Foss Lake Fishing
ODWC-sized 8,800-acre reservoir spread over Custer County.
Pick for hybrid bassPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Washita River: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
First look at Foss Lake for Sooner anglers
In Custer County, Foss Lake is a reservoir that ODWC measures at 8,800 acres. The ODWC figure for maximum depth is 89 feet. 41.8 miles of bank wrap 256,400 acre-feet of storage. It is operated by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Another name in use is Foss Reservoir. The closest Census place is Butler, around 5 miles from the water.
ODWC files it under the ODWC Northwest 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 Foss Lake
- Location (ODWC)Foss Lake is located 23 miles west of Clinton on Highway 73.
- Facilities (ODWC)Foss Lake is surrounded by Foss State Park. There are campgrounds with full RV hookups, a swimming area, fishing docks and a marina with a cafe.
- ADA fishing accessOn the ODWC list of ADA-accessible fishing
- Lake map: Printable OWRB mapOklahoma Water Resources Board
Everything in this band is as ODWC prints it on its Where To Fish page for Foss Lake.
ODWC Where To Fish page, wildlifedepartment.com, read November 3, 2026. OWRB lake map PDF.
Fish that make a trip to Foss Lake worthwhile
The roll call for Foss 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.
For the hybrid bass herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Splashing a hull on Foss Lake
For Foss 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.
Pool reading for Foss Lake
On 03 NOV 2026 @ 08:00 CDT, the USACE Tulsa District report showed Foss Lake at 1637.91 feet; the conservation pool tops out at 1642.0 feet.
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).
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Foss Reservoir Near Foss, Ok | 1,637.79 ft gage height | Nov 5 6:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 5, 2026 6:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
That panel pulls straight from USGS, provisional data.
USGS instantaneous values (Foss Reservoir near Foss, OK), provisional.
What ODWC put into Foss Lake
| Year | Species as printed | Number | Size (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Hybrid Striped Bass | 45,308 | 1.5 |
| 2025 | Walleye | 1,100,000 | Fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 1,100,000 | Fry |
| 2024 | White Bass | 350 | Varies |
ODWC stocking reports, 2024 and 2025, are the source for Foss Lake.
ODWC Fisheries Division Public Stocking Reports 2024 and 2025 (2025 report, 2024 report), species abbreviations as printed (LMB = largemouth bass), read November 3, 2026.
The keeper rules on Foss 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 Foss 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.
Foss Lake measured against the next reservoirs over
Clinton Lake is the big water of this group, near 335 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth (ft) | Corps ramps | Piers and areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foss Lake | 8,800 | 89 | 0 | 0 | |
| Clinton Lake | 11 miles south | 335 | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| Elk City Reservoir | 18 miles southwest | 240 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Lake (OKC) | 22 miles south | 59 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Dead Warrior Lake | 29 miles northwest | 73 | 0 | 0 | |
| Crowder Lake | 32 miles east | 159 | 0 | 0 |
ODWC Where To Fish pages (acres, depth) or NHD outlines; USACE Tulsa District ramp and fishing layers; read November 3, 2026.
Near Foss Lake
A second lake near Foss Lake
- Clinton Lake11 miles south
- Elk City Reservoir18 miles southwest
- Crystal Lake (OKC)22 miles south
- Dead Warrior Lake29 miles northwest
- Crowder Lake32 miles east
Minnow and worm stops ODWC pairs with Foss Lake
- Walmart Supercenter (Elk City)210 Regional Dr, Elk City, OK 73644, (580) 225-3003
- Lead Babies Slabs215 E Main St, New Cordell, OK 73632, (580) 832-5177
- Walmart Supercenter (Weatherford)1349 Eagle Rd, Weatherford, OK 73096, (580) 772-1408
- Castaway Bait Shop619 E 1st St, Granite, OK 73547, (580) 878-2248
- Gilchrist General Store122 W Main St, Canton, OK 73724, (580) 886-3200
- Roman Nose General Store2738 Lot 301, OK-8A, Watonga, OK 73772, (580) 623-7750
- Brian's Bait Shop200 Zinn Ave, Blair, OK 73526, (580) 563-5005
- Tom Steed Bait Shop1609 US-183, Mountain Park, OK 73559, (580) 569-2690
Tackle aisles a red dirt road from Foss Lake
- Elk City Outdoorbait and tackle shop, Elk City, 16 miles
- Shamburg's Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Clinton, 16 miles
Paying a pro to put you on Foss Lake fish
- Aj's Guide Servicefishing guide, (806)663-0464
- Bakers Guide Servicefishing guide, (409)543-3723
- C4 Industries Llcfishing guide, (580)890-7410
- Didier & Son’s Fishing Servicefishing guide, (580)623-1059
- Lazy J'sfishing guide, (580)309-4365
- On Water Outfittersfishing guide, (580)445-8155
- Shadow Seeker Guide Servicefishing guide, (405)714-2794
- Wild Goose Guide Servicefishing guide, (405)590-5025
Where anglers bunk near Foss Lake
- Clinton16 miles
- Burns Flat16 miles
- Elk City17 miles
Foss Lake by county line
- Custer Countyseat: Arapaho
Bait & Tackle Nearby on the ODWC page, wildlifedepartment.com, read November 3, 2026.
Piscifun reels and a lip grip packed for Foss Lake
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
The lakes and creeks around Foss Lake, photographed
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Larry Syverson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: duggar11, CC BY 2.0
Photo: duggar11, CC BY 2.0
Anglers ask this about Foss Lake
Which counties touch Foss Lake?
Foss Lake is located 23 miles west of Clinton on Highway 73. Look in Custer County, about 5 miles from Butler.
What water surface does ODWC tally for Foss Lake?
ODWC lists 8,800 surface acres, with a maximum depth of 89 feet.
Which ramp is a good start at Foss Lake?
The ramp data has nothing near it.
Is Foss Lake a good bass lake?
The ODWC list starts with striped hybrid bass, walleye, largemouth bass, black crappie, white crappie, channel catfish and hybrid striped bass.
What creel numbers does ODWC set for Foss 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 Foss Lake?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Oklahoma fishing license ($31 annual for residents, $81 for nonresidents in 2026).
Which spots on Foss Lake suit someone casting off the bank?
It is on the ODWC ADA access list; ODWC adds: Foss Lake is surrounded by Foss State Park. There are campgrounds with full RV hookups, a swimming area, fishing docks and a marina with a cafe.
Where do Foss Lake regulars load up on tackle?
The ODWC page for it lists Walmart Supercenter (Elk City) (210 Regional Dr, Elk City, OK 73644).
Who reports the water height at Foss Lake?
The Corps report dated 03 NOV 2026 @ 08:00 CDT gives 1637.91 feet and 83.7% conservation pool occupied.
Do schedules that say Foss Reservoir mean Foss Lake?
Yes; Foss Reservoir names the same water.
Circle a weekend for Foss Lake
ODWC fees and statewide limits are on one page.