Sportsman Lake, Oklahoma, USA

Sportsman Lake is a 354-acre flood control and recreation lake located east of the town of Seminole in central Oklahoma. Hidden in a 1400-acre wildlife refuge, the lake offers a variety of activities including boating, hiking, swimming, fishing, and camping. Sportsman Lake is best known for fishing with 15 miles of shoreline, boat ramps and multiple fishing docks. Anglers will be delighted by the number of sport…
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    • All About Sportsman Lake, OK

    Lake Locations: USA - US Southwest Region - Oklahoma - Frontier Country, OK -

    Sportsman Lake is a 354-acre flood control and recreation lake located east of the town of Seminole in central Oklahoma. Hidden in a 1400-acre wildlife refuge, the lake offers a variety of activities including boating, hiking, swimming, fishing, and camping.

    Sportsman Lake is best known for fishing with 15 miles of shoreline, boat ramps and multiple fishing docks. Anglers will be delighted by the number of sport fish in the lake. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish and sunfish are the predominant species. There are many submerged structures in the lake which provide cover for the fish (and hazards for boaters). The lake stretches for nearly 2 miles from end to end and is over a quarter mile wide. The shorelines ranges from rocky to sandy, open to wooded and allows angler to test their casting skill. Bass tournaments take place on a regular basis and attract visitors and local residents hoping to pull a trophy size fish from the depths. Bass and catfish are the favored game fish. Although most fish are safe to eat, consult the Oklahoma Environmental Protection Agency fact sheet (see the link at the bottom of this page) before consuming store bought or lake caught fish.

    There are no size limitations when it comes to launching boats on Sportsman Lake, but because it is considered a fishing lake, water skiing, tubing and the use of personal watercraft are not allowed. Boats are limited to a speed of six miles per hour due to a no-wake policy. Those looking for more entertaining water activities should head to nearby Wewoka Lake, about one and half miles southeast of Sportsman Lake. Wewoka Lake is a 371-acre lake which allows water skiing, knee boarding, tubing and all kinds of personal watercraft. Wewoka Lake also has camping areas, a boat ramp, a fishing dock and a swimming area. Many visitors to the area seek the peace and quiet of Sportsman Lake for fishing and then head to Wewoka Lake for an afternoon of fun.

    Recreation facilities on Sportsman Lake include spacious and shady camping areas, camper and RV parking, electrical hookups, pristine sandy beaches, picnic areas, BBQ grills, well maintained restrooms, playgrounds, covered pavilions, showers, and an equestrian section. A partially covered bridge doubles for a great fishing platform. Swimming is allowed in designated swimming areas only. For those who are physically handicapped, the lake features a handicap-accessible dock and special mounting blocks for horseback riders.

    For nature lovers, the1400-acre wooded wildlife refuge surrounding Sportsman Lake allows for excellent hiking, biking and wildlife viewing. Hunting is not allowed in the refuge. The lake area is beautiful year round, but the trails are especially scenic when flowering shrubs and wild flowers dot the landscape or when the colors of fall show off their brilliance. Wildlife includes deer, raccoon, turkey, bald eagles, hawks, ducks, and geese.

    Second to fishing is Sportsman Lake’s extensive equestrian trails. One of the lake’s four coves is exclusively for horse camping. Visitors can bring their horses and explore over 35 miles of wooded trails that loop through the countryside around the lake. The trails range from beginner to experienced and feature rocky and steep inclines, soft rolling sections, numerous water crossings and one area of quicksand. The equestrian area features hiking, campsites, boating, fishing, picnic area, and restrooms.

    Located five miles east of Sportsman Lake the town of Seminole offers a variety of activities for all ages. Children will enjoy a number of playgrounds and a water park. There is also an Olympic-size outdoor pool complete with water slides. For older kids there is a skateboard park and lighted ball parks. The young at heart will enjoy an 18-hole public golf course, museums, specialty shops, and plenty of fine dining and lodging. If camping isn’t your idea of fun, Seminole has plenty of comfortable vacation rentals. For a great day trip, the cosmopolitan city Oklahoma City is less than an hour’s drive away.

    If you’re looking for a peaceful getaway with some excellent fishing and a dedicated equestrian area, look no farther than Sportsman Lake. Hiking, wildlife viewing and year round beauty makes this the perfect place for the outdoor enthusiast.

    Things to Do at Sportsman Lake

    These are some activities in the Sportsman Lake, OK area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Fishing Tournaments
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Water Skiing
    • Tubing
    • Golf
    • Camping
    • Picnicking
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Horseback Riding
    • Hunting
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • Museum
    • Playground

    What Kind of Fish Are in Sportsman Lake?

    Sportsman Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Blue Catfish
    • Catfish
    • Channel Catfish
    • Crappie
    • Flathead Catfish
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Spotted Bass
    • Sunfish
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    Find Places to Stay at Sportsman Lake

    If you’re considering a Sportsman Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Sportsman Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Sportsman Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Sportsman Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: City of Seminole

    Surface Area: 354 acres

    Shoreline Length: 15 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,504 feet

    Average Depth: 20 feet

    Water Volume: 5,349 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1954

    Drainage Area: 13 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Oligotrophic to mesotrophic

    Sportsman Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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