SURFACE ACRES: 6,800
AVG DEPTH: (ft)20
LOCATION: 20 miles Northeast of Elk City OK.
COUNTY: Custer
DATE IMPOUNDED:1961
OPERATOR: Bureau of Reclamation and State Parks
PHONE: 405/592-4433
PRIMARY USES: Water supply, Flood control and Recreation
PUBLIC USE FACILITIES: State Park, Boat ramps, Docks, Marina, Enclosed Fishing Doc, Camp Sites and Shelters
NOTABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF LAKE OR FISHERY: Foss is primarily an open water fishery. The watershed is fairly infertile with little runoff. The upper 1/3 of the lake is in the Washita National Wildlife Refuge.
| Sport Fish |
Total Abundance |
Quality Size Abundance |
Quality Size |
| Largemouth bass | Low | Moderate | >14" |
| Crappie | Low | Low | >8" |
| Saugeye | High | Moderate | >16" |
| Hybrid Striped Bass | Moderate | Low | >20" |
| Channel Catfish | High | Low | 16" |
| White Bass | High | High | 12" |
SPECIAL REGULATIONS:Boats are not allowed above the bouy line (refuge) in winter. The largemouth bass minimum length limit is 14". The daily limit of hybrid striped bass and white bass (combined) is 20: only 5 may be 20" or longer.
HABITAT TYPES STATUS AND IMPROVEMENTS:Shoreline have a lot of flooded timber and some weed beds have developed recently. The Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife has constructed several bouyed fish attractors with cedar trees. There are also sandstone points, and the dam is composed of rip-rap.
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY: The fish attractors were refurbished with new trees in 1994. Saugeye and hybrids were stocked in 1995. Alternate year stockings of these predators is required due to low forage production.