Sooner Lake Fishing
ODWC-sized 5,400-acre reservoir spread over Noble and Pawnee counties.
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First look at Sooner Lake for Sooner anglers
In Noble and Pawnee counties, Sooner Lake is a reservoir that ODWC measures at 5,400 acres. The ODWC figure for maximum depth is 74 feet. 51.8 miles of bank wrap 149,000 acre-feet of storage. It is operated by OG+E. The closest Census place is Red Rock, around 8 miles from the water.
Area-specific ODWC rules apply here. 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 Sooner Lake
- Location (ODWC)Sooner Lake is located 25 miles north of Stillwater and 20 miles south of Ponca City on US 177.
- Facilities (ODWC)OG+E manages two boat ramps.
- Campgrounds ODWC listsLake McMurtry, OSU Lake Carl Blackwell, Kaw USACE
- 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 Sooner Lake.
ODWC Where To Fish page, wildlifedepartment.com, read November 3, 2026. OWRB lake map PDF.
Fish that make a trip to Sooner Lake worthwhile
The roll call for Sooner 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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The ODWC entry mentions launch sites at Sooner Lake; none has a published location.
- Sooner Lake boat rampsOG+E
Launch as described on the ODWC page, read November 3, 2026; USACE Tulsa District recreation features (fishing feature layer), read November 3, 2026.
What ODWC put into Sooner Lake
| Year | Species as printed | Number | Size (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Hybrid Striped Bass | 29,704 | 1.5 |
| 2025 | Saugeye | 148,741 | 2 |
| 2024 | Hybrid Striped Bass | 27,000 | Varies |
| 2024 | Saugeye | 218,866 | 1.2 |
ODWC stocking reports, 2024 and 2025, are the source for Sooner 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 Sooner 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 Sooner Lake; area rules take priority.
ODWC area rules for Sooner Lake
- Daily/size LimitsStriped bass: 5 per day, minimum length of 20 inches; walleye, sauger, saugeye: six combined per day/18-inch minimum; others must be returned to the water immediately.
- MethodsAllowed.
- Methodsrod and reel, bowfishing, and noodling. Fishing is prohibited from dam, fenced area below dam, and north bank of intake channel. Fishing in the buoy-marked intake channel, discharge channel and spillway embankment is bank fishing only (no float tubes or wading). Area Specific Hunting Regulations Closed to all seasons except waterfowl. Seasons w/ Special Restrictions Duck, Merganser and Coot Hunting by permit …
Area Specific Fishing Regulations on the ODWC page, as printed, wildlifedepartment.com, read November 3, 2026.
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.
Sooner Lake measured against the next reservoirs over
Lake McMurtry is the big water of this group, near 1,155 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth (ft) | Corps ramps | Piers and areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sooner Lake | 5,400 | 74 | 0 | 0 | |
| Pawnee Lake | 13 miles east | 310 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Lake McMurtry | 19 miles southwest | 1,155 | 44 | 0 | 0 |
| Boomer Lake | 19 miles south | 275 | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| Fairfax City Lake | 21 miles northeast | 111 | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| Perry Lake | 21 miles southwest | 557 | 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 Sooner Lake
A second lake near Sooner Lake
- Pawnee Lake13 miles east
- Lake McMurtry19 miles southwest
- Boomer Lake19 miles south
- Fairfax City Lake21 miles northeast
- Perry Lake21 miles southwest
Minnow and worm stops ODWC pairs with Sooner Lake
- Academy (Stillwater)2409 N Perkins Rd, Stillwater, OK 74075, (405) 742-6010
- Lake McMurtry West Bait Shop30285 Bronco Curve, Stillwater, OK 74075, (405) 747-8085
- Walmart Supercenter (Stillwater)4545 W 6th Ave, Stillwater, OK 74074, (405) 707-0744
- Lakeview Campground, Boat Storage, Bait Shop & Store8865 Lake Rd, Ponca City, OK 74604, (580) 765-2219
- Cowboy Corner at Lake Carl Blackwell11000 Oklahoma 51 West, Stillwater, OK 74074, (405) 743-1977
- Walmart Supercenter (Ponca City)1101 E Prospect Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601, (580) 762-0395
- R.C. Bait and Tackle11608 Fairgrounds Rd, Perkins, OK 74059, (405) 880-5522
- Bubba's Outdoor Sports515 W Doolin Ave, Blackwell, OK 74631, (580) 262-2275
Tackle aisles a red dirt road from Sooner Lake
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Stillwatersporting goods store, Stillwater, 19 miles
- Lakeview Campground, Boat Storage, Bait Shop & Storebait and tackle shop, Ponca City, 20 miles
- Tackle Shackbait and tackle shop, Stillwater, 21 miles
- Westport Marinamarina, Cleveland
- Keystone Lake Bait & Storebait and tackle shop, Cleveland
Paying a pro to put you on Sooner Lake fish
- Fish On Guide Servicefishing guide, (918)724-6786
- Gone Fishin Guide Service Llcfishing guide, (405)714-2609
- Hayes Guide Servicefishing guide, (991)869-8663
- Hybrid Patrol Fishing Guide Servicefishing guide, (918)509-0883
- Oakley Guide Servicefishing guide, (405)626-3779
- Paul Tennies Guide Servicefishing guide, (405)408-3474
- Reel Adventures Guide Servicefishing guide, (580)554-3474
- Rodney’s Guide Servicefishing guide, (918)691-5008
Where anglers bunk near Sooner Lake
- Pawnee14 miles
- Perry18 miles
- Ponca City20 miles
Sooner Lake by county line
- Noble Countyseat: Perry
- Pawnee Countyseat: Pawnee
Bait & Tackle Nearby on the ODWC page, wildlifedepartment.com, read November 3, 2026.
Piscifun reels and a lip grip packed for Sooner Lake
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The lakes and creeks around Sooner Lake, photographed
Photo: Warren Brown, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Michael Karl Witzel, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Warren Brown, CC BY 2.0
Photo: City of Stillwater (Oklahoma), Public domain
Anglers ask this about Sooner Lake
Which counties touch Sooner Lake?
Sooner Lake is located 25 miles north of Stillwater and 20 miles south of Ponca City on US 177. Look in Noble and Pawnee counties, about 8 miles from Red Rock.
What water surface does ODWC tally for Sooner Lake?
ODWC lists 5,400 surface acres, with a maximum depth of 74 feet.
Which ramp is a good start at Sooner Lake?
The ramp data has nothing near it.
Is Sooner Lake a good bass lake?
The ODWC list starts with largemouth bass, striped hybrid bass, saugeye, blue catfish, black crappie, white crappie and hybrid striped bass.
What creel numbers does ODWC set for Sooner Lake?
Largemouth and/or Smallmouth Bass: 6 (combined) a day; size rule 1 (one) over 16 inches. Check the area rules in the limits band as well.
Which ODWC permit belongs in my pocket at Sooner Lake?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Oklahoma fishing license ($31 annual for residents, $81 for nonresidents in 2026).
Which spots on Sooner Lake suit someone casting off the bank?
It is on the ODWC ADA access list; ODWC adds: OG+E manages two boat ramps.
Where do Sooner Lake regulars load up on tackle?
The ODWC page for it lists Academy (Stillwater) (2409 N Perkins Rd, Stillwater, OK 74075).
Circle a weekend for Sooner Lake
ODWC fees and statewide limits are on one page.