Trout and about
Winter is a `reel' good time to go fishing
When one thinks of winter, getting outdoors does not necessarily sound enticing. Swimming and boating may not be at the top of your winter activities, but fishing certainly can be. When it comes to trout, wintertime is the best season, while crappie and bass go dormant. But brown and rainbow trout just appear to be more active and playful, if you will.
Oklahoma supports two trout fisheries 12 months out of the year — the Lower Mountain Fork River and the Lower Illinois River. But for those trout anglers, there are seasonal trout areas that open on Nov. 1, and they are quite popular. According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, those areas include: Blue River, Robbers Cave, Sunset Lake, Medicine Creek, Perry CCC Lake and Lake Watonga. From Nov. 1 through March, these areas are stocked with trout every two weeks.
I have written often about my love of fly-fishing, with my three favorite places being the Lower Mountain Fork River, the Lower Illinois River and Blue River near Tishomingo. For those who do not know, Gore is known as “The Trout Capital of Oklahoma” because the trout fishing on the Lower Illinois is indeed quite good!
From Dec. 1 to Feb. 28, Veterans Pond in Jenks and
Dolese Youth Park Pond in Oklahoma City are stocked with trout. Both are excellent locations to introduce youngsters to the joy and fun of trout fishing.
The state Wildlife Conservation Department's website points out that shallow drop-offs around points and shallow coves make for good locations to find trout who are feeding. The website also highlights that lunchtime and sunset appear to be the best times to reel in some trout although they do feed throughout the day. While there are three methods for catching trout in Oklahoma, the two best methods are bottom fishing and cast retrieve. The third, and personal favorite, method is fly fishing.
For a complete listing of trout fishing locations in the state, in addition to the rules, regulations and stocking schedules, go to www.wildlifedepartment.com.
The Oklahoma Fishing Trail, launched by Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell in June 2019, is another excellent source for information regarding Oklahoma fishing. It covers the entire state and is divided into six loops. Each loop is grouped by lake and species. So, just find the kind of fishing you are interested in or want to try, and you will discover a loop to fit your goals. For example, when it comes to trout fishing, look under the Southeastern and South Central loops.
The Oklahoma Fishing Trail can be found on the state Tourism and Recreation Department's website, www. travelok.com. While there, you also can find places to stay, entertainment and dining in the area where you may want to fish.