Fishing near Lawton, Oklahoma
Comanche County, population 90,381.
- 1 mileto nearest lake page
- 0Corps ramps nearby
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Casting near Lawton
Census figures for 2020 list 90,381 residents in Lawton, a city in Comanche County. Elmer Thomas Park sits around 1 mile toward the east, the first lake with its own guide. Ellsworth Lake leads nearby lakes in size, about 5,112 acres.
Elmer Thomas Park, a Close to Home water, is about 1 mile away.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Lawton; miles are straight lines.
Lakes worth the windshield time from Lawton
| Lake | Distance | Acres (source) | Max depth (ODWC) | Kind | Corps ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elmer Thomas Park | 1 mile east | Close to Home water | 0 | channel catfish | ||
| Lake Elmer Thomas | 9 miles northwest | 334 (ODWC) | 71 ft | reservoir (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) | 0 | largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill |
| Lawtonka Lake | 11 miles northwest | 2,324 (ODWC) | 58.4 ft | reservoir (City of Lawton) | 0 | largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, blue catfish |
| Quanah Parker Lake | 14 miles northwest | 89 (ODWC) | reservoir | 0 | ||
| Ellsworth Lake | 15 miles north | 5,112 (ODWC) | 54.2 ft | reservoir (City of Lawton) | 0 | largemouth bass, striped hybrid bass, blue catfish |
| Dave Boyer Lake | 17 miles south | 121 (ODWC) | 13.8 ft | reservoir | 0 |
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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- Medicine Creek5 miles, ODWC trout area, ODWC Where To Fish page
Stream readings around Lawton
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver Creek Nr Hulen, Ok | 6.76 ft gage height | Nov 4 5:45 pm |
| East Cache Creek Near Walters, Ok | 26 cfs, 4.59 ft gage height | Nov 4 5:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 4, 2026 6:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
ODWC Where To Fish river pages, USGS GNIS names and USGS gauges (live readings); read November 3, 2026.
Pins on a map around Lawton
Where Lawton boaters launch
- Wichita Ridge Boat Ramp on Waurika LakeWaurika Lake, 29 miles southeast
- Kiowa Park I North Boat Ramp on Waurika LakeWaurika Lake, 31 miles southeast
- Kiowa Park I Southern Boat Ramp on Waurika LakeWaurika Lake, 32 miles southeast
- Kiowa Park Ii Boat Ramp on Waurika LakeWaurika Lake, 32 miles southeast
- Chisholm Trail Ridge North Boat Ramp on Waurika LakeWaurika Lake, 33 miles southeast
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.
Park ponds around Lawton
| Water | Kind | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Elmer Thomas Park | Close to Home water | 1 mile |
Close to Home waters are city-managed spots ODWC lists for easy, nearby fishing.
ODWC Close to Home fishing page, read November 3, 2026.
Gear close to Lawton
Shops selling hooks near Lawton
- Affordable Baitbait and tackle shop, Lawton, under a mile
- Dick's Sporting Goods Lawtonsporting goods store, Lawton, 2 miles
- Cache Creek Fly Shopfly shop, Lawton, 2 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Lawtonsporting goods store, Lawton, 4 miles
- Elgin Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Elgin, 13 miles
- Porter Hill Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Elgin
- Ralph's Resortbait and tackle shop, Elgin
Guide outfits near Lawton
- Crappie Days Guide Servicefishing guide, (405)471-3254
- Curts Guide Servicefishing guide, (580)351-8110
- Smokin' Fowl Guide Servicefishing guide, (580)678-4134
Yellow Pages listings and ODWC Bait & Tackle Nearby lists (miles only for shops with an exact point); ODWC licensed fishing guide list; read November 3, 2026.
Heaviest Oklahoma catches near Lawton
| 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. Waters within 40 miles.
Statewide keeper rules for Lawton visitors
ODWC prices the annual Oklahoma fishing license at $31 for residents and $81 for nonresidents.
| 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 |
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. Lake and river pages print any ODWC area rule.
Near Lawton
Towns a short hop from Lawton
- Geronimo10 miles
- Cache11 miles
- Elgin14 miles
- Fletcher18 miles
- Walters18 miles
The county around Lawton
- Comanche Countyseat: Lawton
Piscifun reels and a lip grip packed for Lawton
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The lakes and creeks around Lawton, photographed
Photo: usacetulsa, CC BY 2.0
Photo: duggar11, CC BY 2.0
Photo: duggar11, CC BY 2.0
Photo: anyjazz65, CC BY 2.0
Fishing out of Lawton for a weekend, answered
Is there a reservoir a short pickup ride from Lawton?
Elmer Thomas Park, 1 mile east.
How far is Lawton from a Corps ramp?
No Corps-listed ramp lies within 12 miles; the closest are listed above.
Where can children fish off a dock or bank by Lawton?
Elmer Thomas Park, a Close to Home water, 1 mile away.
Can I buy minnows near Lawton before launching?
Affordable Bait, under a mile away.
What county covers Lawton?
Comanche County; its county page maps every Corps ramp.
What does a fishing license cost a Lawton visitor?
The nonresident annual fishing license is listed at $81.
What is the largest lake close to Lawton?
Ellsworth Lake, about 5,112 acres, 15 miles away.
Which neighbouring towns border Lawton?
Closest: Geronimo (10 miles), Cache (11 miles) and Elgin (14 miles).
Where is city fishing near Lawton?
Elmer Thomas Park, 1 mile away.
Which ODWC record entries name lakes around Lawton?
Smallmouth Bass, 8 lbs 7.00 ozs (rod and reel), from Lawtonka Lake.
Leave Lawton before sunrise with a rod
Each lake and river above opens a full page.