FISHING REPORT FOR APRIL 1, 2009
Central
Arcadia: Blue catfish and channel catfish fair off rocky points and the dam
on punch bait and shad. Crappie are moving up to spawn and can be caught at
5-10 ft. on minnows or jigs. Bass fair on minnows, jigs and slow moving
plastic baits. White bass fair near the channel on the south end of the lake
and can also be caught trolling in the Deep Fork south of the turnpike on
Mepps spinners and rooster tails. Report submitted by Mark Murray, game
warden stationed in Oklahoma County.
Overholser: Elevation normal, water clear. Crappie being caught below the
dam on minnows and jigs. Striped bass hybrids being caught on jigs, crawdad
and shrimp. Channel catfish being caught from the bank on cut bait and
stinkbait. 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. on structure. Largemouth bass fair on tandem
spinners 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 53-59 and murky to slightly muddy in feeder creeks and in
the west end of the lake. Largemouth bass fair to good on spinnerbaits,
rattletraps and assorted soft plastics at 4-6 ft. Crappie fair on minnows
and jigs around structure. White bass fair to good trolling along north
shoreline. Catfish good on chicken livers, bait shrimp and worms. Report
submitted by M. Fowler.
Northeast
Bell Cow: Elevation below normal, water clear. Crappie fair on jigs. Report
submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.
Birch: Water 42 and stained. Largemouth bass slow on crankbaits and
spinnerbaits at 8-12 ft. White bass and striped bass hybrids slow on sassy
shad and jigs up creek channels. Crappie fair on minnows 12-15 ft. over
structure. Channel catfish good on worms and cut bait below the dam. Report
submitted by Spencer Grace, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Carl Blackwell: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 54 and murky. Crappie
fair on minnows and jigs at 12-18 ft. Saugeye fair trolling with crankbaits.
Catfish fair on cut bait. Report submitted by Jon Cunningham, game warden
stationed in Payne County.
Chandler: Elevation below normal, water clear. Channel catfish good on
shrimp. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Gary Emmons,
game warden stationed in Lincoln County.
Copan: Elevation 3 ft. above normal and murky. Crappie slow on minnows and
jigs at 6-8 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 1/2 ft. above normal, water 53 and murky. Crappie fair on
jigs and minnows around brush and structure at 14-16 ft. Largemouth bass
good off rocky points using spinnerbaits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore,
City of Tulsa Fisheries.
Ft. Gibson: Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water 51 and murky. White bass
good in the river using white grubs, jigs and rattletraps in the Chouteau
Bend Area. Largemouth bass real good with crankbaits and jig and pig
combinations. Crappie fair at 10-12 ft. on jigs and minnows in brush. Report
submitted by Rick Stafford
Grand: Upper end: Elevation slightly below normal, water 50-58 in the rivers
water murky to clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits and jigs at 10-20
ft. all over the lake. White bass good on pearl white jigs, chartreuse
sparkle jigs and rooster tails in the upper rivers. Channel, blue and
flathead catfish good on shad, brooders and shad guts at 40 ft. along
channels and bluffs and on secret seven dip bait in rivers and log jams.
Crappie good on minnows, shiners, Grandpa's jigs, Bobby Garland's and tube
skirts at 20-23 ft. Paddlefish very good from Twin Bridges to Miami. Report
submitted by Grand Lake Sports Center.
Greenleaf: Elevation normal, water clear. Largemouth bass fair on
spinnerbaits, crankbaits and beavertail worms along creek channels, rocky
points and shorelines. Catfish good on fresh cut bait on bottom. Crappie
fair on minnows and jigs around fishing docks and brush structure. Report
submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.
Hudson: Elevation 1 ft. above normal. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits,
plastic baits and small crankbaits. White bass good on small lures. Crappie
good on minnows and jigs. Paddlefish fair to good in the upper end of the
lake. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Rogers
and Mayes counties.
Hulah: Elevation 4 ft. above normal and murky. Crappie good on minnows and
jigs at 6-8 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: White bass and striped bass hybrids being caught below the dam on jigs
and jerk baits. Report submitted by Marshall Reigh, game warden stationed in
Grant and Kay counties.
Lower Illinois: Elevation normal, water 55 and clear. Largemouth bass fair
crankbaits and sink baits at 1-2 ft. all along the river. White bass fair on
jigs at 1-2 ft. all along the river. Striped bass fair on jigs at 1-3 ft.
from Gore Landing to the mouth of the river. Channel catfish good on cut
bait on bottom all along the river. Blue catfish fair on cut bait on bottom
around the dam. Crappie fair on jigs at 1-2 ft. from Gore Landing to the
mouth of the river. Trout excellent on flies at surface, rooster tails at
1-2 ft. and power bait on bottom all along the river. Report submitted by D.
Tracy, Town of Gore.
Oologah: Elevation 2 ft. above normal and rising. Water temp in lower 50's.
Water muddy on the north end and murky on the south end. Crappie fair in
creek channels around standing timber and around brush piles on jigs at
10-15 ft. White bass fair on jigs in creeks running into the lake. Crappie,
white bass and striped bass hybrids fair on jigs below the dam. Report
submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.
Pawhuska Lake: Elevation 3 ft. above normal, water 41. Trout fair on power
bait, marshmallows, and corn with 12-16 inch leaders and fair on in-line
spinnerbaits and good on olive wooly buggers. Report submitted by Spencer
Grace, game warden stationed in Osage County. Report submitted by Spencer
Grace, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Skiatook: Elevation 3 1/4 ft. above normal, water mid-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: Fishing in the discharge channel is slow. White bass good in the
main part of the lake on slabs and live shad. Crappie good on minnows and
jigs. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble
County.
Spavinaw: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water 55 and murky. 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 normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on
crankbaits and spinnerbaits along riprap and creek channels. Catfish good on
fresh cut bait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and purple 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 after sundown on jigs
and crankbaits. White bass good in river and beaver ponds. Striped bass
hybrids good along Thunder Road on crawdad tails, shrimp and night crawlers.
Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County.
Southeast
Arbuckle: Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water 57-60 and stained w/ algae
bloom. Crappie hitting chartreuse jigs around brush and off docks. White
bass are in 5 ft. up 2/3 rds way up creeks on rattletraps or curly tailed
grubs. Bass are hitting crankbaits, Carolina rigged lizards and suspended
jerk baits. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
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 and at 6-20 ft. Crappie good on minnows and jigs
at 2-3 ft. in the extreme north and south ends of the lake and 4-10 ft. in
the deep parts of lake. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden
stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: Elevation 2 ft. above normal and rising, water 54. Fishing has slowed
down due to the cold front. Crappie and bass fair on minnows around
structure. Catfish good on cut bait and stinkbait on the main lake. Report
submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw and Bryan
counties.
Konawa: Elevation normal, water 59 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on
crankbaits along points at 5-8 ft. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game
warden stationed in Seminole County.
Lower Mountain Fork River:. The powerhouse has not been overly active
lately, giving anglers a chance to fish in zone 2 and zone 3. Zone 2 has
been a tough nut to crack lately. It seems that if you can solve the puzzle
in zone 2 and catch a few fish you are an accomplished angler. Flies to try
are March browns, blue winged olives, caddis and midges. Report submitted by
Beavers Bend Fly Shop.
McGee Creek: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 55 and clear. Largemouth
bass fair to good on spinnerbaits fished in standing timber at 4-7 ft. in
upper end of lake. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed
in Atoka County.
Murray: Elevation 4 ft. below normal. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted
bass good on various baits. White bass good on jigs and topwater baits early
morning or late evening. Channel catfish slow on stinkbaits and worms.
Crappie fair on minnows and jigs. Walleye fair on minnows and jigs. Report
submitted by Jeremy Brothers, game warden stationed in Carter County.
Pine Creek: Elevation normal water murky. Bass have slowed down but can
still be caught on soft plastics by slowly rolling them across the bottom.
Crappie good on blue/white jigs at 10 ft. Catfish fair on liver. Report
submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Robert S. Kerr: Elevation normal, water 59 and murky and muddy in and around
the main tributaries such as Sans Bois Creek. Crappie good at the first of
the week but slowed down due to cold weather. The crappie are biting on
minnows and jigs at the big Sans Bois arm and at the old coal pits. Blue
catfish good biting on fresh shad at fresh cut bait at 10 ft. and also are
found in the shallow water at 3-4 ft. in several coves. White bass are rated
as fair and are hitting minnows and jigs and spinners. Largemouth bass fair
along steep rocky points located near shallow coves and soft baits and
crankbaits. Report submitted by Leland Sockey, game warden stationed in
Haskell County.
Sardis Lake: Elevation normal, water 56 and clear. Bass good in grass beds
or shallows up to 6 to 7 feet deep on chatter bait, spinner baits and plugs.
Crappie excellent off of Jack Fork bridge with minnows and off of tower on
live minnows, and on brush piles using pink grubs or green and black.
Flathead catfish slow on live bait on jugs or trotlines. Blue and channel
catfish fair on jugs and trotlines on cut bait or shrimp. White bass
starting to stage in creeks good on grubs. Walleye fair up creek channels
using white grubs also fair trolling around islands on rattletraps. Report
submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
Texoma: Elevation normal, water 56 and clear. Striped and white bass fair to
good on live bait in south half of lake. Largemouth and small mouth bass
fair to good on combination plastic baits around the creek channels. Channel
and blue catfish fair to good on cut shad from the highway 70 bridge north.
Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs around underwater structures.
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 and spinnerbaits at points and drop-offs. White bass good on
white road runners and rattletraps, upper Poteau River below dam area and
little money maker. Crappie good with small spinners and pink jigs around
brush piles, good on minnows and pink jigs below dam area. Channel catfish
good on cut shad and liver with jugs baited with red worms below dam area.
Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
Southeast
Altus-Lugert: Elevation 7 1/2 ft. below normal and rising very slowly.
Crappie and walleye fair to good. Striped bass hybrids fair to good. Report
submitted by Sue Hokanson, Quartz Mountain State Park.
Foss: Elevation normal, water 50 and clear. One gate open. Walleye fair on
small jigs and live bait. White bass fair. Report submitted by Eric Puyear,
B & K Bait House.
Ft. Cobb: Elevation 1/3 ft. above normal and falling. Catfish slow to fair
on cut baits. Crappie slow to fair still in deeper water. Striped bass
hybrids slow to fair. Report submitted by James L. Edwards, Jr., game warden
stationed in Caddo County.
Waurika: March 30. Elevation 1 ft. below normal and murky. Blue catfish good
on juglines baited with cut shad and on rod and reel with punch bait.
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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