The Central Region of Oklahoma: : a Freshwater Anglers Dream!

Old School Crappie Fishing Family Secrets



Little Known to most fisherman, is a freshwater fisherman's dream.The state is broken up into 5 regions which include the Central Region.There is a series of fisheries around Oklahoma City which include:Arcadia, Draper, Hefner, Overholser, Thunderbird, and Wes Watkins. Amazingly, all these fishing locations are within easy driving distancefrom Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. There are special fishing regulations in these areas so make sure you check in with a bait shop or city park official.




"City Lakes" Species Limits & Keep Requirements “the fishing areas classified as “city lakes” are as follows: Lake Hefner, Lake Overholser, and Lake Draper. The city of Oklahoma city also has some fishing areas they have classified as "Close to Home" A City fishing permit and Oklahoma State fishing license are required for persons ages 16 to 61 fishing on "City lakes" and "Close to Home" fishing waters.
"Close to Home"fishing waters are bodies of water designated under a cooperative intensive fisheries management program between Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.




Close To Home waters include:Crystal Lake, 6625 SW 15 (special use area) · Dolese Youth Park Pond, NW 50th and Meridian · Edwards Park Fishing Lake, 1515 N Bryant · Kids' Lake on Wilshire, 3200 W Wilshire · Route 66 Park Ponds, 3350 West Overholser Drive · South Lakes Park Ponds (East and West), 4302 SW 119 · All waters within Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge, NW 51 & Stinchcomb Road · The Oklahoma River, extending downstream from NW 10th Street (wetlands,impoundments,ponds) to NE 10th Street. · Zoo Lake, 2101 NE 50

Keep Requirements and fish type Limits"City Lakes" Rainbow Trout: 6,Walleye: 5 (18" minimum),Flathead Catfish: 10 (20" minimum),Channel & Blue Catfish: 15,Crappie: 37,Smallmouth bass: 1 (18"),Largemouth bass: 6 (14" minimum)

"Close To Home" Species Limits & Keep Requirements Largemouth bass: catch and release Channel & Blue Catfish: 6 combined Crappie: 37 Flathead Catfish: 10 (20" minimum) Rainbow Trout: 6

Now Lets talk a bit about Central Region Fisheries.



Arcadia Lake is located on The Deep Fork River and has 1,820 surface Acres, and 26 miles of shoreline. Arcadia Lake is Near the town of Edmond. For you folks without a boat Lake Arcadia has a public heated, covered dock is provided for year-round fishing for bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, and largemouth bass. For you boaters there are plenty of Access areas to launch your fishing craft.




Lake Stanley Draper is located in southeast Oklahoma City and is close to I-240 between Midwest Boulevard and Post Road. The lake was built in 1963. Lake Draper takes water from Lake Atoka and the McGee Creek Reservoir in southeast Oklahoma. The Lake has 4 covered fishing piers for the fisherman without boats. For boat users there are numerous boat ramps. The lake has a ave. depth of 34ft and is 98ft at it’s deepest point. Lake Draper covers 2,900 surface acres.




Lake HefnerLake Hefner was built in 1947 and is an excellent fishing lake.The lake has a Enclosed, heated fishing dock Near Hefner Golf Course, and a Covered fishing pier called Fisherman's Neck.Lake Hefner has a ave. depth of 29 feet average, and is 94ft at it’s deepest point. Lake Hefner covers 2500 surface acres.is Located in northwest Oklahoma City and is included in the city lakes, and has special fishing regulations.




Lake Overholser it is located on Yukon's East Side,the Lake has 7 miles of shoreline and 1,500 surface acres. Oklahoma City owns Lake Overholser, The lake is the city's oldest reservoir, built in 1919. The lake has a ave. depth of 6 feet average, and is 13ft at it’s deepest point.




Lake Thunderbird is located near Oklahoma city just east of Norman. Lake Thunderbird has miles of shoreline and 6,070 surface acres. Lake Thunderbird, provides a great spot fishing. Catch Crappie, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Sunfish and Saugeye.




Lake Wes Watkins located off Interstate 40 between Shawnee and Oklahoma City. The 1,142-acre lake is operated by the Pottawatomie Development Authority, which has imposed special fishing regulations on the lake. Lake Wes Watkins was Built in August of 1999. All largemouth bass fishing is catch and release only. The lake has some large bass and is the central region’s best LargeMouth Bass lake.