What special fishing regulations apply at Kaw Lake?

Kaw Lake carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Oklahoma's statewide 2026 rules, covering Blue catfish and Flathead catfish. One of them reads: "Largemouth + smallmouth 6 / day combined (only 1 over 16 in), spotted no limit; striped bass 5 / day + hybrid 20 / day + white bass no limit; channel + blue catfish 15 / day combined (premier OK trophy blue catfish — recurring 80+ lb fish, 1 blue over 30 in); flathead 5 / day; crappie 37 / day combined no minimum; OK/KS boundary upstream of dam." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Kaw Lake?

Yes. Kaw Lake is in Oklahoma, so a valid Oklahoma fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Kaw Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Oklahoma rules.

Do Kaw Lake's special rules replace Oklahoma's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Oklahoma's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Kaw Lake by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Kaw Lake?

Blue catfish and Flathead catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Kaw Lake, each linking to its full Oklahoma regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Oklahoma limits.

2026 regulation year

Kaw Lake 2026 — Oklahoma Fishing Regulations

Oklahoma statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 9, 2026

Kaw Lake carries 3 special-regulation overlays on top of Oklahoma's 2026 fishing rules — covering Blue catfish, Flathead catfish. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

Largemouth + smallmouth 6 / day combined (only 1 over 16 in), spotted no limit; striped bass 5 / day + hybrid 20 / day + white bass no limit; channel + blue catfish 15 / day combined (premier OK trophy blue catfish — recurring 80+ lb fish, 1 blue over 30 in); flathead 5 / day; crappie 37 / day combined no minimum; OK/KS boundary upstream of dam
Source: Oklahoma special-water list

Per-species rules on Kaw Lake

Blue catfish regulations →
15 / day combined channel + blue (only 1 over 30 in); premier OK trophy blue catfish reservoir — recurring 80+ lb fish
Flathead catfish regulations →
5 / day; trophy flatheads alongside the lake's premier blue catfish fishery

Official source

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) publishes the authoritative 2026 Oklahoma fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Oklahoma fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

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

Other special-regulation waters in Oklahoma

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Kaw Lake?: Kaw Lake carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Oklahoma's statewide 2026 rules, covering Blue catfish and Flathead catfish. One of them reads: "Largemouth + smallmouth 6 / day combined (only 1 over 16 in), spotted no limit; striped bass 5 / day + hybrid 20 / day + white bass no limit; channel + blue catfish 15 / day combined (premier OK trophy blue catfish — recurring 80+ lb fish, 1 blue over 30 in); flathead 5 / day; crappie 37 / day combined no minimum; OK/KS boundary upstream of dam." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Kaw Lake?: Yes. Kaw Lake is in Oklahoma, so a valid Oklahoma fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Kaw Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Oklahoma rules.
Do Kaw Lake's special rules replace Oklahoma's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Oklahoma's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Kaw Lake by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Kaw Lake?: Blue catfish and Flathead catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Kaw Lake, each linking to its full Oklahoma regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Oklahoma limits.

← Back to Oklahoma regulations overview