Bluestem Lake Fishing
ODWC-sized 865-acre reservoir spread over Osage County.
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First look at Bluestem Lake for Sooner anglers
In Osage County, Bluestem Lake is a reservoir that ODWC measures at 865 acres. The ODWC figure for maximum depth is 57 feet. 22.4 miles of bank wrap 14,436 acre-feet of storage. It is operated by City of Pawhuska. The closest Census place is Pawhuska, around 6 miles from the water.
ODWC files it under the ODWC Northeast Region.
Acres, depth, shoreline and volume as printed on the ODWC Where To Fish page. ODWC Where To Fish page, wildlifedepartment.com, read November 3, 2026. Census 2023 places.
From the ODWC page on Bluestem Lake
- Location (ODWC)Located just west of Pawhuska ( Google Maps ).
- Campgrounds ODWC listsBirch Lake USACE, Kaw USACE, Hulah USACE, Copan USACE, Skiatook USACE
- Lake map: Printable OWRB mapOklahoma Water Resources Board
Everything in this band is as ODWC prints it on its Where To Fish page for Bluestem Lake.
ODWC Where To Fish page, wildlifedepartment.com, read November 3, 2026. OWRB lake map PDF.
Fish that make a trip to Bluestem Lake worthwhile
The roll call for Bluestem Lake comes from the ODWC Fish Species of Interest line, stocking reports and records.
ODWC Where To Fish page (Fish Species of Interest), ODWC stocking reports 2024-2025 and the ODWC record table; read November 3, 2026.
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For Bluestem Lake, ask the operator about a launch; the Corps layer lists none.
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.
The keeper rules on Bluestem Lake
| 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 |
The 2026-27 statewide rows cover Bluestem Lake; area rules take priority.
Anglers 18 and older carry an Oklahoma fishing license ($31 annual for residents, $81 for nonresidents in 2026).
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. ODWC License Options and Fees, read November 3, 2026.
Bluestem Lake measured against the next reservoirs over
Birch Reservoir is the big water of this group, near 1,137 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth (ft) | Corps ramps | Piers and areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluestem Lake | 865 | 57 | 0 | 0 | |
| Pawhuska Lake | 4 miles south | 103 | 44 | 0 | 0 |
| Sunset Lake | 12 miles northeast | 10 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fairfax City Lake | 19 miles west | 111 | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| Birch Reservoir | 19 miles southeast | 1,137 | 52 | 0 | 0 |
| Lake Waxhoma | 20 miles southeast | 128 | 40 | 0 | 0 |
ODWC Where To Fish pages (acres, depth) or NHD outlines; USACE Tulsa District ramp and fishing layers; read November 3, 2026.
Near Bluestem Lake
A second lake near Bluestem Lake
- Pawhuska Lake4 miles south
- Sunset Lake12 miles northeast
- Fairfax City Lake19 miles west
- Birch Reservoir19 miles southeast
- Lake Waxhoma20 miles southeast
Minnow and worm stops ODWC pairs with Bluestem Lake
- Walmart Supercenter (Bartlesville)4000 Green Country Rd, Bartlesville, OK 74006, (918) 335-6600
- Copan Bait & Tackle600 S Caney St, Copan, OK 74022, (918) 331-6639
- Lakeview Campground, Boat Storage, Bait Shop & Store8865 Lake Rd, Ponca City, OK 74604, (580) 765-2219
- Mister Bass Inc4000 W Rogers Blvd, Skiatook, OK 74070, (918) 396-3848
- Walmart Supercenter (Skiatook)700 W Rogers Blvd, Skiatook, OK 74070, (918) 396-1244
- Keystone Lake Bait & Store998 W Oak Grove Rd, Cleveland, OK 74020, (918) 899-2649
- Walmart Supercenter (Ponca City)1101 E Prospect Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601, (580) 762-0395
- Grit & Grace Outdoors712 E 7th St, Newkirk, OK 74647, (580) 362-1016
Tackle aisles a red dirt road from Bluestem Lake
- Johnny's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Bartlesville, 24 miles
- Pioneer Cove Marinamarina, Kaw City, 24 miles
Where anglers bunk near Bluestem Lake
- Pawhuska6 miles
- Barnsdall18 miles
- Fairfax19 miles
Bluestem Lake by county line
- Osage Countyseat: Pawhuska
Bait & Tackle Nearby on the ODWC page, wildlifedepartment.com, read November 3, 2026.
Piscifun reels and a lip grip packed for Bluestem Lake
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The lakes and creeks around Bluestem Lake, photographed
Photo: usacetulsa, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Robert Nunnally, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District, CC BY 2.0
Anglers ask this about Bluestem Lake
Which counties touch Bluestem Lake?
Located just west of Pawhuska ( Google Maps ). Look in Osage County, about 6 miles from Pawhuska.
What water surface does ODWC tally for Bluestem Lake?
ODWC lists 865 surface acres, with a maximum depth of 57 feet.
Which ramp is a good start at Bluestem Lake?
The ramp data has nothing near it.
Is Bluestem Lake a good bass lake?
The ODWC list starts with largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, white crappie and submit your catch!.
What creel numbers does ODWC set for Bluestem Lake?
Largemouth and/or Smallmouth Bass: 6 (combined) a day; size rule 1 (one) over 16 inches.
Which ODWC permit belongs in my pocket at Bluestem Lake?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Oklahoma fishing license ($31 annual for residents, $81 for nonresidents in 2026).
Which spots on Bluestem Lake suit someone casting off the bank?
The Corps layer shows no shore site here.
Where do Bluestem Lake regulars load up on tackle?
The ODWC page for it lists Walmart Supercenter (Bartlesville) (4000 Green Country Rd, Bartlesville, OK 74006).
Circle a weekend for Bluestem Lake
ODWC fees and statewide limits are on one page.