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Recently the lower Mountain Fork River in southeast Oklahoma underwent the most significant rainbow trout stocking it's seen in years, with over 8,000 rainbow trout stocked at several locations.

"Oklahoma's trout fishing has received a lot of attention lately," said Mike Scott, fisheries technician with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation who directed the stocking. "But that's because we have good trout fishing opportunities, and with this recent stocking, the fishing is now even better."

The noteworthy load of fish was raised at the Norfolk National Fish Hatchery near Mountain Home, Ark., and was provided to Oklahoma by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The fish released are already ideal for catching.

"There were literally thousands of fish stocked, and most of them were around 11 inches in length," said Scott. "Considering this sizeable stocking and all the recent stream projects on the lower Mountain Fork River, this is a special time for trout anglers in our state."

Department fisheries technicians from the Durant and Holdenville state fish hatcheries transported the rainbows from the hatchery in Arkansas to stocking sites along the lower Mountain Fork River.

Stocking sites included the Lost Creek and Evening Hole areas, Beavers Bend State Park area and below the Re-regulation and Old Park dams.

FISHING REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 14, 2007

CENTRAL

Hefner: Water 40 and clear. Channel catfish slow on cut shad. Crappie slow on jigs slip corking. Report submitted by Kelly Roberson, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.

Overholser: Water 44 and murky. Crappie being caught on jigs around docks. Report submitted by Kelly Roberson, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.

Thunderbird: Elevation 9 1/2 ft. below normal and clear. All fishing slow. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.

NORTHEAST

Carl Blackwell: Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 42 and murky. Crappie fair in deeper water on small jigs. Report submitted by Jon Cunningham, game warden stationed in Payne County.

Eucha: Elevation slightly above normal, water 41 and clear. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around brush and structure. Largemouth bass fair on jigs. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.

Ft. Gibson: Channel catfish fair on juglines and trotlines baited with shad on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 12-15 ft. around brush structure. Report submitted by Don Cole, game warden stationed in Wagoner County.

Greenleaf: Elevation normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on cut bait and jig and worm along the shoreline and in creek channels. Catfish fair on bottom with cut bait and stinkbait. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around fishing dock and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Hudson: Elevation normal and clear. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 10-18 ft. around brush piles. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Mayes County.

Kaw: Elevation normal, water 40 and clear. Crappie fishing is picking up on Kaw. Fish are being caught at 25-30 ft. The average size is 3/4 lbs. Most crappie are being caught from brush piles that have been placed in areas close to natural structure, drop-offs and riprap. The riprap on the Washunga Bay Bridge and Sarge Creek Bridge are historically good areas and good from the upper Arkansas River to the dam. There are brush piles that have been placed by ODWC, and these areas are marked with fishing buoys. When fishing from a boat, a depth finder is necessary to find the brush. Generally if your lure or minnow is not in close proximity to the brush (approximately 2 ft. or closer), the fish won't see your bait. When fishing for crappie, try using 1/8 oz jigs with 2-inch bodies, black and green, 10 lb. super lines (fire line) helps the abrasive effects of the zebra mussels or minnows. Blue catfish will pickup as the water temps edge closer to 50. Jug fishing with cut bait is a very ef fective technique with hooks set at 5 ft. intervals from 5 ft. to 30 ft. When fish are being caught, concentrate hooks and bait in the productive zone. The best areas are the upper portion of the lake in the river channel. Trotlines are also very effective. Most anglers use fresh gizzard shad cut into pieces caught with a cast net in the same area. Fishing below Kaw dam has been slow due to limited amount of water being released through the dam. Report submitted by Larry Green (580-761-4097), game warden stationed in Osage County.

Keystone: Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 40 and clear to murky. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and spotted bass slow on suspended baits and jig and chunk at 8-15 ft. along points and bluffs. White bass slow to fair on jigging spoons at 15-25 ft. in river channels and along ledges. Striped bass below the dam is slow to fair on long-a-bombers and red fins at 1-4 ft. early morning and cloudy days. Striped bass in the lake slow to fair on live shad and big swim baits at 15-25 ft. along river channel ledges. Channel catfish slow on worms and shrimp at 8-15 ft. in the creeks. Blue catfish fair on shad and goldfish at 15-30 ft. in river channel drops and around edges and humps. Flathead catfish slow on live shad and goldfish at 15-25 ft. along bluffs. Crappie fair to good on small jigs and minnows at 15-30 ft. around docks, brush piles and ledges. Saugeye fair on 1/2 oz. small jigs tipped with worms or minnows at 4-8 ft. holes in river below the dam to pedestrian bridge. Report submi tted by Larry Sellers, Woody's Bait and Tackle.

Oologah: Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal, water upper 30s to low 40s and clear. Crappie fair on jigs around brush piles at 20-25 ft. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.

Skiatook: Elevation 12 ft. below normal, water 38-40 and clear. Crappie being caught on minnows at docks and Hwy 20 bridge. Report submitted by Greenwood Fishing Center.

Sooner: White bass, striped bass and striped bass hybrids fair in the discharge channel on sassy shad and topwater lures and from a boat at 20 ft. slabbing shad in the discharge channel. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County.

Spavinaw: Elevation slightly below normal, water 40 and clear. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around the dam area. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.

Webbers Falls: Elevation 1 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass slow. Catfish fair on bottom with stinkbait and cut bait. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 12-15 ft. around brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

SOUTHEAST

Blue River: Elevation normal, water 47 and clear. Largemouth bass slow on minnows and flies. Blue catfish fair on liver and worms. Trout good on power bait, super dupers, rooster tails and spinners. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.

Broken Bow: Elevation above normal and rising. Largemouth bass good on spoons in creek channels and deep running crankbaits and jigs. Crappie are good jigs around deep tree tops. Catfish fair to good on juglines baited with cut bait or sunfish. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Eufaula: Elevation 1 ft. above normal and clear. Largemouth bass and white bass slow. Blue catfish fair on shad at 15-20 ft. drifting flats. Crappie fair on minnows or jigs at 15-20 ft. Report submitted Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.

Hugo: Elevation 1/5 ft. above normal, water 45 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinners. Crappie fair on live minnows. Blue catfish fair on cut bait and liver. Report submitted by Wendell Smalling, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.

Konawa: Elevation normal, water 45 and clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits along points at 5-10 ft. along roadbeds. White bass and striped bass fair on minnows and jigs in discharge channel. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.

McGee Creek: Elevation normal, water 45 and clear. Largemouth bass fair over submerged humps while fishing with soft plastic lures. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: Fishing continues to be excellent! The powerhouse has ceased its around-the-clock discharges, so fishing in zone 2 and 3 has become a possibility. Fly anglers have been using a wide assortment of flies, mostly subsurface, but occasionally a small dry fly. The stop logs were replaced last week and the river is back up to the normal season levels. Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Pine Creek: Elevation above normal and rising. Water murky. Bass good on crankbaits around points. Crappie fair around tops on jigs. Catfish good on cut shad on juglines. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Robert S. Kerr: Elevation normal, water 41 and murky. Largemouth bass slow at 8-10 ft. on plastic baits around rock and riprap areas. Crappie fair at 10 ft. on minnows fishing the edge of old creek channels. White bass slow at 10 ft. on jigs below the dams. Blue catfish fair at 10-20 ft. on fresh cut baits around the edge of the old river channel. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Sardis Lake: Elevation 3 ft. below normal. Largemouth bass slow to fair off points and around islands on crankbaits and crawdads. White bass good around islands trolling rattle traps and below the dam on grubs. Catfish fair on trotlines and juglines baited with cut shad in deep flats and channels. Crappie good on minnows around bridges and tower. Walleye fair on jigs and grubs below the dam. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.

Texoma: Elevation normal, water 45 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair on deep-diving baits at 15-20 ft. near drop-offs. Striped and white bass fair to good on live bait and sassy shad at 15-20 ft. in the coves. Channel and blue catfish fair on cut baits at 10-15 ft. above the Highway 70 bridge. Crappie fair on small minnows and jigs from 10 to 15 feet deep around underwater brush piles. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.

Wister: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass slow. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs. Channel catfish fair to good on cut shad. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.

SOUTHWEST

Foss: Elevation 5 ft. below normal. Striped bass hybrids good in deep water on slabs. Walleye good on live bait in deep water. Crappie fair around structures along the banks with live bait or small jigs. Catfish fair. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.

Tom Steed: Crappie fair on jigs at 15 ft. over brush piles. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County.

WATERFOWL REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 14, 2007

Duck and white-fronted goose seasons are closed. Canada and light goose season open through Feb. 18.

NORTHWEST

Canton: Lake level is 7.49 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is poor. Water level has dropped below all vegetation along the shoreline due to water release. Winter wheat plantings are still in fair condition. Goose numbers are high, with mostly Canadas, but several snow geese remain in the area. Feeding locations are primarily south of the lake at this time with a few small groups traveling north. Hunting activity is low in the area, with fair to good success. The boat ramp west of Canton WMA headquarters is not usable due to low water levels.

Ft. Supply: Lake level is 0.29 ft. above normal. Habitat conditions around the lake are poor. Local wheat crops are fair to poor. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low, with no reports of success. Bird movement in the area has been slow.

Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge: 68,000 geese are present; 2,300 large Canada, 46,000 small Canada and 20,500 light geese.

Washita National Wildlife Refuge: Habitat conditions are poor. Wheat is eaten in over half of the fields. Q-field has water but is partially frozen. Canada geese numbers are at 2,216, and 230 snow geese are present.

SOUTHWEST

Ft. Cobb: Lake level is 1.90 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is fair. Wheat in the area is good. Goose numbers are good. Hunting activity is fair with fair success.

Hackberry Flat: Refuge reservoir is approximately 1.5 ft. below normal. Approximately 1,800 acres of wetland units flooded. Habitat conditions are good. Goose numbers are good. Hunter activity is low.

Mtn. Park: Lake level is 9.47 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is poor due to lake level. Winter wheat is good on WMA and surrounding area. Goose numbers are good. Good numbers of Canada geese using all the area fields. Hunter activity and success is fair.

Waurika: Lake level is 4.25 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is fair. Wheat fields in the area are doing well. Goose numbers continue to remain stable and are currently good.

NORTHEAST

Copan: Lake level is 1.64 ft. below normal. Lake level is not flooding terrestrial vegetation. Surrounding sites, including WDUs, are mostly thawed out. Soybeans and wheat in agricultural fields on WMA. Beans are cut and wheat is up. Goose numbers are high. Hunter activity is low and success is fair.

Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge: All wetlands are full. No geese present.

Eufaula: Lake level is 1.16 ft. above normal. Current habitat condition is fair, with very little farming in the area. No geese observed in the area. No bird movements have been observed.

Ft. Gibson: Lake level is .97 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is good, with smartweed, barnyard grass, bidens, cut soybeans, corn, milo, and wheat in the area. Goose numbers are fair. Hunting activity and success is low.

Hulah: Lake level is 1.61 ft. below normal. Lake level is not flooding terrestrial vegetation. The upper ends of the lake and the river, along with ponds and wetlands, are partially thawed. Goose numbers are fair. Hunter activity is low and success is fair.

Kaw: Lake level is 0.95 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is poor due to millet and natural food being depleted. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity in the area is light with fair success.

Keystone: Lake level is 1.30 ft. above normal. Habitat conditions are fair for geese. Fresh-flooded Japanese millet in the mudflats. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low, with low success.

Oologah: Lake level is 2.42 ft. below normal. Habitat conditions are fair. Goose numbers are fair. No report of hunter activity or success.

Sooner: Lake level is normal. Habitat condition is poor. Winter wheat in lake vicinity is in poor condition. Goose numbers are low. No report on hunter activity or success.

Webbers Falls: Lake level is 2.62 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is good, with smartweed, barnyard grass, bidens, cut soybeans, corn, milo and wheat in the area. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity and success is low.

SOUTHEAST

Hugo: Lake level is 0.40 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is poor. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is slow, with no reports of success. Slow bird movement in the area.

Grassy Slough: Lake is 80 percent full. Habitat condition is fair, with some wild forage. Goose numbers are poor.

Red Slough: Most wetland units are full now. Habitat conditions are good. Goose numbers are fair. Hunter activity is low, with no reports of success.

Texoma: Lake level is 0.64 ft. above normal. Habitat conditions are poor, with very little food left in the area. Some wheat remains in the area. Duck numbers are good. Goose numbers are poor.

Remember Take a Kid Fishing !

Just look at the Striper Ole Trey Caught a Texoma !