You can fish for free this weekend in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City is celebrating National Boating and Fishing Week with free fishing days on Saturday and Sunday.
According to city officials, all anglers can fish in Lake Hefner, Lake Overholser, Lake Stanley Draper, “Close to Home” fishing waters and elsewhere without having to buy a city fishing permit or state fishing license on those days.
The free fishing days are sponsored by OKC Parks and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
“Free fishing days allow local anglers to discover the great fishing opportunities in Oklahoma City’s fishing waters,” said Bob Martin, the City’s fisheries biologist. “We work hard to manage the fish populations in our lakes and ‘Close to Home’ waters to provide enjoyable sport recreational fishing.”
All anglers are required to follow state and City fishing regulations and catch limits.
Except on June 1-2, people ages 16 to 62 need a City fishing permit and state fishing license, unless exempt. City permits are $5 for a daily permit, $15 for a three-day permit (three consecutive days only) or $20 for an annual permit.
Fishing waters
Oklahoma City has three major lakes, all with ADA-accessible fishing amenities:
• Lake Hefner (northwest OKC)
o Walleye, crappie, bass (largemouth, smallmouth and white), catfish (blue, channel and flathead)
o Two covered piers one enclosed and heated pier, three boat ramps with tending docks
• Lake Stanley Draper (southeast OKC)
o Crappie, bass (largemouth and white), catfish (blue and channel)
o Four covered piers, uncovered pier, two boat ramps with tending docks
• Lake Overholser (west OKC)
o Crappie, bass (striped hybrids and white), catfish (blue, channel flathead)
o One covered pier, two boat ramps with tending docks
Oklahoma City also has eight other “Close to Home” fishing waters:
• Crystal Lake (6625 SW 15th Street, ADA accessible)
• Dolese Youth Park Pond (5101 NW 50th Street, ADA accessible)
• Edwards Park Fishing Lake (1515 N Bryant Ave., ADA accessible)
• Kids’ Lake (3200 W Wilshire Blvd.)
• Kitchen Lake (5501 SE 119th Street, ADA accessible)
• Route 66 Park Ponds (9901 NW 23rd Street, ADA accessible)
• South Lakes Park Ponds (4302 SW 119th Street)
• Zoo Lake (2101 NE 50th Street)
There are also fishing opportunities in the Oklahoma River and the Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge.
The Parks and Recreation Department operates a complete fisheries management program at the H.B. Parsons Fish Hatchery.
In an average year, hatchery staff stock 500,000 fish in City fishing waters and conduct fisheries management work on about 8,000 surface acres of fishable water. City fishing permit sales support the operation of the fisheries program.
For more information about permits, permit vendors, general fishing information or about the City fisheries management program, go online or call (405) 297-1426.