public hunting and fishing areas to check in and out of the area. By checking in and out of these areas, hunters, anglers, shooters, birdwatchers, hikers, and any other users can help the Wildlife Department better understand how the area is being used. There is no additional cost associated with checking in or out of an area. There is no limit to the number of check-ins for an individual in a year.

Learn More About Public Check-In

Lower Illinois

Contacts

Fisheries Management Office: (918) 683-1031
Game Warden:
(918) 431-2550 (Sequoyah)
(918) 431-2544 (Sequoyah)

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is temporarily suspending trout stocking on the Lower Illinois River.

Stocking trout is a complex process that depends on trout availability from hatcheries. We conduct two types of stockings. Seasonal stockings come from private hatcheries and occur from October through June. Mitigation trout are provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) hatcheries based out of Arkansas during and after the seasonal stocking season.

Last year's flooding significantly impacted USFWS hatchery production, resulting in the loss of approximately two years' worth of trout. Although the hatchery was not a complete loss, the flooding greatly reduced production and has affected the availability of trout for stocking.

The hatchery currently has trout in the 3–4" size range. It takes approximately 19–22 months for trout to reach a stocking size of 9-11", so recovery will take time. Hatchery staff are working diligently to rebuild production while also raising fish for future stocking seasons. This shortage affects all public waters that receive trout from this hatchery.

For perspective, so far about 36,000 trout have been stocked in the Lower Illinois River in 2026. 

We are working closely with hatchery managers and will resume stocking as soon as fish become available. We appreciate your patience and understanding and will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available in September.

 

 

The Lower Illinois River PFHA is the tailwater below Lake Tenkiller Dam, which is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

 

Watch Lower Illinois River PFHA on YouTube.

 

Daily/Size Limits:

(From Tenkiller Dam downstream to the confluence of the Arkansas River)

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

Methods:

(From Tenkiller Dam downstream to the confluence of the Arkansas River)

Allowed methods: From Tenkiller Dam downstream to the U.S. 64 bridge: fishing limited to one rod and reel per person. Cast nets may be used to take bait for personal use from the south boundary of the lower Illinois River Public Fishing Area – “Simp and Helen Watts Area” downstream to the Highway 64 bridge. (Also see “Tailwaters” regulations.)

Note: For more trout regulations, see Trout Regulations.

The Lower Illinois River (Google Map) is located 5.5 miles northeast of Gore on SH 100.

Lake Details

Shoreline Length: 7.75 mi.

Located

Sequoyah County

U.S. Corps of Engineers and ODWC manage public access locations.

Bait & Tackle shops are displayed by distance, starting with the closest.

Rainbow trout are stocked regularly.

 

 

 

Additional Resources

Department Fishing Area Regulations USGS Current Level

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