How to Go Fly Fishing on the Lower Illinois River in Oklahoma

The Lower Illinois River near Gore, Oklahoma is a unique moving-water fishery where anglers can target trout, white bass, and other species. This guide focuses on the practical lessons from our fly-fishing trip and turns them into a starting point for planning your own visit.

How to Fly Fish the Lower Illinois River

You do not have to cast across the entire river to find fish. Current seams, edges, softer water, and areas below structures can create feeding opportunities. Work your fly through these transitions and pay attention to how the current moves your presentation.

Look for Current Edges

Fish can use the edge between fast and slower water because it lets them find food without constantly fighting the strongest current. During our trip, we worked the current edge below a low-water dam and found trout, white bass, and crappie.

• Look for seams where fast and slow water meet.
• Check softer water below structures and current breaks.
• Let your fly drift naturally through likely feeding lanes.
• Pay attention to water level and flow before wading.

More Than Just Trout

The Lower Illinois is well known for trout, but it can also produce other Oklahoma species. White bass and crappie can make a fly-fishing trip even when trout are not the only target.

River Safety

Moving water deserves respect. Check conditions before wading, use appropriate footwear, and avoid crossing water that is deeper or faster than you can safely handle. Conditions around dams and other structures can change quickly.

Check Current Regulations Before You Go

Trout stocking schedules, access information, and fishing regulations can change. Check the current Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation information before your trip, especially if you plan to keep fish.

Watch Our Original Trip

Our original video shows the Lower Illinois River fly-fishing trip that inspired this guide, including fishing below a low-water dam and catching several species.

Watch: Oklahoma’s Best Kept Secret: Fly Fishing on the Lower Illinois River

Original Trip Notes

Lower Illinois River in Oklahoma fly fishing at its finest. We travel to the Lower Illinois river in Gore Oklahoma to do some fly fishing. Gore Oklahoma is titled the trout capital of Oklahoma. The Lower Illinois river is one of the only year-round fisheries, with the Oklahoma Wildlife Department stocking 100,000 rainbow trout annually at three sites, the River Road Access Area, MarVal Resort, and Tenkiller Powerhouse.  These sites are stocked weekly in March, April, and May; biweekly the rest of the year. While we all really enjoy catching fish on a flyrod we are all still really new to it. Don’t let the running water fool you. We only managed to catch one trout but we caught several white bass and crappie. I never thought I would try fly fishing for white bass or crappie but man it was fun. The fight these fish put up in this current is insane. Even the small fish have the flyrods bent over.

All in all, we had a great day of fishing after all of the other fishermen gave up and went home. All of the fish we caught were just below the low water dam. We were casting our flies out to the current edge and letting it drift down. If trout fishing isn’t your thing you can catch almost any of Oklahoma species in this river. The mouth of the river is where monster striper can be caught. It is believed that the striper can grow so large from eating small trout.

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