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FISHING
REPORT FOR JANUARY 5, 2011
NORTHEAST
Copan: January 3. Elevation below normal, water clear. Crappie good on jigs
in deep water on the lake side of the dam. Report submitted by Joe
Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.
Eucha: January 4. Elevation 6 1/3 ft. below normal, water 42 and dingy.
Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 14-16 ft. around brush and structure.
Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.
Ft Gibson: January 1. Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water clear. Crappie
good on minnows and jigs at 20-25 ft. under docks and around structure.
Catfish good on cut shad or live shad below the dam and in the main channel
of the lake. Report submitted by Rick Stafford of Wagoner.
Greenleaf: January 3. Elevation normal, water clear. Largemouth bass fair on
spinnerbaits, bill baits and crankbaits along shorelines, creek channels and
rocky points. Channel catfish good on fresh cut bait on bottom. Crappie good
on minnows and jigs in green, yellow and red around fishing docks and brush
structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in
Muskogee County.
Hudson: January 2. Elevation normal. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at
8-15 ft. around brush piles and heated docks. Report submitted by Steve
Loveland, game warden stationed in Rogers and Mayes counties.
Hulah: January 3. Elevation below normal, water clear. Crappie fair on jigs
at 10-12 ft. along the south side of the lake. Report submitted by Joe
Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.
Lower Illinois: January 3. Elevation normal, water 43 and clear. Largemouth
bass slow on sink baits at 1-3 ft. around bridges and jetties. Channel
catfish excellent on cut bait on bottom all along the river. Trout excellent
fly-fishing the surface, on rooster tails and super dupers at 1-2 ft. and on
Power Bait on bottom above Gore Landing. Report submitted by D. Tracy, Town
of Gore.
Oologah: January 2. Elevation 1 1/3 ft. below normal, water low 50s and
clear. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 15 ft. around brush piles. Report
submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.
Spavinaw: January 4. Elevation slightly below normal, water 42 and dingy.
Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around the dam area. Report submitted by
Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.
Tenkiller: January 3. Elevation 5 1/2 ft. below normal and steady, water 48
and clear. Largemouth bass slow on tube jigs around docks. Crappie fair on
small minnows or soft plastic jigs in coves. Sunfish fair on night crawlers
at 15-20 ft. Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort.
Webbers Falls: January 3. Elevation normal, water murky. Largemouth bass
fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits along creek channels, riprap and rocky
points. Channel catfish good on fresh cut bait and stinkbait on bottom.
Crappie fair on minnows and jigs in black and purple around brush structure
and bridges. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in
Muskogee County.
SOUTHEAST
Arbuckle: January 2. Elevation 2 ft. below normal, water 44-46 and clear.
Crappie being caught near dam on jigging spoons at 35-60 ft. White bass
being caught on jigging spoons in chrome at 35-45 ft. near the dam and along
creek channel drop-offs. Bass slow on crankbaits, Carolina-rigged lizards
and shakey-head jig worms. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Blue River: December 29. Elevation normal, water 43 and clear. Trout good on
spoons, in-line spinnerbaits and peach Power Bait. Fly-fishing good on
prince nymphs, elk hair caddis, pheasant tails, woolly buggers and San Juan
worms. Smallmouth and spotted bass fair on soft plastics. Channel catfish
good on livers and minnows. Report submitted by Matt Gamble, biologist at
the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.
Broken Bow: January 2. Largemouth and smallmouth bass good on jig and pig.
Catfish good on juglines baited with cut bait. Crappie good on jigs at 30-35
ft. along structure. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in
McCurtain County.
Eufaula: January 2. Elevation 3 1/2 ft. below normal, water clear. Blue
catfish fair on fresh shad along slabs. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at
8-20 ft. around boat docks with brush and around standing timber. Report
submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
McGee Creek: January 2. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal, water 51 and
clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 16-24 ft. around cedar brush off
main creek channels. Largemouth bass fair on soft plastic lures around
structure and off rocky points, 12-25 ft. Report submitted by Larry Luman,
game warden stationed in Atoka County.
Pine Creek: January 2. Elevation below normal, water clear. Crappie good on
jigs near structure. Catfish good on trotlines baited with cut shad. Bass
fair on spoons in deeper waters. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game
warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Robert S. Kerr: January 4. Elevation normal, water murky. Catfish good on
cut shad at 10-20 ft. around points. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at
8-15 ft. around submerged brush piles. Report submitted by Leland Sockey,
game warden stationed in Haskell County.
Sardis: January 2. Elevation below normal, water murky. Crappie fair to good
on minnows and jigs at 18-25 ft. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden
stationed in Pushmataha County.
Texoma: January 2. Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 51 and clear.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair on plastic combination baits and jigs at
15-20 ft. in creek channels. Striped and white bass fair on live bait and
slabs at 10-20 ft. in the river channels. Channel and blue catfish fair on
worms and cut bait at 10-20 ft. from Catfish Bay to the north. Crappie fair
at 10-15 ft. around the fish attractors and fishing docks. Paddlefish fair
below the dam when generating. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden
stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: January 3. Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal, water murky. Largemouth
bass fair on soft plastic baits and worm and jigs. Crappie fair to good on
minnows and jigs at 18-25 ft. around structure. Channel catfish fair on
juglines baited with cut shad and liver. Report submitted by Randy Fennell,
game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
SOUTHWEST
Foss: December 31. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal with gates closed, water
50s and clear. Striped bass hybrids good on slabs in deep water near
entrance of marina. Walleye good on live bait around main ramp on south
side. Crappie fair to good with live bait around fish new fish dock and
around structures on south side. Catfish fair on doughbaits. Report
submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.
WATERFOWL REPORT FOR JANUARY 5, 2011
Waterfowl season is now open in Zone 1 & 2. For zone maps and complete
waterfowl hunting regulations log on to wildlifedepartment.com. The next
waterfowl report is scheduled for January 19.
NORTHWEST
Canton: Lake level is 1.95 ft below normal. Habitat conditions are fair on
the lake, with winter wheat planted and harvested row crops in the area are
in good condition. Duck numbers are moderate. Goose numbers are moderate.
Hunting activity is low, with no reports of success. Waterfowl use of the
lake has improved over the past few days with a fair number of birds using
crop fields around the lake. Boat ramps are still usable on all sides of the
lake, but shallow water may be encountered leaving the cove from the NW
boatramp, and the Longdale ramp is usable by small boats only.
Ft. Supply: Lake level is 0.54 ft above normal. Habitat conditions are fair
to good, with most local wheat up. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are
low. Hunting activity is low, with low success. An increase in bird movement
was observed with recent cold front.
SOUTHWEST
Ft. Cobb: Lake level is 0.70 ft below normal. Habitat condition is good,
with summer crop residue gone and winter wheat in good condition. Duck
numbers are high. Goose numbers are high. Hunter activity is fair, with fair
success. Bird movement observed all around the lake.
Hackberry: Flat reservoir is 5 ft below normal. Habitat conditions are good,
with winter wheat, some milo and native vegetation available. Duck numbers
are fair. Goose numbers are good. Hunting acitivy is moderate, with fair
success. An increase in the number of mallards in the area was observed
recently.
Mtn. Park: Lake level is 1.91 ft below normal. Habitat condition is fair to
good. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are fair. Hunting activity is low,
with fair success. A group of Canada geese has moved into the area and is
using the south part of the WMA.
Waurika: Lake level is 1.00 ft below normal. Habitat conditions are poor on
the lake, but fair on the wetland units. Wetland unit flooding is complete.
Winter wheat in the area is in fair condition for geese. Duck numbers a
fair. Goose numbers are fair. No reports of hunting activity or success. No
significant increase in birds has been observed since the last survey.
NORTHEAST
Copan: Lake level is 1.27 ft below normal. Habitat condition is poor, with
shallow water frozen. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. No
reports of significant bird movement in the area.
Eufaula: Lake level is 3.03 ft below normal. Habitat conditions at current
lake level are very poor, and farming activity in the area is low. Duck
numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is very low, with
no reports of success. No significant bird movement has been observed in the
area recently. Lake elevation needs to rise a few feet before improved
habitat is available.
Ft. Gibson: Lake level is 0.29 ft below normal. Habitat conditions are good,
with smartweed, barnyard grass and some agricultural crops in the area. Duck
numbers are moderate. Goose numbers are moderate. Hunting activity is
moderate, with fair success. No significant bird movement has been seen in
the area.
Hulah: Lake level is 0.98 ft below normal. Habitat conditions are poor, with
shallow water frozen. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. No
reports of significant bird movement in the area.
Kaw: Lake level is 0.10 ft above normal. Habitat conditions are fair, with
low quantities of millet sedges and natural waterfowl vegetation. Duck
numbers are fair. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is light, with
fair success. Bird movement in the area has been low.
Keystone: Lake level is 2.8 ft below normal. Habitat conditions are poor due
to storage of water in the flood pool over the summer, and many sloughs and
cutoffs that are typically hunted are dry. WDUs are currently dry due to
renovation work. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. Small numbers
of birds seen migrating through the area, but none are staying due to poor
conditions. Cottonwood Creek WDU is currently dry and will not be pumped
this year due to renovation work.
Oologah: Lake level is 1.42 ft below normal. Habitat conditions are poor at
current lake level, with no flooded millet, some plants on the edge of the
lake and ag fields around the lake in poor condition. Duck numbers are poor
to fair, with American wigeon, ring-necked, hooded mergansers, common
mergansers, buffleheads, mallards and gadwalls. Goose numbers are poor, with
a mix resident Canadas and migrants in the area. Hunting activity is low to
moderate, with poor to fair success. Bird numbers are improving, with a good
waterfowl migration expected over the next several weeks with each northern
frontal passage.
Webber Falls: Lake level is 2.104 ft above normal. Habitat conditions are
good, with smartweed, barnyard grass, bidens, cut soybeans, corn, milo and
wheat in the area. Duck numbers are moderate. Goose numbers are moderate.
Hunting activity is moderate, with fair success. No significant bird
movement has been seen in the area.
SOUTHEAST
Sequoyah NWR: Food conditions in the area are excellent, though frequent
freezing events have limited waterfowl use. Duck numbers: mallards 4,858;
gadwall 383; wigeon 30; pintail 20; green-winged teal 181; shoveler 54; wood
duck 54. Goose numbers: snow/blue 13,000; Canada 67; white-fronted 20.
Texoma: Lake level is 0.72 ft below normal. Habitat conditions are fair with
good Japanese millet. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. Hunting
activity is light, with fair success. A rise in water level and cooler
temperatures are needed in order to see an increase in bird numbers.
Wister: Lake level is 1.0 ft below normal. Habitat conditions on the lake
are poor, but good on WDU. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low.
Hunter activity is moderate, with low success. No significant bird movement
was reported in the area. Rain and cold fronts needed to improve the number
of birds in the area.
Oklahoma Spoonbill Fishing
Dustin Newer
April 2010
These were
caught near the Twin Bridges State park fishing with Dempsey’s Guide
Service…My fishing partner is a well known OkieFish contributor but I
will let her send in the pics of the 60 lber she caught.
Huge striped bass hybrid takes lake
record spot at Canton
Lifelong Oklahoma angler James Wesley Jones, Jr. of Canton said
he loves fishing because it is a relaxing activity, but there was likely no
relaxing going on April 19 when he landed a 23.2-lb. (23 lbs., 3 oz.)
striped bass hybrid from Canton Lake. The huge fish qualifies as a lake
record for Canton
and falls only about an ounce shy of taking the state record spot as well,
which is held by Paul Hollister and his 23-lb., 4 oz. fish caught April 1,
1997, from Altus-Lugert
Lake.
Jones caught his fish in the evening using a 1-oz. rattletrap.
Though the hybrid fell short of the state record, it reminds anglers that if
they catch a potential state record fish, they should contact an employee of
the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for procedures on
certifying state records. Lake
record fish are weighed on scales through lake record keepers registered
with the Wildlife Department, but the weighing of state records must be done
on certified scales with a witness from the Wildlife Department present.
Jones said the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s
new Lake Record Fish Program does more than just recognize fish, but that it
also encourages the sport of fishing. Before the program was in place, his
near state record fish could have gone overlooked by anglers across the
state, but the recognition his fish received through the Lake Record Fish
Program reminds anglers of the potential that Oklahoma’s lakes hold for
producing monster-sized fish.
“It gets people motivated to fish knowing that there are larger
fish in the lake,” Jones said.
He said it is common in discussions among anglers to wonder
about the sizes of the largest fish caught in lakes across the state.
“You don’t have to wonder anymore,” he said. “You can just go on
and find out.”
Jones is referring to the Wildlife Department’s Web site,
wildlifedepartment.com, which includes an easily-operated search feature
that allows those interested to view a wealth of lake record fish
information, ranging from the size of record fish caught to what kind of
bait or rod and reel was used to catch them. And right now, lake records are
being set and broken on a regular basis, which means the wealth of
information on the Web site is updating and growing regularly as well.
Other recent lake records include a 4.8-lb. smallmouth bass
caught by Derek Thurman of
Collinsville. His fish went down as a record
smallmouth for Skiatook Lake, but that record was broken just days later, on
April 5, when angler Jim Horn of Cleveland landed a 6.6-lb. smallmouth bass
from Skiatook using a bait casting rod and reel set up with a jig.
Lakes included in the program include Arbuckle, Broken Bow,
Canton, Eufaula, Ft.
Cobb, Grand, Kaw, Keystone,
Sardis, Skiatook, Tenkiller, Texoma and Thunderbird.
Species eligible for spots in the lake records book include
blue, channel and flathead catfish and largemouth, smallmouth and spotted
bass in addition to crappie, paddlefish, striped bass, striped bass hybrids,
sunfish (combined) walleye/saugeye and white bass. Minimum weights are set
for each species are detailed on the Wildlife Department’s Web site at
wildlifedepartment.com.
Anglers who catch a potential record from a participating lake
should contact designated business locations around the lake that are
enrolled as lake record keepers. A listing of official lake record keepers
is available on wildlifedepartment.com.
Once it has been determined that an angler has landed a record
fish, the media is notified and the public will be able to view information
about the catch on the Wildlife Department’s Web site at
wildlifedepartment.com.
All past and current state record fish are registered in the
Lake Record Fish Program as records for their respective lakes.
To see the complete database of all lake record fish caught, or
to learn more about the Lake Record Fish program, log on to the Wildlife
Department’s Web site at wildlifedepartment.com.
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