PRESS RELEASES
Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department Celebrates Oklahoma Fishing Trail Anniversary with Giveaway, New Guide
More than 100 anglers have completed the Oklahoma Fishing Trail Grand Slam Challenge in the two years since the program started.
OKLAHOMA CITY — In the two years since the Oklahoma Fishing Trail launched, the State of Oklahoma has seen tremendous growth in the popularity of fishing in the state.
In 2020, Oklahoma became a top-5 state for creating new anglers, with more than 138,000 people taking up fishing. The state ranked second in the United States in fishing license sales growth after seeing a 33.5 percent increase.
The department is celebrating the Oklahoma Fishing Trail’s two-year anniversary with the release of the new Oklahoma Fishing Trail Guide. Featuring Oklahoma fishing legends Jimmy Houston and Edwin Evers on the cover, the 48-page publication offers extensive information on each of the lakes and rivers on the Oklahoma Fishing Trail.
The trail features 40 of Oklahoma’s top fishing lakes and rivers along with 20 lakes and ponds around the Oklahoma City metro that are part of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s “Close to Home” fishing program. The fishing destinations are divided into six regional loops, with an All-Around Lake named for each region.
In the guide, readers will find detailed information on fish habitat, marinas, bait shops and what species are found at each fishing destination. Additional information is available for each All-Around Lake, including camping and lodging information, nearby attractions and nearby dining options. The publication also has information on longtime Oklahoma fishing events and state fishing records.
The department will also mark the trail’s anniversary with a giveaway. Anglers can visit the TravelOK.com Facebook page, Facebook.com/TravelOK, to enter to win a guided fishing trip with Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell and J.D. Strong, director of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The prize package also includes Oklahoma Fishing Trail gear and an Oklahoma State Parks annual parking pass.
The Oklahoma Fishing Trail kicked off on June 18, 2019. The trail is a joint venture between the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. It is designed to make Oklahoma the No. 1 fishing state in the nation and increase tourism revenue.
OTRD has promoted the Fishing Trail through billboards, social media and display ads, programmatic video and paid search advertising that targets Oklahoma and surrounding markets. The department has also heavily promoted the fishing trail through its own social media channels, newsletters and the TravelOK Trip Planner app, which is available in Apple’s App Store and in the Google Play Store. OTRD also partnered with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, which installed 815 Oklahoma Fishing Trail signs in locations across the state.
OTRD Marks 100th Angler to Complete Oklahoma Fishing Trail Grand Slam Challenge
One popular component of the Oklahoma Fishing Trail is the Grand Slam Challenge. To complete the Grand Slam, anglers must catch five different species from Oklahoma fishing destinations and submit photos on FishinOK.com. Those who complete the challenge receive an exclusive decal.
In early June, the Grand Slam Challenge celebrated the 100th completion. Angler No. 100 was 9-year-old Peyton Zeimet of Verdigris. Peyton received a special Oklahoma Fishing Trail merchandise prize pack.
In the Fishing Trail’s first two years, the department has received a total of 105 completions. The Grand Slam’s biggest month came in June 2020, when 22 anglers finished the Grand Slam. Several anglers have completed the Grand Slam in multiple years, with Luke Wisdom of Gore completing it three times and Austin Ellegard of Oklahoma City completing it twice.
The city with the most anglers to complete the Grand Slam so far is Edmond with 12. Close behind are Oklahoma City with 10 and Norman and Tulsa with nine each.
About the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department
The Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department works to preserve, maintain and promote the state’s natural assets and cultural richness through tourism. The Department’s Travel Promotions division administers programs designed to build awareness of the state as a destination and educates on the economic importance of the Oklahoma travel and tourism industry. The staff also oversees the agency’s marketing and promotions efforts along with operating Tourism Information Centers located at major entry points around the state. To learn more about the Department, visit TravelOK.com.