FISHING REPORT
FOR MARCH 25, 2009
CENTRAL
Arcadia: Largemouth bass fair on black power bait worms at 10-12 ft. Blue
catfish good on shad and punch baits around the dam at night. Crappie fair
to good at the heated dock and at 10-12 ft. near the river channel in
standing timber. Report submitted by Mark Murray, game warden stationed in
Oklahoma County.
Overholser: Elevation normal, water clear. White bass fair on jigs, shrimp
and crawdads on bottom along the windy shorelines, around the crappie dock
on the west side of the lake and below the dam. Striped bass hybrids fair on
jigs, shrimp and crawdads on bottom along the windy shorelines and below the
dam. Channel catfish fair on stinkbaits and cut baits from the banks.
Crappie fair at the crappie docks on the west side of the lake. Report
submitted by Ron Comer, game warden stationed in Canadian County.
Thunderbird: Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal and clear. Crappie good on small
minnows and jigs at 4-8 ft. around structure. Largemouth bass fair on tandem
spinnerbaits in shallow coves on structure. Channel catfish fair on cut bait
and stinkbait off points. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden
stationed in Cleveland County.
Wes Watkins: Water 54-59 and murky. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits,
rattletraps and assorted soft plastic lures. Crappie fair on minnows and
jigs in the timbered area. White bass good trolling at 8-9 ft. along north
shoreline around the dam area. Catfish good on chicken livers, bait shrimp,
worms and minnows. Report submitted by M. Fowler.
NORTHEAST
Birch: Water 53 and clear. Largemouth bass good on jerk baits and
spinnerbaits at 6-8 ft. White bass and striped bass hybrids good on sassy
shad and jigs up creek channels. Crappie fair on minnows 12-15 ft over
structure. Channel catfish good on worms below the dam. Report submitted by
Spencer Grace, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Carl Blackwell: Elevation 2 ft. below normal, water 59 and murky. Crappie
fair on minnows and jigs suspended at 14 ft. Crappie fair on crankbaits
chrome or white colors around rock structure. Report submitted by Jon
Cunningham, game warden stationed in Payne County.
Chandler: Elevation below normal, water clear. Channel catfish good on
shrimp. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln
County.
Copan: Elevation is below normal and clear. Crappie good on minnows and jigs
at 4-6 ft. near submerged structure. Blue catfish fair on cut shad and
worms. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in
Washington County.
Eucha: Elevation normal, water 55 and murky. Crappie good on jigs and
minnows at 10-14 ft. around brush and structure. Largemouth bass fair on
suspended jerk baits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa
Fisheries.
Ft. Gibson: Elevation is 1/2 ft. above normal, water 48 and murky. White
bass good above Mission Bend area on white three inch grubs and jigs.
Crappie fair on jigs and minnows at 10-20 ft.; they moving shallower in a
pre-spawn pattern. Largemouth bass good on jig and pig combinations and
spinnerbaits. Report Submitted by Rick Stafford with 3riverguideservice.com
Grand: Upper end: Elevation slightly below normal, water 49 in lake and 60
in rivers and clear to murky. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits,
rattletraps, rogues and finesse jigs. White bass good on white rooster
tails, white grubs and chartreuse, sparkle grubs in upper rivers. Channel,
blue and flathead catfish good on shad, brooders and night crawlers at 40
ft. and on secret seven dip bait around log jams in rivers. Crappie good on
minnows, shiners, Grandpa's jigs in blue/white, purple, yellow/tan/white and
Bobby Garland bait at 17 ft. around docks and brush piles. Paddlefish good
from Sailboat Bridge moving up rivers. Report submitted by Grand Lake Sports
Center.
Greenleaf: Elevation normal, water clear. Largemouth bass good on
spinnerbaits, crankbaits and beavertail worms along creek channels and rocky
points. Catfish good on fresh cut bait near spillway and upper creek
channel. Crappie fair on minnows and yellow/white jigs at fishing docks and
brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in
Muskogee County.
Hulah: Elevation normal and murky. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 4-6
ft near submerged structure. Blue and channel catfish fair below the dam on
cut shad. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in
Washington County.
Kaw: Blue catfish good in Coon Creek area on juglines, trotlines, and rod
and reel fishing with cut shad at 6-15 ft. Channel catfish good in upper end
of lake in bear creek and Arkansas River on stink bait and shad. White bass
fair in Arkansas River on 1/16th and 1/8th ounce white or chartreuse
roadrunners. White bass also fair in tailwaters during times of water
release. Crappie good in Otter and Beaver Creek at 4-8 ft. on black and
chartreuse jigs and minnows fished around brush piles. Paddlefish are just
starting to move up below the dam fishing is still slow with a few being
caught so far. Report submitted by Marshall Reigh, game warden stationed in
Grant and Kay counties.
Keystone: Elevation 3/4 ft. above normal and rising, water murky to muddy.
Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and jig and chunkbaits at 3-8 ft. in
creeks and backs of coves. Smallmouth bass slow on crankbaits and small jig
and chunkbaits at 6-10 ft. around gravel banks in coves. Spotted bass fair
on crankbaits and small jig and chunkbaits at 6-10 ft. around steep banks in
coves. White bass fair on minnows, jigs and roadrunners at 3-6 ft. along
creeks up the rivers. Striped bass fair on sassy shad and bucktails at 3-6
ft. below the dam. Channel catfish good on worms and liver at 4-8 ft. in
creeks. Blue catfish good on cut shad and shad heads at 8-12 ft. in the
coves off the main lake. Flathead catfish fair on live shad at 8-12 ft.
along riprap. Crappie good on minnows and black and chartreuse jigs at 4-12
ft. in the coves. Report submitted by Woody's Bait and Tackle.
Lower Illinois: Elevation normal, water 56 and clear. Largemouth bass fair
on crankbaits at 2 ft. in coves and creek channels. White bass fair on jigs
and rooster tails at 1-2 ft. in coves. Striped bass fair on jigs at 2-3 ft.
from Gore Landing to the mouth of the river. Channel catfish fair on cut
bait on bottom all along the river. Crappie fair on jigs at 1-2 ft. in
coves. Trout excellent on rooster tails at 1-2 ft. at Gore Landing, on power
bait on bottom at the dam and Watt's and on flies on the surface at the
river access. Report submitted by D. Tracy, Town of Gore.
Oologah: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water in lower 50's and murky. White
bass have started to run up the Verdigris River above the lake and are fair
on jigs. Crappie fair in the river and in creeks around the lake on minnows
and jigs around brush at 10- 15 ft. White bass, crappie and striped bass
hybrids below the dam on jigs. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden
stationed in Rogers County.
Pawhuska Lake: Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water 50. Trout excellent on
power bait, marshmallows, and corn with 12-16 inch leaders and fair on
in-line spinnerbaits; also good on olive wooly buggers and prince nymphs.
Report submitted by Spencer Grace, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Skiatook: Elevation below normal, water 50s and murky. Largemouth bass fair
on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. White bass fair on soft plastic lures and
spinnerbaits around windy points. Striped bass hybrids fair on soft plastic
lures and spinnerbaits around windy points. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs
at 8-12 ft. in creek channels. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden
stationed in Osage County.
Sooner: Crappie fair on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Doug
Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County.
Tenkiller: Elevation 1ft.above normal, water 56 and clear. Largemouth bass
slow on crankbaits or soft plastic jigs with some action in upper end of
lake. Crappie fair on plastic tube jigs at 15-20 ft. in upper end in brush
piles. White bass good on spinnerbaits, spoons or jigs and on crankbaits,
some days from Standing Rock to Horseshoe Bend. Report by Monte Brooks
Cookson Village Resort.
Webbers Falls: Elevation normal, water murky. Largemouth bass good on
spinnerbaits, crankbaits and power bait in creek channels and riprap.
Catfish good on fresh cut bait on bottom. Crappie good on minnows and purple
jigs around bridges and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson,
game warden stationed in Muskogee County.
NORTHWEST
Canton: Elevation normal. Walleye good along the dam after sundown on jigs
and crankbaits. White bass fair in river above lake on jigs and roadrunners.
Striped bass hybrids and channel catfish good along Thunder Road on crawdad
tails, shad guts and shrimp. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden
stationed in Blaine County.
Ft. Supply: Elevation normal, water clear. White bass fair on jigs and
spinnerbaits along the dam. Walleye fair to good on large minnows along the
bank. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in
Woodward County.
SOUTHEAST
Arbuckle: Elevation 4 3/4 ft. below normal, water 58-61 and stained. White
bass on 1/4 oz. rattletraps up Guy Sandy at 4 ft. Crappie moving to shallows
on jigs along shore at 4-6 ft. Bass shallow on spinnerbaits, soft plastics
and crankbaits. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Blue River: Elevation below normal, water 60 and clear. Trout slow on power
bait and in-line spinnerbaits. Fly-fishing fair on black wooly buggers, and
San Juan worms. Smallmouth and spotted bass fair on soft plastics and small
crankbaits. Channel catfish fair on stink bait and chicken liver. Report
submitted by Charles Baker, technician at the Blue River Public Fishing and
Hunting Area.
Broken Bow: Elevation rising, water murky. Largemouth and smallmouth bass
fair on crawdad colored crankbaits at 10-12 ft. around structure. White bass
are running. Walleye good on jigs and rogues in the upper end of the lake.
Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Eufaula: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water clear. Largemouth bass good
on jerk baits and plastic lures in shallow rocky areas. Blue catfish fair on
fresh shad in shallow flats. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 4-8 ft. and
from the surface to 2 ft. in the extreme north and south ends of the lake.
Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: Elevation normal, water 54. Crappie and white bass good on minnows
around the button brush. Largemouth bass fair on plastics and spinnerbaits.
Catfish fair on cut bait. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden
stationed in Choctaw and Bryan counties.
Konawa: Elevation normal, water 63 and clear. Largemouth bass very good on
plastic worms at 4-6 ft. along the outside edge of the cattails. White bass
and striped bass hybrids good on slabs and shad at 15 ft. in the discharge
canal. Channel catfish fair on chicken liver at 15 ft. in the discharge
canal. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole
County.
Lower Mountain Fork River: The powerhouse has been running daily. This
forces all the anglers into the upper reaches of zone 1. Lately many of the
stocked trout have been released into zones 2 and 3, which has been mostly
unfishable. Last week during the cool, rainy period we had lots of blue
winged olive mayflies hatching. This week the hatch has been mostly march
browns, midges, and caddis. Report submitted by Beavers Bend Fly Shop.
McGee Creek: Elevation 13 1/2 inches below normal, water 55 and clear.
Largemouth bass fair to good on spinnerbaits fished in standing timber at
6-8 ft. in upper end of lake. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden
stationed in Atoka County.
Pine Creek: Elevation below normal, water clear. Bass good on watermelon red
baby brush hogs and other soft plastics, the most success is working the
Texas-rigged lures slowly across the bottom. Crappie great on minnows at 4-5
ft. near brush along the banks. Catfish good on trotlines baited with cut
shad. White bass great on white roadrunners. Report submitted by Mark
Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Sardis Lake: Bass good on chatter bait, spinnerbaits and plugs in grass beds
or shallows up to 6-7 ft. Crappie excellent on minnows off of Jack Fork
Bridge and on live minnows off of tower and on pink grubs or green and black
over brush piles. Flathead catfish slow on juglines or trotlines with live
bait. Blue and channel catfish fair on juglines and trotlines with cut bait
or shrimp. White bass being caught on grubs, starting to stage in creeks.
Walleye fair on white grubs up creek channels also fair trolling around
islands with rattletraps. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden
stationed in Pushmataha County.
Texoma: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water and clear. Largemouth and
smallmouth bass fair to good on plastic combination baits in the creek
channels. Striped and white bass fair to good on live bait and slabs from
catfish bay south. Channel and blue catfish fair to good on live bait and
cut bait from platter flats north. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs
around underwater brush piles. Sunfish good on worms around the fishing
docks. Paddlefish fair below the dam. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game
warden stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass good on
dark plastics baits at points and drop-offs. White bass good on white
roadrunners and rattletraps in the upper Poteau River below dam area.
Crappie fair to good on small spinnerbaits and pink jigs around brush piles,
good on minnows and pink jigs below dam area. Channel catfish good on cut
shad and liver and with juglines baited with red worms below dam area.
Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
SOUTHWEST
Ellsworth: Elevation 3 ft. below normal. Crappie good around boat house at
Ralph's Resort. Catfish fair off rocky points. Report submitted by Mike
Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
Foss: Elevation normal, water 53 and clear. One gate open. Crappie fair on
live bait. Striped bass hybrids fair. Catfish fair. White bass fair. Report
submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.
Ft. Cobb: Elevation 1/3 ft. above normal. Crappie slow to fair around
marina. Saugeye slow to fair along east end of dam. Catfish slow to fair on
cut baits. Report submitted by James L. Edwards Jr., game warden stationed
in Caddo County.
Lawtonka: Elevation 2 1/2 ft. below normal. Crappie good on jigs at the dam.
Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
Waurika: Elevation slightly below normal, water murky. Blue catfish fair on
juglines with shad. Crappie good on minnows and jigs on rocks at Wichita
Ridge and Chisholm boat ramp and the marina. Report submitted by Phillip
Cottrill, game warden stationed in Cotton County.
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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