On the Water · May 2026 · 5 min
Last verified: July 2026
Fishing Broken Bow Lake: bass, trout, and crappie by season
Where to fish, what to use, and when to go — the local-tested fishing breakdown for Broken Bow Lake and the Mountain Fork River.
Broken Bow Lake holds smallmouth and largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, catfish, and bluegill. The Mountain Fork below the dam is one of the few trout streams in Oklahoma.
License: Oklahoma fishing license required, $25 resident / $55 non-resident annual. Trout stamp adds $7.75 and is required below the dam. Buy online at gooutdoorsoklahoma.com.
Bass — Smallmouth are the prize here. April–June and October are peak. Fish the rocky points and bluffs on the west shore. Drop-shot a finesse worm in 15–25 feet. The cliffs near Cedar Creek are reliable.
Largemouth hang in the coves with brush and timber. Carolina-rig a creature bait in 8–15 ft. Early morning and last light.
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Crappie — January–March on brush piles in 20–35 ft. Spring spawn (April) brings them shallow into the back of every cove. Minnows or 1/16 oz jigs in white, chartreuse, or blue/white.
White bass — May–June schooling action on the main lake. Look for surface boils, throw a Rooster Tail or small jigging spoon.
Catfish — Year-round on cut shad. The river arms north of Stevens Gap hold the biggest blues.
Trout (Mountain Fork below dam) — Stocked weekly October through March, sporadic in summer. Best stretches are the first half-mile below the dam and the lower zone past the Re-Reg pond. PowerBait, small spinners, or fly-fish with a #16 prince nymph.
Guides — Several local guides run half-day trips out of Beaver Bend Marina. Worth it on the first trip — they'll show you the rocks worth knowing.
Launch from Beaver Lodge for fastest access. Mountain Fork below the dam — park at the Re-Reg pond pull-off.
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