Where is the best place for winter trout fishing in Oklahoma? Check out these six places
Oklahoma's six winter trout areas will officially be open for business on Nov. 1.
Many of the winter areas, like Blue River, already have been stocked with rainbow trout and anglers can fish for them before the official start date.
State wildlife officials normally don't like to publicize the exact date and time the hatchery truck arrives to put rainbows in the lakes or river because some people will start fishing around the truck.
Blue River near Tishomingo is the most popular of the winter trout areas because it feels more like fishing in a mountain stream in the Ozarks or Rockies instead of in a Southern Plains state like Oklahoma.
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 and fishing is restricted to barbless hooks, artificial flies and lures. Blue River will hold a trout derby over Veterans Day weekend where anglers can win prizes.
More:New Oklahoma hunting, fishing licenses will be good for one year from purchase
In addition to Blue River, other winter trout fishing locations managed by the Wildlife Department include the Fourche Maline River in Robbers Cave near Wilburton, Perry CCC Lake, Medicine Creek in Medicine Park and Sunset Lake near Guymon.
For the second straight year, Lake Watonga will not receive any trout as repairs are still being made to the dam. Instead, the Wildlife Department will put trout in Lake Boecher, a small 20-acre impoundment within Roman Nose State Park that is near Lake Watonga.
Rainbow trout is normally stocked every two weeks by the Wildlife Department at most locations through mid-March. In addition to the winter trout fishing areas, there is year-round trout fishing on the Lower Illinois River near Gore and the Lower Mountain Fork river near Broken Bow. Brown trout are also in the Lower Mountain Fork.
Anglers are allowed to keep three rainbow trout per day.
The Wildlife Department buys the rainbow trout for the winter fishing areas from Crystal Lake Fisheries out of Ava, Missouri. The one exception is Sunset Lake, which receives trout from the Cedar Springs Trout Farm out of Broadwater, Nebraska.
The Wildlife Department also receives trout from Norfolk and Greers Ferry National Fish Hatcheries in Arkansas. Most of those are stocked primarily in the Lower Illinois River, but Blue River also gets trout from Arkansas.
More:'It's the cowboy way': Cowboy action shooting is the ultimate fantasy sport for Old West fans
Oklahoma City trout
Trout fishing in Oklahoma City will begin Dec. 1 and run through Feb. 28.
For the second straight year, rainbow trout will be stocked in ponds at Edwards Park and Route 66. Last year was the first time those locations received trout after the Dolese Park pond was the trout fishing location for more than 20 years in Oklahoma City.
John Rayfield, fisheries biologist for the City of Oklahoma City, said 97% of the 400-plus anglers surveyed last season at Edwards Park and Route 66 approved of the new locations.
There is more shoreline for anglers at the Edwards Park and Route 66 ponds than at Dolese Park, and anglers could catch trout at multiple spots from shore, he said.
"At Dolese, there was really only one spot the trout would congregate at," Rayfield said. "They didn't really move around too much."
The trout season will kick off in Oklahoma City with a family fishing derby on Dec. 3 at Edwards Park beginning at 11 a.m. Kids will receive a free rod and reel provided by the Police Athletic League while supplies last. Lucky Lure Tackle is providing bait and tackle for the event.
Trout fishing clinics for kids ages 5 to 15 also will be held on Saturdays in January and February at either Edwards Park or Route 66. Go to okc.gov/parksignup to register for the classes. No pre-registration is required for the fishing derby on Dec. 3.
More:Boundaries set in Oklahoma Panhandle to search for CWD in deer and elk
Batwoman retires
Oklahoma's "Batwoman" is retiring.
Melynda Hickman, a wildlife diversity biologist for the Wildlife Department, is retiring from the agency on Oct. 31. Hickman coordinated the annual summer bat watches at the Selman Bat Cave near Freedom.
The bat watches have become one of the most popular activities the Wildlife Department offers to the public. She also coordinated the monarch butterfly tagging program at the Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area, another popular event for the public.
Hickman was hired in 1990 by the agency after earning a degree in biology from Appalachian State University.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma's six winter trout fishing areas set to open on November 1
