Lake Bixhoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Bixhoma |
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 Lake Bixhoma
Location in Oklahoma
Lake Bixhoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | Oklahoma, United States |
| Coordinates | 35°53′38″N 95°47′54″W / 35.8939°N 95.7983°W |
| Built | 1965 |
| Surface area | 110 acres (45 ha) |
| Max. depth | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Shore length1 | 3 mi (4.8 km) |
| Surface elevation | 899 ft (274 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Bixhoma is a special lake in Oklahoma, United States. It is a public reservoir, which means it's a large, artificial lake built to store water. The city of Bixby, Oklahoma owns and manages it.
Lake Bixhoma has about 3 miles (4.8 km) of shoreline, which is the edge where the water meets the land. Its surface area is 110 acres (45 ha), and it can be as deep as 50 feet (15 m). The lake is located about 7 miles southeast of Bixby. It's also 2.2 miles south of U.S. 64 and the town of Leonard, Oklahoma.
The lake was built in 1965. It sits on Leonard Mountain, high up at 899 feet (274 m) above sea level. This is almost 300 feet (91 m) higher than Bixby itself. The main reason it was built was to provide fresh water for the city of Bixby.
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Fun Activities at Lake Bixhoma
Lake Bixhoma is a great place for outdoor fun. You can enjoy different activities here, especially if you like being on the water or fishing.
Boating and Water Sports
You can go fishing from the shore or from a boat. If you use a boat, there's a special "low-wake zone" rule. This means boats must go slowly so they don't create big waves. This helps keep everyone safe and protects the shoreline.
While fishing and boating are allowed, swimming is not permitted in Lake Bixhoma. However, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are very popular activities. These are fun ways to explore the lake's calm waters.
Fishing Rules and Permits
If you want to fish or boat on the lake, you need a daily permit. Everyone needs one, no matter their age. You can get these permits from the city of Bixby at City Hall.
As of 2017, a daily permit cost $5.00, and a yearly permit was $15.00. Good news for some: if you are 65 years old or older, or 11 years old and younger, you don't need to pay for a permit!
There are also rules about how many fish you can catch. For example, you can only catch five largemouth or spotted bass, and catfish each day. There are also state rules for other fish like crappie and panfish. These rules help make sure there are enough fish for everyone to enjoy.
Lake Amenities and Nature Trails
Lake Bixhoma has several helpful features for visitors. There are two boat ramps, which make it easy to launch your boat. You can also find floating fishing docks, which are great for fishing without a boat.
If you want to have a picnic, there are picnic areas with charcoal grills and fire pits. The land around the lake is mostly undeveloped. It has lots of trees and rocky hills. When there's enough rain, water flows from the lake's outlet. This creates small waterfalls below the lake, which you can reach by following a trail.
The lake is open every day from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
