Ernst Reservoir, Oklahoma: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Out in Custer County, Oklahoma, sits Ernst Reservoir. It sits at 1,867 feet above sea level. A pocket of water where every cast reaches cover. On size it sits at the modest end of our Custer County list. Thomas is the closest town at 12 miles. For a city, Oklahoma City is 83 miles off. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Ernst Reservoir

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Custer County records list largemouth bass, channel catfish, green sunfish, bluegill and Rio Grande longear sunfish among the fish reported. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Ernst Reservoir repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 35°F in January to roughly 82°F in July. Neither winter nor summer shuts things down for long. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Time your trip to Ernst Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Barnitz Creek Site 31 Reservoir is 4.7 miles distant. Rules at Ernst Reservoir are worth checking on the day.