Let's go fishin'

Note: This is the first part of a short series on lakes in the Tri-County area.
PRAGUE — Oklahoma is known for its abundance of lakes — both large and small — that offer ample opportunities for anglers. Some of them are just a stone’s throw from Shawnee, including a Lincoln County gem that screams “crappie.”
Prague Lake bears the name of the city that owns it. At only 225 acres, it’s little more than a pond when compared to the Sooner State’s giant, the 105,500-acre Lake Eufaula.
But don’t let Prague Lake’s small stature fool you — it has big potential.
Dale Goodnight, the lake’s ranger, has seen some large fish pulled from the lake that sits quietly in the woods northwest of Prague. Some of these fish include crappie in the two-pound range.
Speaking from personal experience, these numbers are accurate. My cousin and I fished the lake regularly this spring, and caught a number of crappie that measured 10 to 14 inches and weighed between one and two pounds. The largest specimen, caught by my cousin, measured a whopping 16-plus inches and weighed three pounds.
Now that’s a crappie.
Upon arrival at the lake, it is easy to understand why it is such a success story when it comes to the popular panfish. Everywhere you look, there is timber in the water, which is a crappie’s preferred habitat. Combine that with the lake’s overall cleanliness and water clarity, as well as abundance of forage fish, and you have a combination of elements that are ideal for producing good numbers of quality crappie.
Largemouth bass are another of the lake’s thriving denizens. Goodnight is not a fisherman himself, he said, but has been a witness to some of the lake’s offerings during weekly bass fishing tournaments.
“I have never put a hook in it,” Goodnight said. “The biggest bass I’ve seen was just over eight pounds, but I know there are bigger fish in here.”
Goodnight once heard a “fish story,” which he believes to be true, of a 10-pounder landed by a Prague resident.
Aside from bass and both white and black crappie, anglers can target bluegill and channel catfish in Prague Lake. Goodnight said some of the catfish caught from the lake have exceeded five pounds.
Fishing activity seems to pick up when winter gives way to spring, Goodnight said, and that activity grows as spring gives way to summer.
“After people have been caged up all winter, and we have a pretty day, you get a lot of fishermen,” he said.
This is actually perfect timing.
Crappie will actively feed during colder weather, but they really pick up the pace as they prepare to spawn in the spring. Late March through early May is the ideal time to fill a stringer.
As the weather warms up, look for them in deeper, cooler water, and be patient as they may not be as active. Ideal bait choices for crappie are small minnows, small jigs and small spinners fished slowly.
According to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Prague Lake was built in 1984. Goodnight, a native of Prague, said many people are still unfamiliar with the lake.
“It’s surprising how many don’t know about it,” he said. “I was one of them that didn’t know anything about the place.”
Goodnight was hired by the city as the lake ranger in April, 2005. He had visited the lake a few times prior to 2005 to ride his horse along the lake’s equestrian trail.
Unlike many lakes across Oklahoma, Prague Lake is not used as a community water source. It is for recreational use only.
“I think that was the plan when they put it here, to be a water source for town,” Goodnight said. “But, it never did materialize.”
Goodnight faithfully opens the gate to the park at 5 a.m. each day, and locks it when the park closes at 10 p.m. The routine is followed 365 days a year.
Aside from maintaining the property, he collects day-use fees and camping fees and makes sure the park’s rules and regulations are followed. Fees for the lake and park are as follows:
• $1 per person per day to fish
• $2 per boat per day
• $2 per horse per day for trail rides
• $5 per day for primitive camp sites
• $10 per day for camp sites with amenities; $8 per day for those 65 and older
There are a total of eight campsites with amenities (water and electricity hook-ups) in the park, and a total of 15 primitive campsites.
Anglers should remember that state law applies concerning the need to possess a fishing license, and that rod-and-reel angling is the only method allowed at Prague Lake. Size and creel limits on the different species of fish also differ at Prague Lake versus other lakes, and are as follows:
• Largemouth bass — limit of five fish, 14 inches minimum each
• Channel catfish — limit of five fish, 10 inches minimum each
• Crappie and bluegill — limit of 15 fish each, no size limit
Those who choose to fish from a boat are required to pay the boating fee as well as the fishing fee, Goodnight said. Because of the abundance of timber and other obstructions in the lake, boats are prohibited from creating a wake and must travel at 5 miles per hour or less.
Swimming is not allowed in the lake, he said.
For those not fishing from a boat, the lake offers limited bank access and a covered fishing dock near the boat ramp.
Prague Lake caters to waterfowl hunters as well as anglers, Goodnight said. Hunting is limited to the east side of the lake, and daily fees of $2 per hunter and $2 per boat apply.
Hunters are allowed on the lake during the state’s regular waterfowl hunting season, and must follow all state and federal laws governing waterfowl hunting.