Kaw Lake is a 17,000-acre reservoir spanning Kay and Osage Counties in north central Oklahoma, located approximately eight miles east of Ponca City on the Arkansas River. Completed in 1976 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this impoundment features 168 miles of shoreline and serves as one of Oklahoma's premier fisheries. The lake reaches a maximum depth of 75 feet with a mean depth of 25.9 feet at the normal pool elevation of 1,010 feet above sea level. Known particularly for producing large crappie and sizable catfish, Kaw Lake offers diverse fishing opportunities across its expansive waters. The lake experiences a 24-inch water level drawdown starting in late July, when mud flats in the upper reaches are aerial seeded with Japanese millet to provide wildlife habitat. Beyond fishing, the lake attracts 60 or more bald eagles annually from November through February, creating one of Oklahoma's largest winter eagle viewing opportunities.