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Upper Illinois River & Tributaries

Attention - New rules apply to non-residents:

  • Public Area Check-In: Non-residents must check in and out when accessing certain Oklahoma public hunting and fishing areas. There is no additional cost or limit on the number of check-ins.
  • Deer Licenses: A 2 day waiting period applies to nonresident deer licenses purchased after the deer season has started. Licenses must be purchased at least 48 hours before hunting.
Illinois River & Tributaries

Contacts

Fisheries Management Office: (918) 683-1031
Game Warden:
(918) 431-2562 (Cherokee)
(918) 431-2552 (Cherokee)
(918) 431-2539 (Adair)
(918) 431-2546 (Adair)
(918) 857-8597 (Delaware)
(918) 533-2678 (Delaware)

Echota Fishing Area:

A Conservation Passport is required.

Google Maps Location

Species of interest:  smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish

Note: Echota does not really provide access to the Illinois river.

 

Stunkard Fishing Area:

A Conservation Passport is required.

Google Maps Location

Species of interest:  smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish

Note: Stunkard provides limited bank access to the Illinois river.

 

 

Daily/Size Limits:

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.

Methods:

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.

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

 

 

 

Additional Resources

GRDA Scenic Rivers Tahlequah Tourism
River Level

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