At a news conference at Lake Thunderbird State Park, Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell announced the launch of the Oklahoma Fishing Trail, a new tourism initiative designed to increase revenue for Oklahoma.

“Our goal is to become a top ten tourism state, and the No. 1 fishing state in the nation,” said Pinnell, who is also the state’s Secretary of Tourism and Branding. “Fishing is big business, and the Oklahoma Fishing Trail initiative will promote our state’s unique fishing opportunities — arguably the most diverse fishing in the country — increase tourism, and generate additional tax revenue for the state. Most people don’t realize the kind of revenue we’re talking about. On average, anglers in Oklahoma already spend $1.8 billion on fishing equipment annually and support more than 15,000 jobs in the state. And we’re only going to grow from there.” 

The Oklahoma Fishing Trail highlights 38 lakes around the state, plus an additional list of 20 Central Oklahoma fishing experiences that are part of the Wildlife Department’s Close to Home Fishing Program.  The trail has six loops, one for each region of the state, to help guide visitors to the perfect lake for their needs. The official website for the trail is FishinOK.com.

In addition to Pinnell, speakers at the event included Jerry Winchester, executive director of the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department, J.D. Strong, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Director, and B.A.S.S. National Conservation Director Gene Gilliland, an Oklahoma native.

“Oklahoma is well-prepared for this increase in fishing tourism,” Winchester said. “Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees has twice hosted the Bassmaster Classic, the ‘Super Bowl’ of bass fishing. Bassmaster magazine regularly lists Grand Lake and Lake Texoma on their lists of the country’s best bass lakes. We have more shoreline than the East and Gulf coasts combined, and we’ve also got a lot of fun things to do along that shoreline. State parks, marinas, museums, breweries, casinos, restaurants — you name it, we’ve got it in Oklahoma.”

Tourism is Oklahoma’s third-largest industry, contributing nearly $9 billion to the state’s economy in direct visitor spending, and $656 million in state and local taxes annually. The state is already a premier destination for fishing-related tourism because of its fish diversity and lack of fishing seasons and restrictions.

“Whether you’re looking for an all-around lake that’s known for several different species or a specific spot to get that standout species, we’ve got options,” Strong said. “In the Northeastern Loop, Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees is a great spot for catching largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, and paddlefish, while Lake Eufaula and Lake Tenkiller were chosen for their standout crappie fishing.”

America’s Favorite Fisherman, TV personality Jimmy Houston, also attended last week’s press conference, along with a group of Moore Public Schools students who participate in the Wildlife Department’s Fishing in the Schools program. Several legislators were also in attendance.

FishinOK.com features a map of all the trail stops along with detailed information on the amenities available at each stop. Branded Oklahoma Fishing Trail merchandise will also be available.

A free Oklahoma Fishing Trail brochure will also be available for order at TravelOK.com/Brochures or by calling 1-800-652-6552. Anglers can also find the brochure at Oklahoma Tourism Information Centers, Oklahoma State Parks and at the Oklahoma Fishing Trail lakes.

Oklahoma also stands out for the state’s unique species, such as the paddlefish. The Oklahoma Paddlefish Research Center, located in Miami near the Twin Bridges Area of Grand Lake State Park, will even process anglers’ catches and return fillets to the customer at no cost.

Boat gas controversy

Over the objections of some environmental, conservation, food producer, fuel retailer, taxpayer advocate, and outdoor recreation industry groups, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently waived Clean Air Act provisions and eliminated the three-and-a-half-month blackout period on the sale of E15 (15 percent ethanol) fuel during the summer months, permitting the fuel to be sold year-round.

The fuel had been banned at the pumps from June 1 to September 15 over concerns that it contributed to smog on hot days.

As a result of EPA’s action, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is advising boaters that they will need to be very cautious at the gas station to ensure they aren’t filling their boats with fuel that’s bad (and illegal) for boat engines.

“This summer, recreational boat owners will need to be vigilant when refueling their trailer boats at the gas station to ensure they don’t accidentally fill up with E15,” said BoatUS Government Affairs Manager David Kennedy. “E15 is often one of the lower-priced fuel options, and that may be appealing even with its lower energy content. The challenge when filling up the boat is that the only misfueling warning you may see is a small orange label among the clutter of signage, prices and advertising adorning the pump. It’s very easy to miss.”

Boaters have no love for ethanol in their gas, he said. E15 is prohibited by federal law for use in recreational boat engines, and its use – accidental or not – voids many marine engine warranties. 

A 2018 BoatUS Summer Fuel Survey reported that if they had their choice of fuel, more than four out of five boat owners (83 percent) would choose E0 (ethanol-free) fuel – if it was available. The same survey reported about half (49 percent) of respondents were unaware that the use of E15 fuel in marine engines was prohibited under federal law and will void the warranty.

The push to sell E15 year-round is a result of the Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS) mandate to blend biofuels such as corn-ethanol into the nation’s gasoline supply.

BoatUS is asking recreational boaters for help on the issue by contacting their member of Congress to urge him or her to fix the RFS. The more than half-million-member boat owners group supports fuel choice, including smart biofuels development such as isobutanol, and the availability of ethanol-free (EO) fuels that are increasingly more difficult to find.

“The fuel that most boaters want for safe engine operation, E0, is being pushed out of the market,” added Kennedy.