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Crappie Fishing rated Fair to Good all over the state!

CENTRAL
 
Arcadia: March 29. Elevation below normal. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows from the heated dock and over brush piles at 12-15 ft. Largemouth bass fair on slow retrieving swim baits at 8-12 ft. Channel catfish and blue catfish good on cut shad and shad guts and punch baits on rocky points and riprap. White bass fair near Memorial Road on white and chartreuse grubs. Report submitted by Mark Murray, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.
 
Arcadia: March 29. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 18-20 ft. over brush piles and from the heated dock. White bass fair on white grubs and spinnerbaits near boat ramps. Channel and blue catfish fair on cut shad near the rocky points and on the dam. Largemouth bass slow. Report submitted by Mark Murray, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.
 
Draper: March 28. Elevation is extremely low, around 10-14 ft below normal; no water being pumped into lake; Fishing activity on Draper is poor. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.
 
Hefner: March 31. Elevation above normal and dropping, water clear. Largemouth bass good on stick baits in shallow water around rocky banks. Smallmouth bass good on stick baits in shallow water around rocky banks.  White bass fair on sassy shads shallow. Hybrid bass fair on sassy shads. Striped bass hybrids fair on sassy shad. Channel and blue catfish good on cut baits deep. Crappie fair on jigs 6-8 feet close to the bank. Walleye good on stick baits and grubs shallow around points and rocks. Report submitted by Lucky Lure Tackle.
 
Overholser: March 29. White bass and hybrid striped bass fair on white and yellow grubs on the west side off the rocks and around docks and on the east around the boat ramp. Crappie fair to good at 2-4 ft. around docks and rocks. Report submitted by Joey Rushing, game warden stationed in Canadian and Oklahoma counties.
 
Thunderbird: March 29. Elevation normal, water 50 and clear. Crappie good on minnows and jigs on brush piles and structure at  7-9 ft. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.
 
Wes Watkins: March 29. Elevation normal, water 55 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and plastic worms. White bass good at 12 ft. Crappie fair on minnows at 8-10 ft.  Report submitted by Mike France, game warden stationed in Pottawatomie County.
 
NORTHEAST
 
Carl Blackwell:  March 29. Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water 49 and muddy. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs. Saugeye fair on jigs. Striped bass hybrids fair on jigs. Report submitted by Jon Cunningham, game warden stationed in Payne County.
 
Chandler: March 29. All fishing slow. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.
 
Copan: March 29. Elevation above normal and clear. Blue catfish fair on worms and cut shad near Washington Cove and Osage Plains. Crappie being caught in the Caney River below the dam and in Cotton Creek. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.
 
Eucha: March 30. Elevation slightly above normal.  Water dingy and 53 degrees.  Crappie have been slow, but with increase in water temperature should improve.  Largemouth have been good with several over 5 pounds caught on spinner baits and rogues over the weekend.  Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.
 
Ft. Gibson: March 29. Elevation 2 1/2 ft. above normal, water 50 and murky. White bass staging in the river and waiting on some warm water, they are slow right now using white grubs and white roostertail. Crappie fair in deep water using minnows and Christmas tree jigs. Largemouth bass still slow on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfish good in the main river in shallow water and below the dam using night crawlers and cut bait. Report submitted by Rick Stafford in Wagoner . Report submitted by Rick Stafford in Wagoner.
 
Grand: March 26. Largemouth bass starting to bite down lake on jerk baits; with the water coming up they should start hitting spinnerbaits. White bass good on shad raps and jigs in Spring River; the river has muddied up so that will slow them up for a few days. Catfish good on cut shad and night crawlers from 2-10 ft. Crappie very good on Grandpa's jigs and Bobby Garland Baby Shad.  Sunfish good on live worms and Gulp Alive Red worms around docks. Report submitted by Littlefield’s Sporting Goods.
 
Greenleaf: March 29. Elevation normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits around rocky pints, shoreline and creek channel. Catfish fair on fresh cut bait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 6-12 ft. around fishing dock and brush structure.  Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.
 
Hudson: March 29. Elevation 4 ft. above normal. White bass good in the upper end of the lake and in tributaries. Paddlefish good in the upper end of the lake.  Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Rogers and Mayes counties.
 
Hulah: March 29. Elevation above normal. Blue catfish are being caught on cut shad and worms. Crappie are being caught with minnows in shallow creeks entering into the lake. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.
 
Kaw: March 29. Elevation above normal, water 51 and stained. Blue and channel catfish fair on juglines with cut bait at 10-20 ft. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 4-15 ft. over structure, some are starting to move up the creeks. White bass and striped bass hybrids slow on jigs up the Arkansas river and Beaver Creek. A major transition should occur this week with the warm temperatures.  Fishermen should try Beaver, Otter, Wolf and Osage Creeks for white bass and crappie making a run up these creeks.  Report submitted by Spencer Grace, game warden stationed in Kay County.
 
Keystone: March 25. Elevation 3/4 ft. above normal and rising. Striped bass and hybrid striped bass fair on shad and large shiners below the dam. Blue catfish good on goldfish and shad below the dam. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. around brush piles and docks around the lake. Report submitted by Woody’s Bait and Tackle.
 
Lower Illinois: March 29. Elevation normal, water 48 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits at 2 ft. White bass fair on jigs at 1-2 ft. Channel catfish good on cut bait on bottom. Crappie slow on jigs at 1-2 ft.  Trout good on flies at the surface, on rooster tails at 1-2 ft. and on power bait on bottom above Gore Landing. Report submitted by D. Tracy, Town of Gore.
 
Oologah: March 29. Elevation 5 ft. above normal and falling. Water murky. Water temp in upper 40's to lower 50's. White bass fair in Verdigris River and Big Creek above the lake on jigs. Crappie fair around standing timber in creeks around the lake at 15 ft. Channel and blue catfish fair on shad on flats near the main river channel at 20 ft. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.
 
Pawhuska Lake: March 8. Trout good on power bait and small spinnerbaits. Report submitted by David Clay, game warden stationed in Osage County.
 
Skiatook: March 29. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water in the upper 40s to lows 50's Bass fair spinnerbaits backs of coves where the water is warmer. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. around structure. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County.
 
Sooner: March 29. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair on sassy shad and live shad.  Catfish good on cut bait off points. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County.
 
Spavinaw: March 30. Elevation slightly above normal. Water dingy and 51 degrees.  Crappie slow, but should improve with increasing water temp. Largemouth fair on spinner baits.Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.
 
Tenkiller: March 29. Elevation normal, water 6 ft. above normal and clear. Largemouth bass slow with some action on finness worms at 4 ft. midlake. Crappie fair in upper end of lake at 15-20 ft. around docks on minnows or jigs. Report by Monte Brooks Cookson Village Resort. For more information about  Lake Tenkiller. <http://www.laketenkiller.com>
 
Webbers Falls: March 29. Elevation 3 ft. above normal. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits along riprap and in creek channels. Catfish fair on fresh cut bait on bottom. Crappie fair on purple jigs and minnows at 6-12 ft. around bridges and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.
 
NORTHWEST
 
Canton: March 29. Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal, water 44 and clear. Walleye good on jigs and crankbaits after sundown. White bass along dam on crankbaits and jigs during late afternoon and evening. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County.
 
Ft. Supply: March 29. Elevation normal and clear. White bass fair on jigs and spinners along riprap.Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Woodward County.
Great Salt Plains:  The fishery is recovering and anglers are catching walleye and channel catfish.
 
SOUTHEAST
 
Lake of the Arbuckles: March 29. Elevation normal, water 51 and stained. White bass along Creek channel bends at 15-25 ft. on spoons with some in upper creek arms on flats. Crappie off docks using minnows and jigs. Bass slow with some action on jigs and crankbaits. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
 
Blue River: March 16. Elevation 1-2 ft. above normal, water 56 and clear to slightly murky. Bass slow to fair on minnows and flies. Channel catfish fair on liver and worms. Trout fair to good on roster tails, super dupers, power bait and mealworms. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.
 
Broken Bow: March 29. Water low 50s and murky in the upper end. Bass good at 6-10 ft.  White bass being caught on white or chartreuse grubs or rooster tails in the Mountain Fork River. Walleye being caught on crawdad colored jigs, witches brew, rogues and crankbaits, about to start the spawning run up to the head of the lake. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
 
Eufaula: March 29. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. above normal and clear. White bass good on the east side of the lake around rocky area on jerk baits and plastic baits and below the dam when water is running and in the feeder creeks when there is a current. Blue catfish fair on shad shallow. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 6-10 ft. along the I-40 riprap, brush piles and around the dock.Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
 
Hugo: March 29. Elevation 2 ft. high and falling slowly. White bass fair above the first shoal. Crappie fair to good on minnows in at 8-12 ft. Blue catfish fair on cut bait. Crappie and blue catfish fair to good on jigs below the dam. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.
 
Konawa: March 29. Elevation normal, water 54 and clear. Largemouth bass fishing good on plastic worms Texas rigged along the cattails at 2-5 ft. White bass fishing fair on jigs and slabs in the discharge canal at 15 ft. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.
 
Lower Mountain Fork River: March 8. Expect muddy water conditions in the Evening Hole and downstream; water should be clear and fishable early in the morning. Last weekend the power house was dormant and folks got a chance to try fishing in Zones 2 and 3 (areas below the old park dam and below the re-regulation dam). Fishing in Zone 2 was said to be poor, while Zone 3 was producing lots of fish. The upper part of Zone 1 was the star of the show; lots of small fish were caught, as well as several fish in the 15-19 inch range. This is a partial list of flies that have been working: Zebra midge, copper john, pheasant tail, wooly bugger, egg patterns, March brown mayfly, blue winged olive mayfly and a host of others. Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.
 
McGee Creek: March 28. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. above normal, water 54 and murky. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 16-25 ft. in creek channels around submerged brush. Largemouth bass fair to good on watermelon colored soft plastic lures and deep running crank baits fished slowly at 16-24 ft.  Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County.
 
Murray: March 29. Elevation normal, water 52 and clear in the main lake and muddy to the north. Largemouth bass slow. White bass good in the northeast area of the lake around Martin's Landing on jigs, minnows and crankbaits. Crappie fair in minnows and jigs close to the banks. Walleye good on jigs and minnows late evening around the dam. Report submitted by Jeremy Brothers, game warden stationed in Carter County.
 
Pine Creek: March 29. Elevation above normal, water murky. Bass good on red rattletraps near rocky structures. Crappie fair an jigs in the river channel near Turkey Creek. Catfish slow. White bass are excellent on white roadrunners in the upper river channel near Pine Knot crossing.  Report submitted by Mark Hannah, Game Warden stationed in McCurtain County.
 
Robert S. Kerr: March 29. Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal, water 55 and murky. Crappie good on minnows and around brush piles and while drift fishing the Big San Bois Creek area. Catfish fair on fresh shad and around break off points between the shallow and the deeper water by the river channels. Largemouth bass and white bass slow. Report submitted by Leland Sockey, game warden stationed in Haskell County.
 
Sardis Lake: March 29. Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water 53. Largemouth bass fair on plastics baits and spinnerbaits. White bass fair on jigs and minnows. Channel catfish slow. Crappie good on jigs and minnows at 16 ft. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
 
Texoma: March 29. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 50 and clear south and murky to muddy north. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair to good in the south part of the lake. Striped and white bass fair to good on live bait and sassy shad from catfish bay to the south. Channel and blue catfish fair to good on worms and cut shad from catfish bay to the north. Crappie fair to good on small minnows and jigs around the fish attractors and boat docks with brush. Paddlefish fair to good below the dam. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
 
Wister: March 229. Elevation 5 1/2 ft. above normal, water 53 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits, worms and jigs. Crappie good on jigs and minnows at 15-25 ft. around structure. White bass good in the upper Poteau River on crankbaits. Channel catfish fair on juglines with cut shad and liver. Flathead catfish fair on sunfish. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
 
SOUTHWEST
 
Altus-Lugert: March 28. Elevation 14 1/2 ft. below normal and rising slowly. Catfish were active around Red Bluff area at the northwest end of the lake. Crappie and walleye being caught off point near the main swim beach and around Hicks mountain Area. Report submitted by Sue Hokanson, Quartz Mountain State Park.
 
Ellsworth: March 28. Elevation normal and murky. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 12-17 ft.  Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County
 
Foss: March 30. Water temp around 45 degrees and clear. Lake level normal and two gates were opened this morning. Crappie good around marina with live bait in deep water. Walleye fair around marina and along dam in 20' to 30' of water. Catfish fair in channels with stink bait. Sand Bass slow. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.
 
Ft. Cobb: March 22. Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water 44 and clear. Catfish slow to fair on cut shad. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs. Saugeye slow on jigs and crankbaits. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by James L. Edwards Jr., game warden stationed in Caddo County.
 
Lawtonka: March 28. Elevation normal and clear. Crappie fair to good at the dam on minnows. All fishing slow. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
 
Tom Steed: March 22. Elevation 3 feet below normal, water 60 and slightly muddy. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 15-20 ft. near the dam. Sand Bass fair on minnows and jigs at Glen Creek. Walleye fair on minnows and jigs along rocks near dam. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County.
 
Waurika: March 15. Water cloudy to clear. Channel and blue catfish on cut shad and stinkbait around windy shores and points. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around fishing docks and rocks. Report submitted by Vince Mesis, game warden stationed in Cotton County.
 

 

Oklahoma Spoonbill Fishing

Dustin Newer

April 2010

These were caught near the Twin Bridges State park fishing with Dempsey’s Guide Service…My fishing partner is a well known OkieFish contributor but I will let her send in the pics of the 60 lber she caught.

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.