Winter at Kaw Lake

Kaw Lake hosts one of the largest concentrations of wintering bald eagles in Oklahoma. The USACE-managed Eagle Watch area near the dam is the best vantage point — birds roost in the tall cottonwoods along the creek channels and can often be spotted hunting on the water's surface just after sunrise.

The Kaw Lake Eagle Watch event, typically held in January through the Eagle View Nature Center near Ponca City, brings in naturalists and guided viewing. Even without the event, the parking areas near the dam offer excellent sightlines from mid-November through early March.

Crappie fishing slows but doesn't stop in winter. The fish move to deeper water — 18 to 25 feet — and suspend near submerged timber and channel edges. Small tube jigs and jigging spoons worked slowly at depth are the most consistent producers.

Catfish can still be caught on cut bait near the main river channel in 20–35 feet of water. Winter cats are slower and need longer soaks, but the fish you catch tend to be larger than the summer schooling fish.

White bass occasionally school in the tailwaters below the dam when water is being released — worth checking if you see outflow activity.

Most of the USACE campgrounds at Kaw Lake operate on a reduced schedule in winter, with some sites remaining open. Coon Creek Cove and Osage Cove stay accessible through the cold months. Expect no utilities at many sites — come prepared for self-sufficient camping.

Boat ramps remain open year-round at most locations, though some may have icy approaches after hard freezes. The lake itself rarely freezes at surface level in most winters due to its size.