The summer season isn?t complete without a wet wading trip to one of Oklahoma?s clear-water streams! Oklahoma streams are filled with an array of catchable species, highlighted by the smallmouth bass. While the state has an abundance of clear-water rivers and creeks, only a handful have public access opportunities. In this guide we?ll break down the top tips for catching smallmouth bass as well as the best public access destinations. Oklahoma is home to three strains of smallmouth bass, the nonnative Tennessee strain and the native Neosho and Ouachita strains. The Tennessee strain has been used to stock lakes across the state due to its penchant for slow flow living and larger attainable weight. Neosho and Ouachita strains like the faster flowing streams and rarely exceed 14 inches. There is overlap where Neosho and Ouachita strain watersheds are impounded by reservoirs that have been stocked with Tennes see strain (Neosho: Arkansas River Drainage; Ouachita: Red River Drainage).