Oklahoma Blue River rainbows excellent; Lower Illinois trout stocking resumes

Southeast Oklahoma trout water is fishing well as the winter stocking calendar kicks in. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's fishing report for the week of Nov. 3, 2026, said Blue River rainbow trout were excellent on dough bait, midges, nymphs, PowerBait and worms around brush, channels and rocks, with water near 70 degrees and clear. Biologist Ethan Lovelace filed the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area update.

The same report said trout stocking on the Lower Illinois River resumed Oct. 28 with two loads of fish after the earlier federal hatchery pause that had left that year-round trout water short of plants. Seasonal trout areas across the state, including Blue River, Medicine Park, Robbers Cave and others, began their Nov. 1 stocking window.

Elsewhere in the southeast report, Broken Bow, Konawa, Lower Mountain Fork, McGee Creek, Sardis, Texoma and Wister showed fair-to-good bass, crappie, catfish or striper action depending on the lake. Anglers who want trout should carry a fishing license and trout stamp on designated waters while the winter plants continue.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: OKW News — Oklahoma Wildlife Department Fishing Report for week of Nov 3rd (Nov. 5, 2026; ODWC reports).

Photo: OKW News / ODWC stocking scene.