Fishing on Lake Hudson: What's in the Water and Where to Launch

Lake Hudson is one of Northeast Oklahoma's best kept secrets, and the fishing is a big part of the reason. If you're wondering what's actually in the water, here's the short answer: crappie, largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, white bass, catfish, sunfish, walleye and paddlefish all call this lake home. It's a roughly 12,000-acre reservoir in Mayes County on the Grand River, created in 1964 when the Grand River Dam Authority built Robert S. Kerr Dam, and its many coves and about 200 miles of shoreline give fish plenty of room and give you plenty of places to cast.

What kind of fish are in Lake Hudson?

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation keeps the official list, and it reads like a who's who of Midwest game fish. Largemouth bass are the headliner, and Lake Hudson is a well known bass tournament lake. Hybrid striped bass are stocked by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, so there's always a fresh run of fish that fight hard. White bass push up the river and into the coves in the spring. Black crappie and white crappie are the favorites of dock fishermen all around the lake. Channel catfish, blue catfish and flathead catfish hold in the deeper holes. The tailwaters below Kerr Dam give up paddlefish each spring. And you'll find bluegill, longear sunfish and redear sunfish for the kids, plus walleye for the patient anglers.

Why is Lake Hudson such a good fishing lake?

Size has a lot to do with it. At about 12,000 acres with roughly 200 miles of shoreline, there's room for fish to spread out and room for anglers to find their own spot. Because the lake is owned and operated by the Grand River Dam Authority, the shoreline stays less developed than many reservoirs, which means more natural habitat and a whole lot less boat traffic than you'll find on Grand Lake. The moving water below Robert S. Kerr Dam also concentrates fish, especially in the spring.

It's the kind of water that makes people want a boat of their own. Fishing is one of my favorite parts of lake life here, and if you love it the way I do, you'll never run out of places to go.

Are there special fishing rules on Lake Hudson?

One regulation matters more than any other if you fish here often. On Lake Hudson you may keep 15 crappie per day combined between black and white crappie, and every crappie you keep must be at least 10 inches long. That's stricter than the statewide rule, so it's worth measuring before you fill a stringer. Most other species follow the statewide daily and size limits, including hybrid striped bass and walleye.

Paddlefish are the big exception. Snagging paddlefish takes a valid Oklahoma fishing license plus a free paddlefish permit, with a one-fish daily limit and specific gear rules, and the spring snagging run is roughly March through late April below Kerr Dam and around the river channel. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's regulations pages are the authoritative source for all of it.

Where can I launch a boat on Lake Hudson?

Public ramps are scattered around the lake, and most are easy to reach from the towns around it. Closest to Salina, you have the Salina Lions Club ramp just north of the Highway 20 bridge and the ramp at the north end of Kerr Dam off Highway 82 south of town. Just west of Salina on the Wolf Creek arm is the Snowdale area of Grand Lake State Parks. On the west side of the lake, Ray's Cove is a short drive west of Strang, and The Horseshoe sits across from Spavinaw Creek. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation maintains the current list on its Hudson page.

If you're looking at homes, ask about dock access too. A private dock changes everything, because your best fishing spot is the one a five-minute walk from your kitchen. See the homes with docks on this site for a look at how dock life works on Lake Hudson.

When is the best time to fish Lake Hudson?

Spring is the season people wait for. Crappie and white bass move shallow and into the coves as the water warms, and the paddlefish snagging run below Kerr Dam is roughly March through late April. Summer fishing is an early morning and late evening game, when bass and hybrids come up to feed and the lake is at its quietest. Fall cools the water back down and the bite picks up again, and winter is when the walleye and crappie anglers who don't mind the cold earn their keep. The fishing here is good year-round; it just changes character with the season.

Do I need a fishing license on Lake Hudson?

Yes. A valid Oklahoma fishing license is required just as it is anywhere in the state, and paddlefish snagging adds a free paddlefish permit on top of it. Check the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's fishing pages for the current rules, license options and any exemptions. It's simple, and it keeps the fishing good for everyone.

Frequently asked questions about fishing Lake Hudson

Do I need a special permit to fish on Lake Hudson?

No. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Hudson page lists no lake-specific fishing permit. A valid Oklahoma fishing license covers you the same way it does at any public water in the state, and the free paddlefish permit is the only extra if you're after paddlefish.

Is Lake Hudson good for bass fishing?

Yes. Largemouth bass are abundant and the lake hosts regular bass tournaments, and the hybrid striped bass stocked by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation add another strong fighting fish to the mix.

Can you keep paddlefish from Lake Hudson?

Yes, during the spring snagging run, with a valid Oklahoma fishing license plus the free paddlefish permit. The daily limit is one fish, and ODWC requires you to tag and report your harvest per its current rules.

How big does a crappie have to be on Lake Hudson?

On Lake Hudson, crappie must be at least 10 inches long to keep, and you can keep 15 per day combined between black and white crappie. That's stricter than the statewide limit, so measure before you keep.

Where is the best place to fish on Lake Hudson?

In the spring, look to the coves, docks and the river channel. In the summer, fish the points and deeper structure early and late. Below Kerr Dam is a draw in the spring for white bass and paddlefish. And for a lot of folks, the best spot is the one right off their own dock.

If you're thinking about lake living, a fishing-friendly spot might be part of the plan. That's the kind of thing I help people sort out every week.