Fishing in Osage County, Oklahoma
County seat: Pawhuska. Population 45,818.
- 12lake pages
- 30Corps ramps
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A quick look at fishing Osage County
Pawhuska is the seat of Osage County, home to 45,818 people at the last Census count. ODWC files the county's listed waters and stocking rows with its ODWC Northeast Region.
12 lake pages reach into the county, and Kaw Lake is the largest of them. County lines hold 30 Corps-listed ramps in the Tulsa District data. 3 fishing piers and areas sit on the USACE layer, 2 of them built piers. The 2024 and 2025 stocking reports list 9 stocking rows here.
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.
Map of the ramps and fishing piers in Osage County
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.
Impoundments scattered across Osage County
| Lake | Acres (source) | Max depth (ODWC) | Kind | Corps ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaw Lake | 23,610 (ODWC) | 74.5 ft | reservoir (U.S. Corps of Engineers) | 14 | white bass, black crappie, white crappie |
| Keystone Lake | 23,610 (ODWC) | 73 ft | reservoir (U.S. Corps of Engineers) | 18 | largemouth bass, white crappie, white bass |
| Skiatook Lake | 10,190 (ODWC) | reservoir (U.S. Corps of Engineers) | 10 | largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped hybrid bass | |
| Hulah Lake | 2,635 (ODWC) | 20.2 ft | reservoir (U.S. Corps of Engineers) | 0 | largemouth bass, white bass, black crappie |
| Birch Reservoir | 1,137 (ODWC) | 52.5 ft | reservoir (U.S. Corps of Engineers) | 0 | largemouth bass, striped hybrid bass, channel catfish |
| Bluestem Lake | 865 (ODWC) | 57.4 ft | reservoir (City of Pawhuska) | 0 | largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish |
| Shell Lake | 573 (ODWC) | 47.2 ft | reservoir (City of Sand Springs) | 0 | largemouth bass, white crappie, black crappie |
| Hudson Lake (Bartlesville) | 268 (ODWC) | 38.3 ft | reservoir | 0 | |
| Hominy Municipal Lake | 165 (ODWC) | 49.2 ft | reservoir | 0 | largemouth bass, white crappie, channel catfish |
| Lake Waxhoma | 128 (ODWC) | 39.9 ft | reservoir | 0 | |
| Fairfax City Lake | 111 (ODWC) | 34.8 ft | reservoir | 0 | |
| Pawhuska Lake | 103 (ODWC) | 44.2 ft | reservoir (City of Pawhuska) | 0 | bluegill, redear sunfish, green sunfish |
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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Within 50 miles of Pawhuska, channel catfish is the most-listed fish across lake pages.
ODWC Fish Species of Interest, stocking reports and state records, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a survey of fish numbers.
Streams through Osage County
Running water measured live in Osage County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Bird Creek At Sh 99 At Pawhuska, Ok | 66 cfs, 4.78 ft gage height | Feb 18 10:45 am Not updated since Feb 18, 2020. |
| Bird Creek At Avant, Ok | 10 cfs, 3.50 ft gage height | Nov 12 11:30 pm |
| Hominy Creek Near Hominy, Ok | 3 cfs, 5.33 ft gage height | Oct 1 1:45 am Not updated since Oct 1, 2020. |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 12:34 am 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.
Ramps across Osage County
- Black Dog Park Northern Boat Ramp on Skiatook LakeSkiatook Lake, 2 lanes, concrete, courtesy dock, USACE use fee
- Black Dog Park Southern Boat Ramp on Skiatook LakeSkiatook Lake, 2 lanes, concrete, courtesy dock
- Bull Creek Peninsula Boat Ramp on Skiatook LakeSkiatook Lake, 2 lanes, concrete, courtesy dock, USACE use fee
- Burbank Landing Northern Boat Ramp on Kaw LakeKaw Lake, 1 lane, concrete
- Burbank Landing Southern Boat Ramp on Kaw LakeKaw Lake, 1 lane, concrete
- Cross Timbers Marina Maintainance Boat Ramp on Skiatook LakeSkiatook Lake, 1 lane, concrete
- Crystal Bay Marina Boat Ramp on Skiatook LakeSkiatook Lake, 2 lanes, concrete, USACE use fee
- Hominy Landing Boat Ramp on Skiatook LakeSkiatook Lake, 2 lanes, concrete, courtesy dock, USACE use fee
- Osage Cove Southern Boat Ramp on Kaw LakeKaw Lake, 2 lanes, concrete, courtesy dock, USACE use fee
- Osage Cove Western Boat Ramp on Kaw LakeKaw Lake, 1 lane, concrete, USACE use fee
- Osage Park Boat Ramp on Skiatook LakeSkiatook Lake, 2 lanes, concrete, courtesy dock, USACE use fee
- Sandy Park Boat Ramp on Kaw LakeKaw Lake, 1 lane, concrete, USACE use fee
- Sarge Creek Cove Boat Ramp on Kaw LakeKaw Lake, 2 lanes, concrete, courtesy dock, USACE use fee
- Skiatook Point Boat RampSkiatook Lake, 2 lanes, concrete, USACE use fee
- Tall Chief Cove Boat Ramp on Skiatook LakeSkiatook Lake, 1 lane, concrete, courtesy dock, USACE use fee
- Twin Points Boat Ramp on Skiatook LakeSkiatook Lake, 2 lanes, concrete, courtesy dock, USACE use fee
- Walnut Creek Park Eastern Boat Ramp on Keystone LakeKeystone Lake, 1 lane, asphalt over concrete, courtesy dock
- Walnut Creek Park Northern Boat Ramp on Keystone LakeKeystone Lake, 1 lane, concrete
- Walnut Creek Park Off-Road Area Boat Ramp on Keystone LakeKeystone Lake, 1 lane, concrete
- Walnut Creek Park Southern Boat Ramp on Keystone LakeKeystone Lake, 1 lane, concrete, USACE use fee
- Windycrest Sailing Club Boat Ramp on Keystone LakeKeystone Lake, 3 lanes, concrete, courtesy dock
- Birch Cove Boat RampCorps site, 1 lane, concrete, courtesy dock, USACE use fee
- Quarry Cove Central Boat RampCorps site, 1 lane, concrete
- Quarry Cove Northern Boat RampCorps site, 1 lane, concrete
- Quarry Cove Southern Boat RampCorps site, 1 lane, concrete
- Rocky Ford Boat RampCorps site, 1 lane, concrete
- Skull Creek Southern Boat RampCorps site, 1 lane, concrete
- Sportsman RampCorps site, 1 lane, concrete
- Twin Cove Point Boat RampCorps site, 1 lane, concrete, courtesy dock, USACE use fee
- Wa-Sha-She West Boat RampCorps site, 1 lane, concrete, courtesy dock
The Corps layer does not cover city, GRDA or state park ramps.
Fishing piers in Osage County
- Osage Cove Fishing Pier on Kaw Lakefishing pier
- Quapaw Park Outlet Channel Fishing Area on Skiatook Lakefishing area
- Birch Cove Fishing Pierfishing pier
USACE Tulsa District recreation features (boat ramp layer, inventory year 2021), read November 3, 2026. USACE Tulsa District recreation features (fishing feature layer), read November 3, 2026.
Corps pool readings for Osage County lakes
| Lake | Pool elevation | Previous reading | Top of conservation pool | Reading time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaw Lake | 1011.26 ft | 1011.04 ft | 1010.0 ft | 03 NOV 2026 @ 08:00 CDT |
| Keystone Lake | 724.29 ft | 724.14 ft | 723.0 ft | 03 NOV 2026 @ 08:00 CDT |
| Skiatook Lake | 710.72 ft | 710.66 ft | 714.0 ft | 03 NOV 2026 @ 08:00 CDT |
| Hulah Lake | 732.39 ft | 732.24 ft | 733.0 ft | 03 NOV 2026 @ 08:00 CDT |
| Birch Reservoir | 747.66 ft | 747.57 ft | 750.5 ft | 03 NOV 2026 @ 08:00 CDT |
Each figure is one dated reading from the Tulsa District morning report, with no datum printed.
USACE Tulsa District Daily Morning Reservoir Report, reading of 03 NOV 2026 @ 08:00 CDT (one dated reading, not live; feet as printed, datum not printed).
ODWC stockings across Osage County
| Year | Water | Species (as printed) | Number | Size (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Birch Reservoir | Hybrid Striped Bass | 13,604 | 1.5 |
| 2025 | Skiatook Lake | Hybrid Striped Bass | 109,820 | 1.5 |
| 2025 | Skiatook Lake | Hybrid Sunfish | 220 | 7+ |
| 2025 | Skiatook Lake | Walleye | 107,029 | 1.5 |
| 2024 | Birch Bluestem-Osage | Hybrid Striped Bass | 11,383 | 1.75 |
| 2024 | Birch Bluestem-Osage | Saugeye | 34,500 | Varies |
| 2024 | Skiatook Lake | Florida LMB | 2,000 | Varies |
| 2024 | Skiatook Lake | Hybrid Striped Bass | 100,017 | 2 |
| 2024 | Skiatook Lake | Walleye | 108,030 | 1.4 |
ODWC Fisheries Division Public Stocking Reports 2024 and 2025 (2025 report, 2024 report), species abbreviations as printed (LMB = largemouth bass), read November 3, 2026.
Nearest listed tackle stores for Osage County
- Johnny's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Bartlesville, 20 miles
- Mister Bass Incbait and tackle shop, Skiatook, 27 miles
- Pioneer Cove Marinamarina, Kaw City, 30 miles
- Keystone Lake Bait & Storebait and tackle shop, Cleveland, 32 miles
- Lakeview Campground, Boat Storage, Bait Shop & Storebait and tackle shop, Ponca City, 34 miles
Yellow Pages listings and ODWC Bait & Tackle Nearby lists; straight-line miles from Pawhuska.
Statewide limits that cover Osage County
Statewide rows cover Osage County; any water with an ODWC special regulation is listed after them. The ODWC fee table lists $31 resident and $81 nonresident for the annual fishing license.
| 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 |
Where limits change in Osage County (2)
| Area | Limits | Methods and restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Shell Lake | All crappie: no limit. | – |
| Skiatook | Striped bass and striped bass hybrids (does not include white bass): five per day, of which only two may be 20 inches or longer. | – |
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.
State record fish from Osage County water
| Species | Division | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddlefish | rod and reel | 164 lbs | Keystone Lake | 06/22/2021 |
ODWC state record fish list (keeper: Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation), read November 3, 2026.
Tournament dates tied to Osage County water
Osage County appears in 1 published events, 1 of them upcoming.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2027 | Fishers of Men Oklahoma Northeast Classic Keystone 2027 | Keystone Lake | Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail |
Organizer schedule and results pages (ODWC publishes no tournament calendar), checked November 2026.
Where Osage County folks pick up minnows
Guides for Osage County water
- B's Above The Bar Guide Servicefishing guide, (918)230-0099
- B-Rad’s Guide Servicefishing guide, (580)362-6564
- Backyard Okie Noodling Llcfishing guide, (918)955-3093
- Bz Guide Servicefishing guide, (918)998-3474
- Called To Fish Guide Servicesfishing guide, (918)637-7481
- Crappie Elite Outdoorsfishing guide, (918)353-3530
- Deep Sea Driftersfishing guide, (903)271-5861
- Dom’s Guide Servicefishing guide, (918)914-2633
- Fish On Guide Servicefishing guide, (918)724-6786
- Gone Fishin Guide Service Llcfishing guide, (405)714-2609
- Gordie's Wildlife, Incfishing guide, (918)557-4791
- Grand River Monster Bowfishing Chartersfishing guide, (918)864-1605
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.
A handful of section-line miles from Osage County
Towns in Osage County
- Hominypop. 3,329
- Pawhuskapop. 2,984
- Fairfaxpop. 1,136
- Barnsdallpop. 1,034
Next-door counties of Osage County, linked
- Pawnee County27 miles southwest
- Washington County28 miles east
- Kay County43 miles west
- Tulsa County43 miles southeast
A Piscifun kit worth loading before Osage County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Fish to know on sight before Osage County
Photo: robposse, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Questions about lakes and creeks around Osage County
Which Osage County ramps are in the Corps inventory?
30 ramps on the USACE layer, including Black Dog Park Northern Boat Ramp on Skiatook Lake.
Which Osage County reservoir posts the biggest ODWC acreage?
Kaw Lake, at 23,610 acres by ODWC's figure.
Which fish can I catch near Osage County?
Channel catfish top the count of lake pages within 50 miles, followed by largemouth bass, white crappie and black crappie.
Where can I restock tackle in Osage County?
None inside; see the nearby list.
Could a visitor line up a guide boat in Osage County?
The ODWC guide list matches 12 guides to this county's water.
Which Oklahoma town holds the Osage County county clerk?
Pawhuska is the seat.
Which ODWC license covers a Osage County trip?
The ODWC fee table lists $31 resident and $81 nonresident for the annual fishing license.
Which county pages sit beside Osage County?
By distance: Pawnee County, Washington County and Kay County.
Do clubs book tournament days on Osage County reservoirs?
1 event on file; the next is Fishers of Men Oklahoma Northeast Classic Keystone 2027 on Keystone Lake, May 22, 2027.
Which Osage County waters carry an ODWC special regulation?
ODWC prints 2 special regulations for areas in or by this county, starting with Shell Lake; the table above shows each.
Which Osage County waters got hatchery fish?
The 2024 and 2025 reports carry 9 rows; the newest lists 13,604 Hybrid Striped Bass at 1.5 in (2025) in Birch.
Does any Osage County water hold an ODWC record?
Paddlefish, 164 lbs (rod and reel), from Keystone Lake (06/22/2021).
Work the lakes and streams of Osage County
Read the area rules before keeping fish.