Small town it may be, but Kingston, Oklahoma punches well above its weight when it comes to angling. With five marinas in the local area and a state park within its boundaries, this is a water sport paradise. But most anglers who go fishing in Kingston are here for one thing: Stripers.
Lake Texoma’s two main tributaries form the municipality’s eastern and southern borders, giving the town unrivaled access to the entire northern part of this iconic waterway. This is where the Red and Washita Rivers meet and where large, plentiful Striped Bass chase bait to and from the Denison Dam.
Whether you’re here for a record-breaking Striper, light tackle action on the flats, or even a spot of golf, there’s something for everyone on the northern shores of Texoma. It’s also only 2 hours from Dallas and Oklahoma City. So what are you waiting for? Read on and get ready to make Kingston your next fishing destination.
Best Fish to Catch in Kingston, OK
Manmade and natural forces combine to make Kingston a hotspot for some of the most popular inland sport fish in the US. The Red and Washita Rivers have always been home to Gars, various species of Black Bass, Crappies, and Catfish. They’re also the breeding ground for a self-sustaining population of Striped Bass and receive regular top-ups of some of the country’s other favorite species. Here are our top picks of target fish in the local area.
Striped Bass
Lake Texoma is one of the few inland waterways in the United States where Striped Bass reproduce naturally. First introduced in the ’60s, they’ve been growing their population without any additional help for half a century. Now, it’s common to hook up on fish that are over 2 feet – even up to 33 inches long. It’s no wonder Texoma is known as the “Striper Capital of the World.” And Kingston is right at the heart of it.
This means one thing. Don’t go fishing in Kingston without Striper lures. Local guides specialize in Striped Bass fishing and generally prepare a range of equipment depending on the season and the specific conditions on the day. But if you’re going it alone, most methods involve real or artificial shad – Stripers’ favorite bait fish.
Because Striped Bass spawn and mature in the lake and its tributaries around Kingston, you can fish for them here all year long. In late winter, they migrate up the Washita River and can often be found around Kingston’s Roosevelt Bridge. Come summer, they’re more often around the river channel in the middle of the lake.
No matter when you come to Kingston, you won’t need to travel far to come close to these challenging game fish. And with such a healthy population, expect generous bag limits and multiple hookups.
Black Bass
Contrary to popular opinion, though, there’s more to Kingston than Stripers. There’s another, unrelated, Bass family that’s just as fun to catch. Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Spotted Bass all come under the Black Bass umbrella, and all three live in these waters.
Largemouth Bass
Almost every other inland fishery in the country with a healthy Largemouth population will promote this as the local sport fish. Just because fishing in Kingston so often revolves around the Striper, that doesn’t mean its Largemouth Bass fishing is any less exciting. Quite the opposite.
As well as its own resident population, Lake Texoma is regularly stocked with Florida-strain Largemouth Bass. This means the local fish are big and abundant. So much so that Texoma is home to multiple Bass tournaments, attracting pro anglers from Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond.
Come in fall and explore the Washita’s tributaries close to Kingston to sample this fishery at its best.
Smallmouth Bass
Pound for pound, Smallmouth Bass is one of the hardest fighting fish out there. Mostly concentrated in the eastern part of Lake Texoma, some of their hottest fishing grounds are just a short hop across the Washita River from Kingston.
You’ll usually find them running up the Washita arm of the lake between the Willow Springs area and Eisenhower State Park. Look around structure to increase your chances of a hookup.
Catfish
No matter what they say, size matters. If you’re set on catching something big, you have to try your hand at reeling in a Kingston Catfish. Blue and Channel Cats grow to enormous sizes around here, and small numbers of Flathead complete the trio.
Both Texas and Oklahoma’s Blue Catfish state records come from Lake Texoma. The most famous is “Splash,” a 120+ lb fish that briefly even held the title of the largest Blue Catfish ever caught!
Come to Kingston in May and June for your best chance of hooking up a Catfish, and stick to the rivers if you’re after a trophy. Glasses and Little Glasses Creek are good places to start.
Alligator Gar
Not fussed about the Striper frenzy deeper in the lake? The banks and tributaries of Lake Texoma around Kingston are home to something much stranger, and much more ancient. These are the Alligator Gar’s prime hunting grounds.
Gars are large, toothy fish that hunt live prey and are famous for putting up a fight. They’re difficult to catch and even harder to filet but, once you’re hooked, fishing for them will be addictive. The Oklahoma record for Alligator Gar was set in Lake Texoma, and this is one of the best places in the state to target them.
While the Stripers are deep in the lake in the warmer months, various Gar species are enjoying the heat in the shallows. So if you’re set on catching a truly remarkable fish in Kingston, come in the summer. Just make sure to report your catch within 24 hours and don’t target them in May, when the season is closed.
Other Species
There’s a lot to Texoma’s ecosystem and there’s plenty more for anglers to target in these parts. Kingston also offers excellent fishing for Panfish like Crappie and Bluegill, as well as White (“Sand”) and Hybrid Bass. That means there’s always something to fish for around here, wherever you cast a line.
How to Go Fishing in Kingston, OK
Guided Fishing
Large waterways like Lake Texoma can be hard to read and harder to navigate. That’s why anglers who fish with a guide have the highest chances of catching fish.
That’s particularly true around here, as Texoma’s famous Stripers are notorious for heading deep and moving quickly between fishing grounds. Most Kingston fishing guides have targeted them day in day out, year after year, and are experts in their behavior. They’ll provide you with all the gear and local knowledge you need to get the most out of your time on the water.
Depending on the time of year, Striper fishing trips usually head to the deeper waters and ledges in the central part of the lake, or over the flats south and east of Kingston. They usually involve trolling and drifting, with the chance to cast over the flats in the cooler months and when the shad is spawning in May.
Some of Lake Texoma’s most popular guides fish out of Kingston, departing from various local marinas and fishing different parts of the lake respectively. Catfish Bay Marina, Alberta Creek Marina, and Marina del Rey all play host to quality guide services.
Bank Fishing
While bank fishing won’t give you year-round access to Stripers, it lets you access shallower waters and means you can fish right from your campground. The creeks and banks are also the best places to target Black Bass when they’re spawning in the spring or feeding up in the fall. Come prepared with crankbaits, spinners, and surface lures, and fish around grassy areas to give yourself the best chance of success.
Bowfishing
If you’re looking for a change, why not embark on your fishing adventure at night… with a bow and arrow! Bowfishing is one of the most effective ways to target Alligator and Longnose Gar and makes for a truly unforgettable experience. These trips will usually involve spacious, flat-bottomed boats that light up the surrounding waters as you spot and size up your target.
Kingston, OK Fishing Spots
Many of Lake Texoma’s Oklahoma landings are within 20 minutes of central Kingston, making this the ideal starting point to explore the entire length of the lake. In this guide, though, we’ll cover the top fishing spots near the western part of the Washita arm of the lake so you can make the most of your time in the area.
Lake Texoma State Park
Stay in Lake Texoma State Park, and you’ll be fishing within minutes of your home from home. The state park is just a 10-minute drive east of town and has ample bank fishing opportunities as well as the full-service Catfish Bay Marina.
Some of Texoma’s most experienced guides launch from here, targeting Stripers as they migrate in both directions past the Roosevelt Bridge up the Washita River. This part of the lake has a mixture of flats and underwater cliffs and ledges, making it a good year-round base for Striper fishing. Otherwise, head upstream from the marina to hunt for Largemouth Bass, Catfish, and Crappie in the shallower Rooster Creek.
The park’s amenities and upkeep are fairly basic but, if you’re here to fish in beautiful surroundings, you’ll find everything you need and more in this quiet corner of Texoma.
Alberta Creek and Washita Point
Roughly 15 minutes southeast of Kingston, Alberta Creek gets you close to the meeting of the Washita and Red Rivers towards the Oklahoma-Texas border. Home to an RV park, rental cabins, and a full-service marina, this is a good spot to maximize your time on the water.
Plenty of guided fishing boats depart from here, giving you the chance to explore the amazing Striper fishing around Washita Point or over the Platter Flats on the other side of the Washita River.
Want to go it alone? Washita Point is one of the best places to go bank fishing on Lake Texoma. And is just under three miles from Alberta Creek Marina! You can also access relatively deep waters from Alberta Creek, giving you better access to Striped Bass than most local shore-fishing spots.
Soldier Creek
Soldier Creek is home to the buzzing Marina del Rey. Offering RV sites, container cabins, and a highly-rated restaurant, this is a great place to catch fish and let your hair down afterwards.
Just 10 minutes south of Kingston, this is the only fishing spot on our list on the Red River. Guides depart from both sides of the peninsula. And both Caney Creek and Soldier Creek are excellent starting points for Striper fishing. With a good variety of ground structure that combines shallow and deeper water, as well as underwater ledges and humps from the creeks, there’s plenty to keep you occupied around here.
Head east out of Soldier Creek, and you’ll find the Washita Flats, a great place to target schooling Stripers with topwater lures early in the morning and in the cooler months. Otherwise, there’s some good bank fishing for Blue Catfish and Largemouth Bass around the Soldier Creek Public Use Area.
Little Glasses Creek
If you want to enjoy the abundance of Lake Texoma without the crowds, head north past the Roosevelt Bridge. Little Glasses Bay is home to its namesake Marina, which offers beautiful campsites and lodging as well as guide services.
As well as chartering a boat and going after migrating Stripers, you can also enjoy good bank fishing here for Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish, and Longnose Gar. Little Glasses Creek is one of Texoma’s most pristine tributaries. At just 15 minutes from Kingston, it’s well worth a visit.
When to Go Fishing in Kingston, OK
Lake Texoma offers year-round angling opportunities, but the actual quality of fishing does vary between the seasons. Springtime is considered as the overall best season, simply because most of the fish, i.e. Crappie and Bass prefer the mild temperatures.
However, summer and fall also feature consistent angling for most of the lake’s species. And while many anglers may avoid fishing during winter, it’s often when the biggest Stripers are caught on Lake Texoma. So if you can brave the cold, wintertime will give you a shot at catching a trophy.
Kingston, OK Fishing Regulations
Most visiting anglers in Kingston will need a Texoma License. This allows you to fish the whole of Lake Texoma, including the parts in Texas waters. The only exception to this is if you’re an Oklahoma resident and you’re only planning to fish Oklahoma waters. In this case, you can use your regular Oklahoma resident fishing license.
You can get a fishing license at the Lake Way Mart near Buncombe Creek Resort Marina. Or you can head to Walmart in Madill. You can also purchase them online from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Texoma Licenses are also available from tackle shops and Walmarts in Texas, where they’re known as a “Type 208” license.
Bag limits and size restrictions apply to all sport fish in the local area. These are updated annually, so check the updated regulations at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s website before your trip. However, it’s illegal to target Gar in May, and you must report any catches of this species within 24 hours.
Kingston, OK: Your Starting Point for Lake Texoma
And now you’re all set! With its unrivaled access to the Striper Capital of the World, Kingston Oklahoma is one of the best places to go inland fishing in the South. Pay a visit to this southern Oklahoma town, test the waters, and let us know how you get on!
Have you ever been fishing out of Kingston, OK? How many Stripers did you catch? Something else catch your attention? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
