Current through Vol. 42, No. 1, September 16, 2024
(a)
Bow and
arrow. The use of bow and arrows in bowfishing shall be lawful for
taking nongame fish only in all waters of the state throughout the year,
except:
(1) Illinois River and its tributaries
shall be closed at all times to such fishing except, those portions above the
Horseshoe Bend boat ramp on Tenkiller Reservoir which is open from December 1
through March 31 annually. Tenkiller Reservoir below Horseshoe Bend boat ramp
is open to bowfishing.
(2)
Reservoir tailwaters, other than Eufaula, Keystone, Wister, Fort Gibson,
Thunderbird, Hudson (Markham Ferry), and Heyburn shall be closed to fishing
with bow and arrows throughout the year. This does not alter provisions of 29
O.S., Section 7-101, which designates a safety zone of the first 150 feet
immediately below the dam on all reservoirs except Tenkiller, Canton, Salt
Plains, and Fort Supply.
(3) All
waters defined as "Designated Trout Areas" during open season for taking trout
are closed.
(4) All waters within
the boundaries of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge are closed.
(5) Only that section of the Caney River from
Hulah Dam downstream approximately 1,200 feet to the reregulation dam is
closed. Fishing with a bow and arrow is lawful in the Caney River below the
re-regulation dam.
(6) The
following portions of Grand River:
(A) The
main river channel of Grand River below the turbine outlets of Pensacola Dam
downstream to the State Park Bridge is closed throughout the year.
(B) The Grand River occurring below the
spillway outlets of Pensacola Dam downstream to the highline crossing
(approximately 1/2 mile) is closed throughout the year with the next 1/2 mile
downstream from the highline crossing closed during periods when the spillway
gates are open and discharging water and for seven (7) days following closure
of the spillway gates.
(7) The Little River tributary of Thunderbird
Reservoir above Franklin Road in Cleveland County is closed.
(8) "Close To Home" fishing waters and Lakes
Pickens, Carl Albert and Taft and all ponds and lakes in the Ouachita National
Forest are closed.
(9) The taking
of paddlefish by bow and arrow is prohibited on the Red River from Denison Dam
downstream to the stateline year round.
(10) Bowfishing may be used at Lakes Hefner,
Overholser (including tailwaters and downstream to NW
10th St. bridge) and Draper throughout the year
during daylight hours only.
(11)
The Salt Fork of the Arkansas River from the spillway of Great Salt Plains
Reservoir downstream to the State Highway 38 Bridge is closed.
(b)
Grabhooks. Taking
fish by use of a grabhook is prohibited in all state waters.
(c)
Gigs, spears and spearguns.
The use of gigs, spears and spearguns containing not more than three (3) points
with no more than two (2) barbs on each point shall be lawful for taking
nongame fish only, except white bass may be taken by use of a gig. These
methods are lawful in all:
(1) Rivers and
streams from December 1 through March 31, except:
(A) The taking of paddlefish by use of gig,
spear or speargun is prohibited from May 16 through March 14 of the following
year, statewide.
(B) The Poteau and
Fourche Maline Rivers and all their tributaries within LeFlore County are
closed throughout the year.
(C) All
waters designated as "Designated Trout Areas" during the open season for taking
trout are closed.
(D) The Canadian
River from Eufaula Dam downstream for a distance of one (1) mile to be so
designated by buoy or other appropriate marker is closed throughout the
year.
(E) The Caney River from
Hulah Dam downstream to the confluence of the old and new river channels is
closed.
(F) The following portions
of Grand River:
(i) The main river channel of
the Grand River below the turbine outlets of Grand River Dam downstream to
State Park Bridge is closed throughout the year.
(ii) The Grand River occurring below the
spillway outlets of Grand River Dam downstream for a distance of one (1) mile
is closed throughout the year.
(G) Rivers and streams in Delaware and Mayes
counties are open to the use of gigs throughout the year, unless specifically
closed in other sections of this chapter.
(H) The Little River tributary of Thunderbird
Reservoir above Franklin Road in Cleveland County is closed.
(I) The Salt Fork of the Arkansas River from
the spillway of Great Salt Plains Reservoir downstream to the State Highway 38
bridge.
(2) Lakes and
reservoirs throughout the year, except:
(A)
Waters within the boundaries of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge other
than that portion of Lake Elmer Thomas are closed.
(B) Tenkiller Reservoir, below the Horseshoe
Bend boat ramp, is closed throughout the year except by speargunning when used
with a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus which is closed from June
15 through July 15 annually to the taking of flathead catfish only.
(C) All Department Fishing Areas, all "Close
To Home" fishing waters and Lakes Carl Albert, Sooner, Lone Chimney and Taft
and all ponds and lakes in the Ouachita National Forest are closed. Konawa is
closed to gigging.
(D) Lakes
Hefner, Overholser (including tailwaters and downstream to NW
10th St. bridge) and Draper are closed.
(3) Reservoir tailwaters other
than Hudson (Markham Ferry) shall be closed to fishing with gigs, spears and
spearguns throughout the year. This does not alter provisions of 29 O.S.,
Section 7-101, which designates a safety zone of the first 150 feet immediately
below the dam on all reservoirs except Tenkiller, Canton, Salt Plains, and Fort
Supply.
(d)
Snagging. Snagging for nongame fish only shall be lawful in all
waters of the State throughout the year, except:
(1) Reservoir tailwaters other than Fort
Gibson which is open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. shall be closed to fishing by
snagging throughout the year. This does not alter provisions of 29 O.S.,
Section 7-101, which designates a safety zone of the first 150 feet immediately
below the dam on all reservoirs except Tenkiller, Canton, Salt Plains, and Fort
Supply.
(2) Wister tailwater is
closed to snagging from below the dam down to the power-line at the confluence
of the old and new river channels.
(3) The following rivers, lakes, and streams:
(A) The Illinois River and its tributaries
above the Horseshoe Bend boat ramp on Tenkiller Reservoir and below the dam
shall be closed at all times to such fishing.
(B) All waters designated as "Designated
Trout Areas" during the open season for taking trout are closed.
(C) All waters within the boundaries of the
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge are closed.
(D) The Canadian River from Eufaula Dam
tailwater downstream for a distance of one (1) mile to be so designated by buoy
or other appropriate marker is closed throughout the year.
(E) The Caney River from the Hulah Dam
downstream to the confluence of the old and new river channels is
closed.
(F) The following portions
of the Grand River:
(i) The main river channel
of Grand River below the turbine outlets of Grand River Dam downstream to the
State Park Bridge is closed throughout the year.
(ii) That portion of the Grand River
occurring below the spillway outlets of Grand River Dam downstream to the
highline crossing (a distance of approximately 1/2 mile) is closed throughout
the year with the next 1/2 mile downstream from the highline crossing closed
during periods when the spillway gates are closed.
(iii) That portion of the Grand River
occurring from the Markham Ferry Dam (Lake Hudson Dam) downstream to the
Highway 412 bridge from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. year-round.
(G) The Arkansas River from Zink Dam for 800
feet downstream between April 15 - May 15.
(H) The Little River tributary of Thunderbird
Reservoir above Franklin Road in Cleveland County is closed.
(I) All Department Fishing Areas, all "Close
To Home" fishing waters and Lakes Pickens, Carl Albert, Sooner and Konawa and
all ponds and lakes in the Ouachita National Forest are closed.
(J) Lakes Hefner, Overholser (including
tailwaters and downstream to NW 10th St. bridge) and
Draper are closed.
(4)
When snagging for paddlefish the hook must have the barbs removed or completely
closed. Only one (1) rod and reel is permitted per angler when
snagging.
(5) All snagging shall be
closed from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in the areas east of I-35 and north of I-40
except the Miami City Park from the south boat ramp to the 125 Highway bridge
which shall remain open.
(e)
Noodling. Possession of
hooks, gaffs, spears, poles with hooks attached and/or ropes with hooks
attached while in the act of noodling, shall be proof of violation of the
"hands only" noodling law. Noodling shall be lawful for nongame fish and blue,
channel, and flathead catfish; only during daylight hours throughout the year.
(1) Rivers and streams of the state, except:
(A) The Illinois River and its tributaries
above Horseshoe Bend boat ramp on Tenkiller Reservoir and below the dam shall
be closed at all times to such fishing.
(B) All waters designated as "Designated
Trout Areas" during the open season for taking trout are closed.
(C) Kiamichi River from Hugo Dam downstream
to the first railroad bridge is closed.
(D) The following portions of the Grand
River:
(i) The main river channel of Grand
River below the turbine outlets of Grand River Dam downstream to the State Park
Bridge is closed throughout the year.
(ii) The Grand River occurring below the
spillway outlets of Grand River Dam downstream to the highline crossing is
closed throughout the year except the day of and two (2) days following closure
of the spillway gates when noodling will be legal.
(E) The Little River tributary of Thunderbird
Reservoir above Franklin Road in Cleveland County is closed.
(F) Wister tailwaters is closed to noodling
from below the dam down to the power-line at the confluence of the old and new
river channels.
(G) The Salt Fork
of the Arkansas River from the spillway of Great Salt Plains Reservoir
downstream to the State Highway 38 bridge.
(2) Corps of Engineers and Bureau of
Reclamation Reservoirs, Grand and Hudson Lakes.
(3) All waters within the boundaries of the
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge are closed.
(4) All Department Fishing Areas, all "Close
To Home" fishing waters (except noodling is allowed in the North Canadian River
from the NW 10th St. bridge downstream to the
MacArthur St. bridge in Oklahoma City) and Lakes Pickens, Carl Albert, Taft,
and Lone Chimney, Ponca and Carl Blackwell and all ponds and lakes in the
Ouachita National Forest are closed.
(5) Lakes Hefner, Overholser (including
tailwaters and downstream to NW 10th St. bridge) and
Draper are closed.
(f)
Netting (noncommercial). Netting (noncommercial) is closed
statewide.
(g)
Collecting
Bait for personal use. Cast netting, trawl netting, dip netting, minnow
traps and seining non-game fish commonly used for bait for personal use is
lawful in all waters of this state unless specifically closed under
800:10-5-2,
800:10-5-3 and/or
800:10-5-6. Cast nets and dip
nets shall have a mesh size no greater than three-eights (3/8) inch square
mesh. Seines shall not exceed twenty (20) feet in length, and the mesh shall be
no larger than one-half (1/2) inch square unless seining for minnows then the
mesh shall not exceed one-fourth (1/4) inch. Minnow traps shall have a mesh
size no greater than one-half (1/2) inch, shall not be longer than three (3)
feet, shall not exceed eighteen (18) inches in diameter on round traps or
eighteen (18) inches on a side on square or rectangular traps. The trap
entrance (throat) cannot exceed two (2) inches across the opening. No person
shall fish with more than 3 minnow traps. All minnow traps must have the
owner's customer identification number attached and the traps must be attended
once every 24 hours, and/or until December 31, 2024 traps may be labeled with a
name and address. All game fish and non-game fish not commonly used for bait
must be released immediately. Minnow traps cannot be made with glass.
Amended at 8 Ok Reg 2417, eff 1-1-92 ; Amended at 10 Ok
Reg 4163, eff 1-1-94 ; Amended at 11 Ok Reg 3027, eff 1-1-95 ; Amended at 13 Ok
Reg 1763, eff 1-1-97 ; Amended at 14 Ok Reg 1472, eff 1-1-98 ; Amended at 14 Ok
Reg 3715, eff 1-2-98 (emergency); Amended at 15 Ok Reg 2050, eff 7-1-98 ;
Amended at 18 Ok Reg 2908, eff 7-1-01 ; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 1519, eff 1-1-03 ;
Amended at 20 Ok Reg 21, eff 1-1-03 (emergency); Amended at 20 Ok Reg 1429,
eff 7-1-03 ; Amended at 21 Ok Reg 1435, eff 6-1-04 ; Amended at 26 Ok Reg 203,
eff 10-17-08 through 7-14-09 (emergency)
1 ; Amended at 26 Ok Reg 2625, eff
1-1-10 ; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 534, eff 1-1-10 (emergency); Amended at 27 Ok
Reg 2051, eff 7-1-10 ; Amended at 28 Ok Reg 686, eff 6-1-11 ; Amended at 30 Ok
Reg 728, eff 6-1-13
1 This emergency action expired
before being superseded by a permanent action. Upon expiration of an emergency
amendatory action, the last effective permanent text is reinstated. Therefore,
on 7-15-09 (after the 7-14-09 expiration of the emergency action), the text of
800:10-3-5 reverted back to the permanent text that became effective on 6-1-04,
as was last published in the 2006 Edition of the OAC, and remained as such
until amended again by permanent action on
1-1-10.
