Fishing

Fishing was one of the first recreational uses beginning with the opening of the lake. The City began stocking the lake with fish raised in its own hatchery north of the lake. Fishing piers and docks were built for the Oklahoma City Police and Fire Departments. Citizens were fishing from the wet slips and the breakwater in the municipal marina, from the dam, in boats and all along the shoreline. In the 1970s two floating, covered and lighted fishing piers were built on the south and east shores. The Fireman's docks are gone and the police docks have fallen into disrepair, but the fishing piers are still in service.

Hunting was originally allowed at Lake Hefner, and duck blinds were constructed by hunters at selected points around the lake. In the late 1980s the practice was discontinued.