New Kaw lake record
flathead hooked
If Lesley McNeff of Mustang had caught her 78 lb. flathead catfish from Kaw
Lake this time last year, she may have been the only one to cherish the
sweet memory, but since she caught it March 8 of this year, the big cat will
go down in the record books.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation initiated its Lake Record
Fish Program in February, 2008, to recognize the biggest fish from a number
of lakes across the state, as well as the anglers who reel them in.
McNeff’s catfish goes down as the first lake record flathead catfish and the
third lake record caught since the inception of the program. It was caught
on a trotline baited with whole shad, and McNeff, 25, and her father braved
cold weather to bring home the fish.
“It was really cold,” McNeff said. “It was 19 degrees when we got on the
water.”
The pair checked her father’s trotline first, coming up with three
nice-sized flatheads, then switched to check Lesley’s trotline. There was
only one fish on the trotline, but neither of them expected to find a Kaw
lake record — weighing an even 75 lbs with a length of 51 inches and a girth
of 34.25 inches.
“I was not disappointed that it was the only fish on the line!” McNeff said.
McNeff enjoys running trotlines this time of year with her father, who
learned the art of successful trotline fishing from his father.
“My dad’s the best trotline fisherman I know,” McNeff said. “He knows how
and where to set them, how to run them.”
And McNeff’s father has been showing her the ropes since she was just a
youngster. Her flathead catfish comes after two other lake records were set
in late February. One was a 14 lb., 8 oz. largemouth bass caught by Allen
Gifford, Davis, from Arbuckle Lake, and the other was a 40.1 lb. Grand Lake
blue catfish caught by Illinois resident Denny Halgren.
Besides Kaw Lake, there are currently 12 other major lakes included in the
Lake Record Fish pilot program, including Arbuckle, Broken Bow, Canton,
Eufaula, Ft. Cobb, Grand, Keystone, Sardis, Skiatook, Tenkiller, Texoma and
Thunderbird.
Species eligible for spots in the lake records book include flathead, blue
and channel 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 and are detailed on the Wildlife Department’s Web site at
wildlifedepartment.com.
Anglers who catch a potential record fish 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.
An easily-operated search feature is available on the Web site 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.
All past and current state record fish are registered in the Lake Record
Fish Program as records for their respective lakes.
For more information about the new Lake Record Fish Program, or for more on
bass fishing in Oklahoma, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
Lesley McNeff of
Mustang
FISHING REPORT FOR MARCH 26, 2008
CENTRAL
Draper: Elevation normal and murky. White bass fair to good on sassy shad,
jigs and in-line spinnerbaits at the water pipeline (east dam area). Report
submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in
Cleveland
County.
Thunderbird: Elevation 1 ft. above normal and murky. Crappie fair to good at
8-10 ft. around structure using minnows and small jigs. White bass fair to
good on in-line spinnerbaits, jigs or sassy shad in Little River (on
spawning run). Blue catfish fair to good on trotlines and juglines with cut
bait, sunfish and shad. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden
stationed in Cleveland
County.
NORTHEAST
Birch: Elevation normal, water in the lower 40s and clear. Crappie fair on
minnows and jigs around brush piles at 15-30 ft. Blue catfish good on cut
shad at 10-15 ft. near the creek channels. Striped bass hybrids and white
bass fair on jigs and spinnerbaits up the creeks. Report submitted by
Spencer Grace, game warden stationed in
Osage
County.
Carl Blackwell: Elevation normal, water 51 and murky. Crappie fair on
minnows and jigs. Catfish fair on cut bait. Report submitted by Jon
Cunningham, game warden stationed in
Payne
County.
Eucha: Elevation 1/3 ft. above normal, water 52 and muddy. Recent heavy
rains and muddy water have slowed crappie, but the creeks are flowing clear
water, and crappie action should improve. Largemouth bass continue to be
active, especially on crankbaits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of
Tulsa Fisheries.
Ft.
Gibson: Elevation 23 ft. above normal, water 44
and muddy. Blue catfish good on cut bait and worms in running water and
eddies. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows. Paddlefish good above Highway 412
bridge. Report submitted by Marvin Stanley, game warden stationed in
Wagoner
County.
Grand: Elevation 4 ft. above normal and dropping, water 46-57 and dirty
above Sailboat
Bridge to Horse Creek and
stained from Horse Creek to the dam. Bass fishing is tough with the water
conditions. Crappie slow. Catfish are being caught up in the willows and
flood waters on shad and worms. White bass are hard to catch right now with
both rivers being flooded. Paddlefish being snagged in
Riverview
Park in Miami
and from the mouth of Elk River up to
Osage hollow trolling in boats. Report submitted by Littlefields Sporting
Goods & Greg Lambs Guide Service.
Greenleaf: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal and clear. Largemouth bass good on
crankbaits and spinnerbaits along shoreline and creek channels. Channel
catfish good on stinkbaits and cut baits on bottom. Crappie good on minnows
and jigs at fishing dock and around brush structure. Report submitted by
Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in
Muskogee
County.
Kaw: Elevation 4 ft. above normal, water 52 and muddy. Blue catfish good on
juglines with cut shad and sunfish in Bear, Coon, and Washunga flats at 6-15
ft. White bass slow in the upper end of Beaver and the
Arkansas
rivers. Crappie fair lakewide around brush at 6-20 ft. on minnows and jigs.
Paddlefish snagging is fair to good below the 1,000 ft. marker below Kaw
dam. Report submitted by Tracy Daniel, game warden stationed in
Kay
County.
Lower Illinois: Trout excellent when water is
not running. Recent rains have muddied the stream but very good fishing on
wooly buggers and black nymphs.
Oologah: Elevation 5 ft. above normal, water mid 50s and muddy on north end
to murky on the south end. White bass good on jigs in the
Verdigris
River and Big Creek above
the main lake. Crappie fair in the Big Creek area on minnows. Blue Catfish
good on jugs and drifting with shad on flats in upper areas of the lake at
5-15 ft. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in
Rogers
County.
Pawhuska
Lake: Elevation normal, water in the upper 40s
and clear. Trout excellent on power bait and fair trolling super dupers at
10-20 ft. Spotted bass fair on crappie jigs and spinners at 10-15 ft. Report
submitted by Spencer Grace, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Skiatook: Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water clear. Largemouth bass fair on
crankbaits around rocky points. White bass fair on white sassy shad at
Hominy Creek. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around standing timber and in
creek channels. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in
Osage
County.
Spavinaw: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water 53 and muddy. Crappie fair
on jigs and minnows around the dam. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits.
Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of
Tulsa Fisheries.
Webbers
Falls: Elevation 2 ft. above normal and murky.
Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits along riprap and creek
channels. Channel catfish good on cut baits. Crappie fair on minnows and
jigs around brush structure and bridges. Report submitted by Lark Wilson,
game warden stationed in
Muskogee
County.
NORTHWEST
Canton: Elevation normal. Walleye good along the dam on
crankbaits and jigs. White bass good along dam on crankbaits and jigs.
Channel catfish good on shad and night crawlers. Report submitted by Mark
Walker, game warden stationed in
Blaine
County.
Ft.
Supply: Elevation above normal, water clear.
White bass good on jigs and spinnerbaits along the dam. Crappie good on jigs
and spinnerbaits on the jetties and at the gate. Report submitted by Mark
Reichenberger, game warden stationed in
Harper
County.
SOUTHEAST
Arbuckle: Elevation 4 ft. above normal, water 50 and muddy.
Channel catfish biting good up creeks. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Blue
River: Elevation normal, water 60 and murky to
muddy. Largemouth bass slow on minnows and flies. Channel catfish fair on
liver and worms. Trout excellent on power bait, super dupers, rooster tails
and mealworms. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at Blue River
Public Fishing and Hunting Area.
Broken Bow: Elevation 21 ft. above normal. White bass have been seen in the
upper end of the lake. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed
in McCurtain
County.
Eufaula: Elevation 6 ft. above normal, water clear to the east and murky to
the west. White bass good on jigs below the dam. Blue catfish good on jigs
and shad below the dam. Crappie fair on minnows at 5-10 ft. around I-40
riprap and around brushy areas. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden
stationed in McIntosh
County.
Hugo: Water 49 and muddy. White bass fair on jigs and spinnerbaits. Blue
catfish fair on cut shad below dam. Crappie good on minnows at 10 ft. Report
submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw and
Bryan
Counties.
Konawa: Elevation normal, water 57 and clear. Largemouth bass good on
plastic worms at 4-8 ft. in weed beds and off points. White bass and hybrid
striped bass good on minnows and jigs 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:
Powerhouse has been running "full tilt" around the clock, so fishing in
zones 2 and 3 is not an option; most of zone 1 has been fishable and
producing lots of fish. Any fly resembling a "March Brown" mayfly has been
working; emergers seem to be the best choice. Report submitted by Beavers
Bend Fly Shop.
Pine Creek: Elevation above normal and murky. Bass fair on soft plastics.
Crappie good on minnows around submerged tops and timber. Catfish fair on
chicken liver. White Bass good in upper end of river on chartreuse grubs.
Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in
McCurtain
County.
Robert S. Kerr: Elevation normal, water 55 and murky. Largemouth bass fair
at 5-6 ft. using spinner baits and plastic baits fishing the weed, rock and
woody banks. Crappie fair at 10 ft using minnows drift fishing in the old
creek channels. White bass good using shad imitation lures fishing up in the
major creeks; fish have started moving up the creeks. Blue catfish fair at
3-6 ft. using fresh cut bait fishing the windy shorelines that contain some
cover. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in
Haskell
County.
Sardis
Lake: Elevation 5 ft. above normal and murky.
Largemouth bass slow. White bass fair in creek channels. Channel catfish
good in flooded fields and woods. Crappie fair off bridge on minnows.
Walleye slow. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in
Pushmataha
County.
Texoma: Elevation 2 1/2 ft. above normal, water 50 and murky north and clear
south. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair at 10-20 ft. around the riprap.
Striped and white bass fair on live bait at 10-20 ft. in the coves. Channel
and blue catfish fair on live bait at 10-15 ft. in the upper
Red river. Crappie fair on minnows at 5-15 ft. around underwater
brush and boat docks. Report submitted by Danny Club, game warden stationed
in Bryan
County.
Wister: Elevation 27 ft. above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass good on
soft plastic baits. Crappie good on minnows and jigs below dam. Channel and
blue catfish very good below the dam on shad. Report submitted by Randy
Fennell, game warden stationed in
LeFlore
County.
SOUTHWEST
Altus-Lugert: Elevation 3 1/2 ft. below normal. Crappie poor. Walleye good
on those too small to keep and fair on keepers. White bass fair for small
fish and poor for larger fish. Report submitted by Sue Hokanson,
Quartz
Mountain
State Park.
Ellsworth: Elevation above normal with two floodgates open. Crappie fair to
good at Ralph's Resort on minnows and jigs. Walleye and saugeye good behind
the dam on minnows, jigs and spoons. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game
warden stationed in Comanche
County.
Foss: Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal, water 47 and clear. Walleye slow. When
water temp rises above 50 degrees, walleye should be spawning on rocks of
dam. Crappie fair. White bass good; fish moving up river to spawn. Catfish
fair. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.
Ft.
Cobb: Elevation 3/4 ft. above normal. Crappie
slow around marina and boat slips. Saugeye slow along east end of dam.
Catfish slow on cut baits. Report submitted by James Edwards Jr., game
warden stationed in Caddo
County.
Tom Steed: Elevation normal, water 45 and murky. Crappie fair on minnows at
10-15 ft. around the dam. White bass fair on minnows off the points. Report
submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County.
Waurika: Elevation normal, water 46 and murky. Blue catfish fair on juglines
baited with cut bait. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows in the marina, at
Wichita Ridge and at Chisholm Trail Ridge. White bass are being caught off
points and along dam. Report submitted by Phillip Cottrill, game warden
stationed in Jefferson County.
Wintertime Striper Fishing
First Big
Striper of 2008
Introducing Angella:
She is an avid fisherperson and fishes year round, Angella's favorite is
Lake Eufaula and the Lower Illinois River. She is like Okiefish, where ever
her travels take her, she fishes. This picture from a trip to Cozumel,
Mexico. When the fish are biting and where ever, you'll most likely find
Angella close by.
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