Okla. Admin. Code § 800:10-3-5

Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024

Section 800:10-3-5 - Use of bow and arrow, grabhooks, gigs, spears, and spearguns, snagging, noodling and netting

(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 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.

Okla. Admin. Code § 800:10-3-5

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

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 31, Issue 24, September 2, 2014, eff. 9/15/2014

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 32, Issue 23, August 17, 2015, eff. 9/1/2015

Amended by Oklahome Register, Volume 33, Issue 23, August 15, 2016, eff. 8/25/2016

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 34, Issue 24, September 1, 2017, eff. 9/11/2017

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 35, Issue 24, September 4, 2018, eff. 9/14/2018

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 38, Issue 24, September 1, 2021, eff. 9/11/2021

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 41, Issue 22, August 1, 2024, eff. 8/11/2024

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.