FISHING REPORT FOR MARCH 21, 2007

White bass beginning their annual spawning runs; fishing great right now

       According to the state Fishing Report, white bass, also known as "sand bass," are beginning their annual spawning runs in parts of the state, and fishing for the popular springtime sport fish is heating up.

       "Anglers need to get in on the sand bass fishing now," said Paul Balkenbush, southeast region fisheries supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "The spawning runs are starting, and that means there will be feeding frenzies upstream in lake tributaries. Sand bass anglers can fill up a stringer in a hurry this time of year, if they get out there and don't miss the annual run."

       According to Balkenbush, white bass fishing is popular in Oklahoma because of the action offered by their aggressive feeding behavior during late March and early April, when the fish migrate in large numbers into upper-lake tributaries. Their large appetites and dense concentration in creeks and rivers can lead to non-stop action. But he also said the simplicity of white bass makes it an ideal way to spend a spring day.

       "The beauty of a white bass run is you don't have to have all the fancy equipment," Balkenbush said. "You just need some simple gear and you'll have all the fun you want."

       Right now, according to the Department's weekly Fishing Report, white bass are staging and starting their annual run up the Mountain Fork River at Broken Bow Lake and are being caught on an assortment of grubs. Reports also say the "sandies" are being caught in southeast Oklahoma up creeks at Murray, Arbuckle, Hugo, Eufaula, Konawa, Sardis, Robert S. Kerr, McGee Creek and Pine Creek.

       Southeast Oklahoma is not the only place producing great sand bass fishing, however. Fishing is reportedly excellent now in tributaries at the upper end of Ft. Gibson using crankbaits and spinnerbaits, and also good at Grand Lake, Hudson, Sooner and Keystone.

       In the southwest, reports are good at Waurika Lake on live bait and along the dam at Canton Lake in the northwest part of the state.

       According to anglers, top choices for catching white bass during the spring river run include jigs, spinners and minnows.

       "This time of year, you can use a variety of tackle to catch white bass," Balkenbush said. "The important thing is to be there on the water during their annual run. The spring rains will help kick start spawning activity in some places where it hasn't already started."

FISHING REPORT FOR MARCH 21, 2007

CENTRAL

Hefner: Water 58 and clear. Crappie being caught around the dam and rocks on jigs or minnows. Catfish being caught on cut bait. Report submitted by Kelly Roberson, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.

Overholser: Water 62. Catfish being caught on cut bait and punch bait. Crappie being caught off banks on jigs. Largemouth bass being caught on spinners. Report submitted by Kelly Roberson, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.

Thunderbird: Elevation 10 1/2 ft. below normal and clear. Crappie good at 6-8 ft. on minnows and jigs around structure. Saugeye hitting on road beds on jigs. Largemouth bass good on tandem spinners and medium-diving crankbaits in some areas with cover. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.

Wes Watkins: Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water 50-61 and clearing. Largemouth bass fair to good on light-colored spinnerbaits, crankbaits, brush hogs and assorted pig and jig and pumpkin-colored worms on cloudy or overcast days at 6-8 ft. White bass fair on deep-diving crankbaits along points early morning. A few crappie are being caught. Report submitted by M.M Fowler, St. Gregory's.

NORTHEAST

Birch: Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water in the mid-50s and clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around standing timber and along creek channels. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County.

Carl Blackwell: Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 56 and murky. Crappie good on minnows and jigs. Crappie are starting to stage up around brush and off ledges at 10-15 ft. Striped bass hybrids good on crankbaits and sassy shad. Saugeye good around rocks and off windy points on crankbaits and plastic baits. Report submitted by Jon Cunningham, game warden stationed in Payne County.

Copan: Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal and clear. Crappie fair. They are starting to bite. Bank fishing for crappie is currently best on the lakeside of the dam. Catfish fair to good on jug lines in or near the river channel. White bass fair in the same areas as crappie. Report submitted by Marni Loftis, game warden, stationed in Washington County.

Eucha: Elevation slightly below normal, water 56 and clear. Crappie good on jigs and minnows around brush and structure at 10-12 ft. Largemouth bass good on jerk baits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.

Ft. Gibson: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal and clear. Largemouth bass good on jig and frog combination slowly falling at 8-10 ft. around creek edges and drop offs. White bass excellent on crankbaits, spinnerbaits and inline spinners in the upper end of the lake in tributaries. Channel catfish good on juglines baited with whole shad or cut baits at 15 ft. on the flats. Crappie fair at 10 ft. around brush. Report submitted Don Cole, game warden stationed in Wagoner County.

Grand: Elevation normal and clear. White bass good in lake tributaries and on sandy bottom using jigs and spinnerbaits.  Channel catfish good at 20 ft. on juglines and rod and reels, on worms and cut shad. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: Elevation normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits along the shoreline and in creek channels. Channel catfish good on cut bait on bottom in the spillway. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around brush structure and the fishing dock. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Hudson: Elevation normal. Largemouth bass fair to good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. White bass fair to good trolling with shad wrap, crankbaits and sassy shad in the upper end. Paddlefish snagging fair in the lower end of the lake. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Mayes County.

Hulah: Elevation 1 ft. below normal and clear. Crappie good and starting to move into shallow waters near rocky banks on chartreuse or black/pink tube jigs. White bass fair in the same areas as crappie. Catfish fair to good on jug lines in or near the river channel. Report submitted by Marni Loftis, game warden stationed in Washington County.

Kaw: Elevation normal, water 55 and clear. Crappie have transitioned into a spring pattern on Kaw. Crappie are being caught as shallow as 5 ft. around the fishing dock in Osage Cove and Coon Creek. In the warmer days of mid-March, the crappie will move into 2-5 ft. in preparation to spawn around rocky banks or brush close to the surface. Crappie can be caught around both marinas, the riprap around Washunga Bay Bridge, Beaver and Otter creeks from the shoreline, by wading or from a small boat. Anglers have been catching crappie on minnows. Using 1/8 oz. jigs with two-inch bodies in black and green on 10 lb. super line. Blue catfish excellent on juglines baited with fresh-cut bait at 5-10 ft. in close proximity to the channel and in the upper portion of the lake and on trotlines baited with cut bait. Any type of rough fish will work as bait, as long as it is fresh. Channel catfish are being caught in the upper Arkansas River. Fishing below Kaw dam has slowed with the recent lack of wat er. A few white bass are showing up while a few paddlefish have been caught over the weekend. If you are traveling from out of state to paddlefish or from out of town you should wait until there is a significant release of water. White bass are being caught in the upper portions of Kaw Lake in small numbers. The old Vickery ranch area on upper Otter Creek has been the best producer. A map to this area is available in the public lands atlas, available at wildlifedepartment.com. White bass spawn when the water temperature is between 50 and 55, about the same time the redbuds starts blooming. There are fish to be caught during spring break in the Arkansas River around the river bridge east of Newkirk, upstream and downstream. Report submitted by Larry Green, game warden stationed in Osage County.

Keystone: Elevation normal, water 60 and murky. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits at 3-8 ft. off secondary points in coves and creeks. Smallmouth bass good on crankbaits and jig and chunk at 3-8 ft. in gravel banks in coves. Spotted bass good on spinnerbaits and six-inch worms at 3-8 ft. inside points off main lake coves. White bass good on rooster tails and 1/8 oz chartreuse grubs at 4-8 ft. up rivers and creeks. Striped bass below the dam good on sassy shad and buck tails at 2-4 ft. when discharging. Striped bass in the lake are fair on swim baits and live shad at 5-10 ft. upriver. Channel catfish good on worms and shrimp at 4-8 ft. in shallow coves and creeks. Blue catfish good on shad and worms at 5-10 ft. inside points on coves up river. Flathead catfish fair on goldfish and live shad at 8-12 ft. along riprap areas and steep cove banks. Crappie excellent on minnows and jigs at 4-15 ft. at a 45 degree angle from the bank in coves in the morning. Report submitted  by Larry Sellers, Woody's Bait and Tackle.

Oologah: Elevation 1/3 ft. above normal, water mid 50s on the lower end of the lake to low 60s on the upper end and clear. White bass good on yellow and white jigs in the Verdigris River above the lake. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs in the river at 6-10 ft. In the main lake, crappie fair on minnows and jigs in creeks around standing timber and brush piles at 10-15 ft. Blue catfish fair on juglines baited with shad. Largemouth bass fair on jigs and spinnerbaits in the back of creeks along south-facing banks. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.

Sooner: Largemouth bass fair shallow. White bass good at 12-14 ft. trolling off points and fair on the discharge channel on sassy shad and topwater lures. Catfish good on cut and live bait in the discharge channel and fair off Hwy 15 on cut and live bait. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County.

Spavinaw: Elevation slightly below normal, water 52 and clear. Crappie good on jigs and minnows around the dam area. Largemouth bass fair using spinnerbaits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.

Webbers Falls: Elevation normal and murky. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits in creek channels and along riprap. Channel catfish good on cut bait and stinkbait on bottom. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 8-12 ft. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

NORTHWEST

Canton: Elevation 7 ft. below normal. White bass and walleye good along the dam in the evenings. Crappie good around brush piles. Channel catfish good along red bluffs. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County.

Ft. Supply: Elevation normal. White bass fair on jigs and spoons shallow. Crappie fair on jigs and spinners along the dam and gate tower. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Harper County.

SOUTHEAST

Arbuckle: Elevation normal, water 57-59 and clear. White bass good up creeks using rattletraps and grubs. Crappie good off brush piles and docks. Bass good using spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jigs. Report submitted by Jack Melton.

Blue River: Elevation normal, water 62 and clear. Largemouth bass slow on minnows and flies. Catfish fair on liver and worms. Trout fair to good on power bait, super dupers, rooster tails and meal worms. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.

Broken Bow: Elevation normal and clear. Walleye good along the Narrows and upstream from Panther Creek on Witches Brew grubs and 1/4 ounce jig heads or rogues. White bass staging and starting their annual run up the Mt. Fork being caught on an assortment of different colored grubs depending on the day. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass good on crankbaits off points and mouths of creeks, with crawdad being the preferred color. Crappie beginning to bite on minnows and jigs along standing timber on the upper end of the lake. Catfish are pepping up and being caught on juglines and trotlines baited with sunfish. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Eufaula: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass fair on jerk baits or soft plastics at 3-6 ft. White bass fair on jigs in feeder creeks. Blue catfish fair on shad at 4-10 ft. on the flats. Crappie fair on minnows at 4-10 ft. around docks and along I-40 riprap. Report submitted Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.

Hugo: Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 52 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and rattletraps. Crappie fair on minnows and light-colored jigs. Blue catfish fair on cut bait and chicken liver, White bass good on jigs and rooster tails. Report submitted by Wendell Smalling, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.

Konawa: Elevation normal, water 62 and clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits and plastic worms in creek channel and weed beds at 5-10 ft. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair on minnows and jigs in the discharge channel at 15 ft.  Catfish good on chicken liver in the discharge channel at 15 ft. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.

McGee Creek: Elevation normal, water 53 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on soft plastic lures fished over submerged humps. White bass fair on grubs fished along windy points. Crappie fair to good on minnows fished in submerged cedar trees off main creek channels. Report submitted by Joe Young, game warden stationed in Atoka County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: The trout fishing has been in a lull for the last few days. Even though the fishing is a bit slow, good anglers are catching fish. Zone 2 has been excellent at times, other times it appears to be dead. You just have to hit it right. Its difficult to form a pattern, when the fishing is slow, but most productive flies have been small soft hackles, various mayfly and caddis imitations. Larger streamers have worked well in zone 2 at times. Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Murray: Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 58 and clear. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass good on crankbaits and jigs. White bass good on jigs and crankbaits. Crappie slow. Walleye being caught with jigs. Report submitted by Jeremy Brothers, game warden stationed in Carter County.

Pine Creek: Elevation normal and clear. Bass excellent on soft plastics at 2-8 ft. Crappie fair on jigs. Catfish good on pole and line with liver or night crawlers. White bass fair in the upper river channel on white and chartreuse roadrunners. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Robert S. Kerr: Elevation below normal, water 58 and murky. Largemouth bass good at 2-5 ft. using spinnerbaits and plastic baits fishing the weed and woody shoreline structure. Crappie good at 2 ft. using minnows fishing the weed and woody spawning areas. White bass good using shad imitation baits fishing in the lower portions of the spawning tributaries. Blue catfish fair at 15-20 ft. using fresh cut shad fishing the edge of the creeks and river channel. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Sardis Lake: Largemouth bass fair in creeks and around islands. White bass good on grubs and sassy shad in Jack Fork Creek. Blue catfish fair on cut bait. Crappie good on minnows around bridges and tower and in creeks on grubs. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.

Texoma: Elevation is slightly below normal, water 51 and clear. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass fair to good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits at 10-15 ft. in the creeks. Striped bass and white bass fair to good on live bait and sassy shad at 15-20 ft. deep at Washita point. Channel and blue catfish fair on cut shad at 15-20 ft. in the Washita River arm. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. in Kansas and Widow Moore creeks. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.

Wister: Elevation normal and murky. Largemouth bass good on shad-colored crankbaits. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 8 ft. Channel catfish good on cut shad. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.

SOUTHWEST

Ellsworth: Elevation 13 ft. below normal and murky. Crappie slow around boathouses and docks. Catfish fair off rocky points with cut bait. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.

Foss: Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water 35 and clear. Striped bass hybrids fair. Walleye fair around dam. Crappie fair. Bass slow. Catfish good. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.

Ft. Cobb: Elevation 1 2/3 ft. below normal. Crappie slow around marina and boat slips and near brush. Saugeye slow along east end of dam. Catfish slow. Report submitted by James Edwards Jr., game warden station in Caddo County.

Waurika: Elevation below normal, water 50 and murky. White bass good on live bait. Catfish good on live bait. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around rocky structure. Report submitted by Phillip Cottrill, game warden stationed in Jefferson County.

Waterfowl Report for March 21, 2007

Duck season is closed. Conservation Order Light Goose Season (COLGS) is open through March 31. For zone maps and complete waterfowl hunting regulations log on to wildlifedepartment.com.

NORTHEAST

Ft. Gibson: Lake level is 0.88 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 is low, with low success.

Webbers Falls: Lake level is 2.47 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 is low, with low success.