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Trout return to the Panhandle
- winter trout season begins Nov. 1 at seven Department trout
areas
Oct. 27, 2006 - After a year's absence,
trout are returning to the Oklahoma Panhandle.
Summer rains provided about 30 acres of water to the once dry
Lake Carl
Etling near Boise City.
"It is great to have this trout area open
once again. We are stocking
about 1,000 pounds of rainbow trout including about 35 fish at
least 14
inches long," said John Stahl, northwest region fisheries
supervisor.
Beginning Nov. 1, trout season opens at the seven designated
winter
trout areas managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
These fisheries provide trout fishing in areas where warm water
temperatures are not suitable for trout during the summer.
There are plenty of adventures to choose from.
You can camp out at
Roman Nose State Park near Watonga, you can stay in a cozy cabin
at
Robbers Cave State Park in southeast Oklahoma or you can really
"rough it" at
the first class Quartz Mountain State Park Lodge in southwest
Oklahoma.
Trout are stocked approximately every two weeks
with catchable size
rainbows and anglers can find maps, fishing tips and even up-to-date
trout stocking schedules on the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation's official Web site, www.wildlifedepartment.com.
To fish for trout in Oklahoma, anglers need either
a resident or
non-resident fishing license, as well as a trout license, which
costs $10.
Youth trout licenses are available for just $5. There are no
exemptions
from purchasing the trout license to fish in a state designated
trout
area. Before visiting one of Oklahoma's trout areas, check the
"2006
Oklahoma Fishing Guide" for complete regulations, as well
as maps and
additional information for each area.
State designated winter trout fishing areas:
Quartz Mountain - The trout water is in the North
Fork of the Red
River directly below the dam at Lake Altus-Lugert. Trout season
runs Nov. 1
- March 15. To get there from Altus, take OK-44A north about
18 miles.
Lodging and camping facilities are available at Quartz Mountain
State
Park.
Blue River - The Blue River flows through the Blue
River Public
Fishing and Hunting Area near Tishomingo. Trout season runs Nov.
1 - March
31. To get there from Tishomingo, go four miles east on OK-78
and then
six miles north. Bank access and wade fishing is available throughout
the
area. Primitive camping is allowed at the Blue River campground.
Anyone
on the area must have a hunting or fishing license or a Blue
River
Conservation Passport unless exempt.
Robbers Cave - Located in Robbers Cave State Park,
the Robbers Cave
trout fishery is in the Fourche Maline River directly below Carlton
Dam
to the south boundary of the park. Trout season runs Nov. 1 -
March 15.
To get there from Wilburton, go five miles north on OK-2. Bank
access
and wade fishing is available anywhere within state park boundaries.
Camping facilities and cabins are available at the park.
Lake Watonga - This 55-acre lake is in Roman Nose
State Park. Trout
season runs Nov. 1 - March 31. To get there from Watonga, go
seven miles
north on OK-8A. Bank access and a boat ramp are on the west side
of the
lake. Camping and lodging are available at the park.
Lake Pawhuska - This 96-acre lake is about three
miles south of
Pawhuska. Trout season runs Nov. 1 - March 31. During that time,
the City of
Pawhuska waives the City fishing fee. To get there from Pawhuska,
go
three miles south on OK-60, and then go 1.75 miles east on a
marked
County road. The lake has a boat ramp, fishing dock and restrooms.
Primitive
camping is available at the lake.
Lake Carl Etling - This lake is located at Black
Mesa State Park in
Cimarron County. Trout season runs Nov. 1 - April 30. To get
there, take
US-325 28 miles west of Boise City. Boat ramps are on the south
and
east sides of the lake. Primitive and developed camping facilities
are
available at the park.
In addition to these areas, the Department also
manages year-round
trout fisheries at the Lower Illinois and Lower Mountain Fork
rivers. The
Department stocks both of these areas with not only rainbow trout,
but
also occasionally brown trout as well.
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