Trout Fishing Tournament Medicine Park

post by Michael Fahrion

When it comes to trout fishing most think of ice-capped mountain streams in Colorado or northern New Mexico. But you don’t have to travel hours and hours to find a trout filled mountain stream. There is one right here in the Wichita Mountains, Medicine Creek. Yes Medicine Creek, which flows through Medicine Park, OK.

As winter rolls in and the water cools the Medicine Park Development and Trust Authority stocks the Bath Lake area with trout. Anglers can grab their gear and take a short drive to Medicine Park for some great trout fishing.

The third annual winter trout fishing in Medicine Creek kicks off on November 1^st with a two day, no limit trout tournament. The tournament will offer CASH & PRIZES for the three largest trout caught on both Nov. 1^st and 2^nd.

If you have never been trout fishing before there is no special equipment needed, but the size of your gear and bait do matter. Ultra light to light gear and bait is the way to go for trout in Medicine Creek. Use small hooks and/or small lures. If a bait Isn't working, change it; if you've been fishing maggots for an hour without a bite, change to worms or salmon eggs.

Stocked fish are different than a natural trout in a stream. Trout from hatcheries normally go for baits such as garden worms or a mealy worms. Small plastic worms will work as well. You can break the large plastic worms in half. A slow retrieve is best with a short bounce once in awhile to make the bait more attractive to the trout.

During the regular trout season (Nov. 3rd through May 31) there is a limit of 3 trout per day per person. Oklahoma State and Medicine Park fishing permits are required. You may acquire a town fishing permit from the Town Hall in Medicine park and other locations throughout the town, you can download a mail-in town permit form from www.medicinepark.com (Click on the trout fishing logo). If you do not need a state license, a town fishing license is not required. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by a licensed adult.

The town fishing permit is $5.00 per day. A 7 day permit costs $15.00 and the annual town permit is $25.00 and is good for one year from the date of issue.

For more information call Town Hall at 580-529-2825 or 580-574-1101, or go to the town website.