Current through Vol. 41, No. 13, March 15, 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 re-regulation 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 Grand River Dam
downstream to the State Park Bridge is closed throughout the year.
(B) The Grand River occurring below the
spillway outlets of Grand River 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 10
th 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 10
th 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 10
th 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 10
th 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 10
th 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.