Fishing in Comanche County, Oklahoma
County seat: Lawton. Population 121,125.
- 5lake pages
- 0Corps ramps
- 2river pages
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Fishing Comanche County in numbers
Census 2020 found 121,125 residents in Comanche County; the county offices are in Lawton. The ODWC Southwest Region is the ODWC office named on most of the county's waters.
Of 5 lakes with a full guide here, Ellsworth Lake covers the most acres. Urban fishing here centres on Elmer Thomas Park. Hatchery trucks show up in 17 stocking rows of the recent ODWC reports.
Census 2020 population; ODWC Where To Fish pages and NHD lake outlines; USACE Tulsa District recreation features; ODWC stocking reports 2024 and 2025; read November 3, 2026.
Red dirt roads to every Comanche County put-in, mapped
USACE Tulsa District ramp and fishing feature points; GNIS and NHD lake points; river points as noted on each river page; read November 3, 2026.
Lake guides filed under Comanche County
| Lake | Acres (source) | Max depth (ODWC) | Kind | Corps ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellsworth Lake | 5,112 (ODWC) | 54.2 ft | reservoir (City of Lawton) | 0 | largemouth bass, striped hybrid bass, blue catfish |
| Lawtonka Lake | 2,324 (ODWC) | 58.4 ft | reservoir (City of Lawton) | 0 | largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, blue catfish |
| Lake Elmer Thomas | 334 (ODWC) | 71 ft | reservoir (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) | 0 | largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill |
| Quanah Parker Lake | 89 (ODWC) | reservoir | 0 | ||
| Elmer Thomas Park | Close to Home water | 0 | channel catfish |
Acres, depth, shoreline and volume as printed on the ODWC Where To Fish page. NHD outline acreage where ODWC prints none; ramps from the USACE Tulsa District layer; read November 3, 2026.
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- Elmer Thomas ParkClose to Home water
ODWC runs Close to Home fishing with cities so families can fish near where they live.
ODWC Close to Home fishing page, read November 3, 2026.
Lake pages near Comanche County, counted by fish
Each bar counts lake pages within 50 miles of Lawton that list the fish; saugeye is listed most.
ODWC Fish Species of Interest, stocking reports and state records, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a survey of fish numbers.
Further named ponds and lakes of Comanche County
These 1 Comanche County lakes are listed until more about them is published.
| Water | Acres (source) | Nearest place |
|---|---|---|
| Grama Lake | 102 (NHD outline) | Cooperton |
ODWC Where To Fish pages and USGS NHD outlines, read November 3, 2026.
River guides filed under Comanche County
- Medicine CreekODWC trout area, ODWC Where To Fish page
- Little Washita River3 USGS gauges
What the Comanche County gauges are reading
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Little Washita River Near Cement, Ok | 12 cfs, 3.23 ft gage height | Nov 11 8:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 9:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
ODWC Where To Fish river pages, USGS GNIS names, USACE ramps and USGS gauges (live readings); read November 3, 2026.
Fingerlings and catchables that went into Comanche County
| Year | Water | Species (as printed) | Number | Size (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ellsworth Lake | Saugeye | 102,374 | 1.5 |
| 2025 | Elmer Thomas Park | Channel Catfish | 1,480 | 9 |
| 2025 | Lawtonka Lake | Channel Catfish | 7,200 | 7 |
| 2025 | Lawtonka Lake | Saugeye | 48,508 | 1.75 |
| 2025 | Medicine Creek | Channel Catfish | 1,880 | 9 |
| 2024 | Elgin Pond | Channel Catfish | 50 | 12.5 |
| 2024 | Ellsworth Lake | Saugeye | 102,280 | 1.5 |
| 2024 | Elmer Thomas Park | Channel Catfish | 11,000 | 7 |
| 2024 | Elmer Thomas Park | Channel Catfish | 1,600 | 12.5 |
| 2024 | Fletcher Pond | Channel Catfish | 206 | 12.5 |
| 2024 | Geronimo | Channel Catfish | 318 | 1.5 |
| 2024 | Lawtonka Lake | Channel Catfish | 10,395 | 7 |
| 2024 | Lawtonka Lake | Saugeye | 85,682 | 1.6 |
| 2024 | Medicine Creek | Channel Catfish | 800 | 12.5 |
| 2024 | Medicine Creek | Rainbow Trout | 918 | 9-14 |
| 2024 | Medicine Creek | Rainbow Trout | 120 | 14-24 |
| 2024 | Skyline Pond | Channel Catfish | 100 | 12.5 |
ODWC Fisheries Division Public Stocking Reports 2024 and 2025 (2025 report, 2024 report), species abbreviations as printed (LMB = largemouth bass), read November 3, 2026.
Statewide daily and length rules across Comanche County
Start with the statewide limits for Comanche County, then check the area rules for the water you pick. Expect $31 (resident) or $81 (nonresident) at the license counter for an annual.
| Species | Daily limit | Size limit |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and/or Smallmouth Bass | 6 (combined) | 1 (one) over 16 inches |
| Spotted Bass | no daily limit | no size limit |
| Channel and/or Blue Catfish | 15 (combined) | Only 1 Blue Catfish over 30 inches |
| Flathead Catfish | 5 | no size limit |
| White and/or Black Crappie | 37 (combined) | no size limit |
| Striped Bass | 5 (except Lake Texoma) | no size limit |
| Striped Bass Hybrids | 20 | Only 5 fish over 20 inches |
| White Bass | no daily limit | no size limit |
| Trout | See trout regulations | no size limit |
| Walleye, Sauger and/or Saugeye | 6 (combined) | 14 inch minimum |
| Paddlefish | See paddlefish regulation | no size limit |
| Alligator Gar | 1 | no size limit |
In rivers and streams: 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.
Area rules across Comanche County (3)
| Area | Limits | Methods and restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Elmer Thomas Lake | Channel and/or blue catfish: six combined per day. | Allowed methods: rod and reel only. |
| Medicine Creek Trout Area | statewide limits | (Gondola Lake dam south to State Highway 49 bridge) Allowed methods: only one rod and reel per person during trout season, bowfishing. Note: For more trout regulations, see Trout Regulations. For Close to Home regulations, see "Close to Home" Fishing. |
| Wichita Mountains WR | Channel and/or blue catfish: six combined per day. | Allowed methods: rod and reel only. |
Limits as printed on the ODWC statewide daily and size limits page (2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations (ODWC); PDF), read November 3, 2026. Special regulations as printed on the ODWC Public Fishing Areas Special Regulations pages, read November 3, 2026.
ODWC record catches tied to Comanche County
| Species | Division | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | rod and reel | 8 lbs 7.00 ozs | Lawtonka Lake | 03/31/2012 |
| Spotted Sucker | unrestricted | 2 lbs 12.80 ozs | Lawtonka Lake | 04/10/2021 |
ODWC state record fish list (keeper: Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation), read November 3, 2026.
Gear stops in Comanche County
Comanche County bait shops
- Affordable Baitbait and tackle shop, Lawton
- Cache Creek Fly Shopfly shop, Lawton
- Elgin Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Elgin
- Porter Hill Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Elgin
- Ralph's Resortbait and tackle shop, Elgin
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Lawtonsporting goods store, Lawton
- Dick's Sporting Goods Lawtonsporting goods store, Lawton
Comanche County fishing guides
- Crappie Days Guide Servicefishing guide, (405)471-3254
- Curts Guide Servicefishing guide, (580)351-8110
- On Water Outfittersfishing guide, (580)445-8155
- Smokin' Fowl Guide Servicefishing guide, (580)678-4134
Yellow Pages listings, ODWC Bait & Tackle Nearby lists and the ODWC licensed fishing guide list (guides matched by the waters they list), read November 3, 2026.
Down the highway from Comanche County
Town pages across Comanche County
- Lawtonpop. 90,381
- Elginpop. 3,656
- Cachepop. 2,930
- Fletcherpop. 1,204
- Geronimopop. 1,158
Counties ringing Comanche County
- Cotton County26 miles south
- Tillman County33 miles southwest
- Kiowa County34 miles northwest
- Caddo County35 miles north
A Piscifun spinning reel for the run to Comanche County
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Fish to know on sight before Comanche County
Photo: schizoform, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Fishing inside Comanche County: what people ask
Can I trailer a boat onto water in Comanche County?
There is no Corps ramp in the county itself.
What is the broadest sheet of water in Comanche County?
Ellsworth Lake, at 5,112 acres by ODWC's figure.
What species are listed for lakes around Comanche County?
Saugeye top the count of lake pages within 50 miles, followed by channel catfish, largemouth bass and white bass.
Where does a Comanche County angler pick up shad, worms or jigs?
Try Affordable Bait; 7 are listed.
How many fishing guides list Comanche County water?
4 guides list waters in or by the county.
Where does Comanche County hold court?
The seat is Lawton.
How much does a nonresident spend on a license for Comanche County?
Expect $31 (resident) or $81 (nonresident) at the license counter for an annual.
Which Oklahoma counties are a short drive from Comanche County?
Try Cotton County, Tillman County and Kiowa County.
Where do Comanche County limits differ from the statewide table?
ODWC prints 3 special regulations for areas in or by this county, starting with Elmer Thomas Lake; the table above shows each.
Does Comanche County have an urban fishing pond?
Yes: Elmer Thomas Park.
Are Comanche County lakes stocked?
The 2024 and 2025 reports carry 17 rows; the newest lists 102,374 Saugeye at 1.5 in (2025) in Ellsworth.
What ODWC record weights list Comanche County water?
Smallmouth Bass, 8 lbs 7.00 ozs (rod and reel), from Lawtonka Lake (03/31/2012).
Make a weekend of Comanche County fishing
River pages show live USGS readings.