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By Elaine Warner F Graphic courtesy of TravelOk.com


or a state still defi ned for many by its Dust Bowl image, the idea of Oklahoma as a state with many lakes is an unfamiliar one. Try these startling statistics: Oklahoma has more man-made lakes than any state in the Union; Oklahoma has more than one million surface acres of water; and Oklahoma has 2,000 miles more shoreline than the Atlantic and Gulf coasts combined.


It’s often stated that Oklahoma has no natural lakes—not true, however most of the lakes are small. Oklahoma has 62 oxbow lakes, ten acres or more in surface size, remnants of old river channels. In western Oklahoma, there are approximately 600 small playa lakes— depressions in the landscape that hold water following rainstorms. Many of these dry up seasonally due to evaporation and seepage into the soil. Due to geography and topography, most of Oklahoma’s surface water is located in the cen- tral and eastern part of the state. Almost all of the lakes in Oklahoma were constructed either by the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation or the Grand River Dam Authority. Purposes for construction included fl ood control, generation of electricity, water supply, recreation and wildlife benefi ts, according to the Oklahoma Water Resource Board. T at geography lesson out of the way—let’s have some fun on Oklahoma’s great lakes!


Lake Eufaula Broken Bow Mountain Fork The Big Boys


Sixteen of Oklahoma’s 20 largest lakes are located east of I-35. Of these, Oklahoma’s largest, Eufaula, is actually the 15th largest man-made lake in the country. In the northern reaches of the lake, Oklahoma’s famous red dirt colors the water, but the southern part of the lake is clearer and bluer. Fishermen go after several bass species, crappie and blue, fl athead and chan- nel catfi sh. If you’re not fond of your fi ngers, noodling is best from late May through July.


With 835 miles of shoreline running through fi ve counties, shorescapes vary from rocky cliffs to sandy beaches. Accommodations include campsites and cabins, motels and rental homes. For an upscale stay, visit Kiamichi Electric Co- operative members Reba and Wayne Thompson’s Lake Eufaula Bed and Break- fast. Featuring comfortable rooms, a great beach and gourmet breakfasts, this is a pleasant place to come back to after a day on the water or exploring the area. Most boaters bring their own watercraft—otherwise your choices are limited. Coles Evergreen Marina, Stigler, rents pontoon boats and houseboats; Eufaula Cove Marina rents pontoon boats and wave runners. Rental ski boats and wave- runners are scarce on most of Oklahoma’s lakes.


The two state parks on the lake—Lake Eufaula State Park (formerly Foun-


tainhead) and Arrowhead State Park boast hiking and biking trails, swimming beaches, eighteen-hole golf courses, tent and RV sites, marinas and fi shing docks. In addition, Arrowhead features riding stables. The Deep Fork Nature Center at Lake Eufaula State Park is a popular attraction. Texoma is Oklahoma’s second-largest lake although part of it is actually in


Texas. Catfi sh Bay Marina in Lake Texoma State Park has a full-service marina with rental pontoon boats and canoes. It’s also a great place to arrange for an expert fi shing guide who will provide everything you need and even clean, fi l- let and bag your catch for you at the end of the day. Striped bass is a favorite catch here. Veteran fi shing guide Dee Angle says, “You can catch fi sh year round but for the most action, May and June, after the bass spawn, is the best—the fi sh are hungry and aggressive. When people want to bring kids to fi sh, I always tell them that’s the best time. The children won’t have time to get bored!” All Oklahoma lakes require a state fi shing license—but if you want to fi sh here, be sure and ask for a license specifi cally for Lake Texoma. Its two-state status puts it in a special category.


Red River Valley Cooperative member Ramona Clark-Judd, executive direc- tor of the Texoma Lake Association, is responsible for both sides of the lake


FEBRUARY 2012 17 APRIL 2012 17


Canoeing at Beavers Bend


All photos courtesy of Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department


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