Oklahoma Trout Areas
The seven ODWC trout areas, from the Lower Mountain Fork and Lower Illinois to the Blue River and Robbers Cave, with seasons, rules and stocking.
For stocked waterPiscifun Torrent Lite spinning comboCheck price at PiscifunPhoto of Mountain Fork River: Michael Gras, M.Ed, CC BY 2.0
Oklahoma's designated trout areas
Oklahoma has two introduced species of trout – rainbows, and browns, with rainbows being far more abundant. Brown trout are stocked in the Lower Mountain Fork River below Broken Bow dam and in the Lower Illinois River when available, while rainbows are usually stocked at all eight of the state’s trout areas. Anglers can use the following tips to help them put trout on the stringer:
Trout stocking at Lake Watonga has been suspended indefinitely due to current management decisions. Stocking at Lake Boecher will depend on the dam repair strategy, but until a decision is made, stocking has been temporarily paused.
ODWC trout area information and trout regulations, read November 3, 2026.
Every ODWC trout area with its season and reach
| Area | Stocking season | Designated reach | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Mountain Fork River | Year-round. | Twelve-mile portion of the Lower Mountain Fork River and its tributaries from the Broken Bow Reservoir Spillway downstream to the U.S. HWY 70 Bridge. About five miles of this designated trout stream lies within Beavers Bend State Park, in McCurtain County. | (918) 683-1031 |
| Blue River | Trout are stocked from Nov. 1 through March 31 of the following calendar year. | A 6.25-mile portion of the Blue River flowing through the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area located in Johnston County, four miles east of Tishomingo on State Highway 78 and six miles north. | (580) 920-5773 |
| Robbers Cave | Trout are stocked from Nov. 1 through March 15 of the following calendar year. | A 1.5-mile portion of Fourche Maline River immediately below Carlton Lake Dam downstream to the southern boundary of Robbers Cave State Park, located in Latimer County, five miles north of Wilburton on State Highway 2. | (918) 297-0150 |
| Sunset Lake | Trout are stocked from Nov. 1 through March 31 of the following calendar year. | This 11-acre lake is within Thompson Park at NW 5th Street and Sunset in Guymon. | (580) 327-7029 |
| Medicine Creek | Trout are stocked from Nov. 1 through March 15 of the following calendar year. | Medicine Creek from Gondola Lake dam downstream to the State Highway 49 bridge. | (580) 529-2795 |
| Lower Illinois River | Year-round. | A 7.75-mile portion of the Illinois River from Tenkiller Ferry Dam to the U.S. 64 bridge near Gore in Sequoyah County. | (918) 683-1031 |
| Lake Carl Blackwell Turtle Pond | Trout are stocked from Nov. 1 to March 31 of the following calendar | Lake Carl Blackwell Park is about 8 miles west of Stillwater at 11000 W State Highway 51. The 2-acre pond is north of the park office between SH 51C and Pine Grove Drive. | (580) 304-9243 |
ODWC trout area information and trout regulations, read November 3, 2026.
Special trout rules by area
- BARBLESS HOOKS ONLYLower Mountain Fork River
- Use of bait is permittedLower Mountain Fork River
- No cast nettingLower Mountain Fork River
- Daily limit: 3 in aggregate, only one of which may be a rainbow trout greater than 25 inches, and only one of which may be a brown trout which must be greater than 30 inches. Counts towards the aggregate limit for the entire Lower Mountain Fork Trout Area.Lower Mountain Fork River
- Rainbow Trout Daily limit: 1; must be greater than 25 inches. Counts towards the aggregate limit for the entire Lower Mountain Fork Trout Area.Lower Mountain Fork River
- Brown Trout Daily limit: 1; must be greater than 30 inches. Counts towards the aggregate limit for the entire Lower Mountain Fork Trout Area.Lower Mountain Fork River
- From Nov. 1 to the end of February, the portion of the Blue River which enters the north side of the property and flows to the end of the first walk-in trail is catch-and-release only (see shaded area on map) and fishing is restricted to barbless hooks, artificial flies and lures only. Starting March 1, special regulations do not apply. Also, no camping and no vehicles are allowed except in designated parking areas of the Carl R. and Ruth Walker Landrum Wilderness and the Bill and Valerie Plaster Wildlife ManagemenBlue River
- Special Regulations: Daily limitLower Illinois River
- Daily limit is three trout, only one of which may be a brown trout greater than 20 inches. From USGS stream gauge downstream to Gravel Pit County Road: daily limit is one trout, 20 inch minimum length.Lower Illinois River
- Trout fishing in the Lower Illinois River Simp and Helen Watts Management Unit from the USGS stream gauge downstream to E 1000 Rd is restricted to artificial flies and lures only and barbless hooks only (see Trout Regulations). Single barbed hooks 3/0 or larger may be used only when fishing with natural bait for species other than trout. Artificial baits and treble hooks with barbs when using hooks 3/0 or larger are also allowed when fishing for species other than trout.Lower Illinois River
ODWC trout area information and trout regulations, read November 3, 2026.
Trout limits, possession and methods in Oklahoma
- It is unlawful to take fish from state-designated trout areas during trout season by any means except one rod and reel (or one pole and line). Closed to snagging.trout rule
- Trout caught and placed on a stringer or otherwise held in possession cannot be released later (no culling).trout rule
- All trout in possession must be kept on a stringer marked with that angler's customer ID number. All anglers must have their own stringer.trout rule
- Daily limit is three trout combined in all state-designated trout areas except in portions of the Blue River, the Lower Illinois River and the Lower Mountain Fork River. (See maps and descriptions on Trout Area Information.)trout rule
- There is no minimum size limit for rainbow, or brown trout at any state-designated trout area except in portions of the Lower Illinois River and the Lower Mountain Fork River. (See maps and descriptions on Trout Area Information.)trout rule
- Possession Limit:trout rule
- No person shall have in their possession in the field more than one daily limit of any trout species. After the first day, no person shall have more than six trout in their possession, except at the Lower Mountain Fork River and Lower Illinois River where the possession limit for brown trout is one. Nonresidents shall not have more than two daily limits of trout upon leaving the state.trout rule
ODWC trout area information and trout regulations, read November 3, 2026.
Trout ODWC stocked by water
| Water as printed | Year | Trout stocked |
|---|---|---|
| Mt Fork River | 2025 | 139,131 |
| Illinois River-Lower | 2025 | 87,257 |
| Blue River | 2025 | 51,891 |
| Guymon-Sunset | 2025 | 5,198 |
| Turtle Pond, Carl Blackwell | 2025 | 4,058 |
| Fourche Maline River, Robbers Cave | 2025 | 2,397 |
| Edwards Park Pond, OKC | 2025 | 1,011 |
| Boecher-Roman Nose | 2025 | 732 |
| Route 66 Park Pond A, OKC | 2025 | 680 |
| Mt Fork River | 2024 | 132,832 |
| Illinois River-Lower | 2024 | 127,336 |
| Blue River | 2024 | 40,254 |
| Beavers Bend Park | 2024 | 8,990 |
| Sunset Lake, Thompson Park | 2024 | 5,575 |
| Boecher (Roman Nose) | 2024 | 2,435 |
| Veterans Park Pond, Jenks | 2024 | 2,380 |
ODWC Fisheries Division Public Stocking Reports 2024 and 2025 (2025 report, 2024 report), species abbreviations as printed (LMB = largemouth bass), read November 3, 2026.
Winter trout in Oklahoma City and Jenks
Edwards Park and Route 66 Park ponds in Oklahoma City and Veterans Pond in Jenks get rainbow trout from December 1 through February 28, with a limit of three, one rod and reel, and bank fishing only.
Oklahoma Trout Areas, with Oklahoma lakes in pictures
Photo: Thomas & Dianne Jones, CC BY 2.0
Photo: usacetulsa, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Serge Melki, CC BY 2.0
Oklahoma trout questions
How many designated trout areas does Oklahoma have?
7 on the ODWC trout area page: Lower Mountain Fork River, Blue River, Robbers Cave, Sunset Lake, Medicine Creek, Lower Illinois River and Lake Carl Blackwell Turtle Pond.
How many trout may go on an Oklahoma stringer?
Three trout combined in the designated trout areas, except in parts of the Blue River, the Lower Illinois River and the Lower Mountain Fork River, which carry their own rules.
Is there a minimum size for trout?
No, except in parts of the Lower Illinois River and the Lower Mountain Fork River.
Where is the year-round trout water?
The Lower Mountain Fork River below Broken Bow; ODWC lists its stocking season as year-round.
Which months does ODWC put trout in the Blue River?
From November 1 through March 31 of the following year.
Can I use bait on the Lower Mountain Fork?
Yes; ODWC lists barbless hooks only and bait permitted, with no cast netting.
Where are brown trout stocked?
In the Lower Mountain Fork River below Broken Bow dam and the Lower Illinois River when available, per ODWC.
How many rods can I use in a trout area?
One rod and reel or one pole and line during trout season; trout areas are closed to snagging.