Hoping to clear up potential confusion about what is and is not permitted at area parks and lakes, Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Beeman said this week that netting fish — for bait or otherwise — is strictly prohibited at all City of Bartlesville-owned waterways.
Beeman, who also serves as the City’s Community Development director, said several individuals were recently seen netting for bait fish at Lee Lake, located near Adams Boulevard and Silver Lake Road, prompting a stern warning from the Parks and Recreation office: violators of this and other laws involving City-owned properties will be prosecuted.
“Since the opening of Lee Lake last fall, we have received several reports of people casting nets into the lake for the purpose of collecting sunfish for use off-site as trotline bait,” Beeman said. “The use regulations for the lake, which are posted at the lake on a large sign, clearly state that there is no netting of any kind, including cast netting, permitted at Lee Lake. This is true for all other City-owned water bodies or waterways, including Hudson Lake, Jo Allyn Lowe Lake, Sooner Park Lake or any waters located at Adams Golf Course or the Bartlesville Industrial Park.”
Beeman said it is also illegal to introduce or release any live fish, except as hooked bait, into any of the City waters or waterways.
Last year, the City of Bartlesville, in partnership with the State of Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, completed construction on the renovation of Lee Lake, now designated by the State of Oklahoma as a Close-To-Home Fishing Lake. The lake is part of a program that provides outdoor experiences and opportunities for youth and family fishing. The State of Oklahoma DWC provided an initial stocking of sunfish and channel catfish in the fall of 2015 and a stocking of largemouth bass in the spring of 2016. The DWC continues to monitor the lake providing activities such as fish population/user surveys, habitat improvements and additional fish stockings.
“Lee Lake and Jo Allyn Lowe Lake, the City’s two primary urban fishing lakes, are intended to make fishing opportunities more readily available and encourage more people, especially youngsters, to go fishing,” Beeman said. “There is no City fishing license required, although an Oklahoma license is required as outlined by Oklahoma statutes.”
Beeman said Lee Lake has been a huge success since it’s construction, drawing crowds not only for water fun but also to the nearby Cooper Dog Park, Daniels Soccer Fields and adjacent Pathfinder walking/running trails.
“We have been pleased to see so many people outside, walking, fishing and boating,” she said. “As funding is available, the City will continue to make improvements to this area, including additional tree plantings, construction of a shelter and additional lighting.”
But part of keeping the lake in pristine condition is adherence to the policies that were put in place to protect the lake and the park environment, Beeman said.
“We appreciate everyone’s help in being our eyes on the ground when they are enjoying the lake,” she said. “If anyone sees something that doesn’t look right, we are asking that they please call and file a report.”
If park-goers see anyone using cast netting at Lee Lake or any other City-owned lake or waterway, they are encouraged — if it is safe to do so — to get the tag number of the vehicle or take a photo, and call the Bartlesville Police Department at 918-338-4001. The City will follow up on the report and take action to enforce the City’s regulations.
“Any violation of the City regulations is punishable by fine up to the maximum amount allowed by law,” Beeman said.
Following are the City of Bartlesville’s regulations concerning fishing and boating at Lee Lake:
— Fishing is limited to no more than three rods and reels per person, with no more than three hooks per line (treble hooks are considered one hook). No other fishing methods are allowed.
— All largemouth bass caught must be released (returned to the water) immediately after being taken; no harvest is allowed.
— Channel catfish have a combined daily limit of six.
— No netting of any kind, including cast netting, is permitted.
—No boat shall be operated in a reckless manner or at a speed in excess of five miles per hour.
— Canoes, kayaks, sailboats, rowboats, paddleboards and float tubes are permitted in designated and posted areas at the Lake and may be launched and landed at designated and posted locations.
— No person shall swim, bathe or wade in the lake.
For more information, call 918-338-4132 or 918-338-4238.