Oklahoma Trout Fishing Starts

STREAMS STOCKED WITH RAINBOWS; ANGLERS MUST CARRY LICENSES

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Fishing opens today at Oklahoma’s two year-round trout streams.

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation operates two year-round trout fisheries. One is at the Lower Mountain Fork River. Another is on the lower Illinois River. Seasonal opportunities exist in several other areas, including LakePawhuska, Robbers Cave, Blue River, Lake Watongaand Lake Carl Etling.

The Quartz Mountain trout fishery in southwest Oklahoma will no longer be stocked with trout as a result of golden alga blooms.

Rainbow trout usually are stocked about every two weeks at most of the state’’s trout areas during designated trout seasons, while the Lower Illinois River and lower Mountain Fork below Broken Bow Dam also areoccasionally stocked with brown trout.

Trout fishing can be made as challenging or as easy as anglers want it to be. Fly fisherman can catch fi sh on fl ies they’ve tied themselves, but young anglers can sit on the bank with a jar of salmon eggs and have just as much fun, and a lot of success.

Trout anglers must carry a resident or nonresident fi shing license, unless exempt.

Outdoor, Pages 7 on 11/01/2012