When is flathead catfish season in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma keeps flathead catfish open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the Oklahoma bag limit for flathead catfish?

The Oklahoma daily bag limit for flathead catfish is 5 / day statewide (a SEPARATE limit — flathead is not part of the 15-fish channel+blue aggregate). The possession limit is One daily limit (5) in the field; non-residents may possess up to two daily limits away from the field — Oklahoma has no flat 2× possession scheme. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size flathead catfish can you keep in Oklahoma?

The Oklahoma size rule for flathead catfish is No statewide minimum length. Trophy rule: Red River below Lake Texoma + the Arkansas River below MKARNS lock-and-dam structures produce OK's largest flatheads (50 – 70 lb class); flathead is the only OK catfish that may legally be taken by hand-fishing (noodling).

Do you need a license to fish for flathead catfish in Oklahoma?

Yes. Oklahoma requires a valid fishing license to fish for flathead catfish, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Oklahoma license — compare resident and non-resident Oklahoma fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for flathead catfish in Oklahoma?

Yes. In Oklahoma, flathead catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line standard; trotlines + juglines + limblines permitted under ODWC special-gear + gear-tag rules; Hand-fishing (noodling) LEGAL for flathead catfish ONLY (OK-distinctive legalization since 2002) during the designated noodling season; Live bait (perch, bluegill, shad) is the dominant flathead tactic — flatheads feed on live prey, not cut/prepared baits; OK Fishing Licence required ages 18+ ($31 res / $81 NR annual); Lake Texoma joint OK/TX compact licence required on Texoma — single standalone $12 Lake Texoma Licence.

Do specific Oklahoma waters have different flathead catfish rules?

Yes. 5 named Oklahoma waters carry rules that override the statewide flathead catfish regulation, including Red River main stem, Arkansas River main stem, Kaw Lake, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Oklahoma Flathead catfish 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

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Last updated June 9, 2026

Flathead catfish — known locally as 'yellow cat' or 'shovelhead' — are Oklahoma's live-bait ambush predator and, alongside blue catfish, one of the state's two trophy catfish. They hold under logjams, riprap, root wads, and deep river bends in the Red River + Arkansas River main stems and the major Corps reservoirs. The Red River below Lake Texoma and the Arkansas River below the MKARNS lock-and-dam structures (Kaw, Keystone, Webbers Falls, Robert S. Kerr) produce the largest OK flatheads, with trophy fish in the 50 – 70 lb class. The statewide ODWC rule places flathead under its OWN separate 5-fish daily limit — it is NOT folded into the 15-fish channel+blue aggregate — with NO statewide minimum length. Open year-round statewide. Oklahoma legalized hand-fishing (noodling) in 2002 — flathead catfish ONLY — with a dedicated noodling season running roughly mid-May through mid-August (confirm the exact current ODWC season dates each year). Flathead noodling is an Oklahoma cultural signature and the state hosts the long-running 'Okie Noodling Tournament' at Pauls Valley each summer. Flatheads strongly prefer live bait (live perch, bluegill, and shad) over cut bait, distinguishing them from blue catfish in tactics.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide; hand-fishing (noodling) season for flathead only runs roughly mid-May – mid-August (confirm exact current ODWC dates).

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 5 / day statewide (a SEPARATE limit — flathead is not part of the 15-fish channel+blue aggregate)
Possession: One daily limit (5) in the field; non-residents may possess up to two daily limits away from the field — Oklahoma has no flat 2× possession scheme

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum length
Trophy rule: Red River below Lake Texoma + the Arkansas River below MKARNS lock-and-dam structures produce OK's largest flatheads (50 – 70 lb class); flathead is the only OK catfish that may legally be taken by hand-fishing (noodling)

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line standard; trotlines + juglines + limblines permitted under ODWC special-gear + gear-tag rules
Hand-fishing (noodling) LEGAL for flathead catfish ONLY (OK-distinctive legalization since 2002) during the designated noodling season
Live bait (perch, bluegill, shad) is the dominant flathead tactic — flatheads feed on live prey, not cut/prepared baits
OK Fishing Licence required ages 18+ ($31 res / $81 NR annual)
Lake Texoma joint OK/TX compact licence required on Texoma — single standalone $12 Lake Texoma Licence

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Oklahoma waters:

Red River main stem
5 / day; lower Red River below Lake Texoma produces OK's largest trophy flatheads
Arkansas River main stem
5 / day; trophy flatheads below MKARNS lock-and-dam structures (Kaw + Keystone + Webbers Falls + R.S. Kerr)
Kaw Lake
5 / day; trophy flatheads alongside the lake's premier blue catfish fishery
Lake Eufaula
5 / day; high-volume flathead fishery; noodling destination
Lake Texoma
5 / day; OK/TX joint compact (single standalone $12 Lake Texoma Licence)

Official source

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) publishes the authoritative 2026 Oklahomafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The flathead catfish rules on this page are sourced from Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC)'s official flathead catfish regulation page.

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Emergency-order channel

Flathead catfish closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's emergency-order feed — check it before any Oklahoma trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is flathead catfish season in Oklahoma?: Oklahoma keeps flathead catfish open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Oklahoma bag limit for flathead catfish?: The Oklahoma daily bag limit for flathead catfish is 5 / day statewide (a SEPARATE limit — flathead is not part of the 15-fish channel+blue aggregate). The possession limit is One daily limit (5) in the field; non-residents may possess up to two daily limits away from the field — Oklahoma has no flat 2× possession scheme. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size flathead catfish can you keep in Oklahoma?: The Oklahoma size rule for flathead catfish is No statewide minimum length. Trophy rule: Red River below Lake Texoma + the Arkansas River below MKARNS lock-and-dam structures produce OK's largest flatheads (50 – 70 lb class); flathead is the only OK catfish that may legally be taken by hand-fishing (noodling).
Do you need a license to fish for flathead catfish in Oklahoma?: Yes. Oklahoma requires a valid fishing license to fish for flathead catfish, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Oklahoma license — compare resident and non-resident Oklahoma fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for flathead catfish in Oklahoma?: Yes. In Oklahoma, flathead catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line standard; trotlines + juglines + limblines permitted under ODWC special-gear + gear-tag rules; Hand-fishing (noodling) LEGAL for flathead catfish ONLY (OK-distinctive legalization since 2002) during the designated noodling season; Live bait (perch, bluegill, shad) is the dominant flathead tactic — flatheads feed on live prey, not cut/prepared baits; OK Fishing Licence required ages 18+ ($31 res / $81 NR annual); Lake Texoma joint OK/TX compact licence required on Texoma — single standalone $12 Lake Texoma Licence.
Do specific Oklahoma waters have different flathead catfish rules?: Yes. 5 named Oklahoma waters carry rules that override the statewide flathead catfish regulation, including Red River main stem, Arkansas River main stem, Kaw Lake, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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