Record rainfalls mean fantastic fishing for Sooner anglers

       After the state's wettest March on record, biologists with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation say recent rains are having positive effects on fishing.

       "The amount of rain we had in late March is enhancing the angling action across Oklahoma right now," said Jeff Boxrucker, senior fisheries research biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "The rainfall and more daylight we get this time of year raises water temperatures, which results in more fish activity."

       Not only was it the wettest March on record for Oklahoma, but it also was the second warmest. Oklahoma received about 8.02 inches of precipitation in March.

       Boxrucker said spawning runs of some fish, such as white bass, striped bass and paddlefish, are triggered by water flowing into lakes at this time in the year. The flowing water also replenishes the nutrients in lakes, which is vital for fish production.

       "Also, these warm inflows created from springtime rain drive fish into shallower waters because it's warmer there," Boxrucker said.

       The Department's fishing report this week echoes Boxrucker, with reports that anglers are catching crappie and largemouth bass in shallow water at lakes all across the state.

       Rainfall also plays a role in habitat development in shallow waters. Because of severe drought across the state last year, lake levels stayed low long enough for vegetation to grow.

       "When water levels flood vegetation that has been growing along exposed banks, you end up with great habitat where fish can hide and hunt for food," Boxrucker said. "That creates another fishing opportunity in the shallow waters, especially for anglers who don't have a boat."

       Rain also creates muddy water in creeks and rivers that tend to warm faster and cool slower than clearer water, further increasing fish activity.

       Although last year's drought cycle did not significantly affect fishing, Boxrucker said the recent rains are still a nice relief for state lakes. Many lakes, especially in the eastern portion of the state, are currently at or near normal levels.

       "All kinds of factors are working together this time of year to heat up fish activity and angling opportunities, and now through the next few weeks is when people should get out and cast a line," Boxrucker said.

FISHING REPORT FOR APRIL 4, 2007

CENTRAL

Arcadia: Channel catfish fair on cut bait and shad at the Deep Fork inflow. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around structure. Report submitted by Wade Farrar, state game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.

Hefner: Elevation normal, water 68 and murky. White bass are being caught in the upper end of the lake on jigs and spinners. Channel catfish being caught on worms, liver and cut bit. Walleye are being caught on jigs white and chartreuse in color around rocks and along the dam. Report submitted by Kelly Roberson, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.

Overholser: Water 72 and muddy. Catfish being caught on worms, punch bait and cut bait. Crappie are being caught on tube jigs around the dam. Report submitted by Kelly Roberson, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.

Thunderbird: Elevation 9 ft. below normal and murky. Crappie excellent on minnows and small jigs at 4-8 ft. around structure. Largemouth bass good in coves with warmer water conditions on structure with tandem spinners, medium-diving crankbaits and plastic worms. Saugeye should be hitting on old roadbeds on green sassy shad or jigs. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.

Wes Watkins: Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water 56-67 and very muddy. Largemouth bass good on assorted-colored plastics, spinnerbaits in lighter colors, tubes and sinkoes at 4-6 ft. with some action in the early morning on topwaters. Catfish very good on chicken livers, shrimp, minnows, fresh cut bait and worms. Crappie are being caught on minnows and jigs around dam area and underwater structures and brush piles. White bass are being caught in timbered areas and around main lake trolling with shallow-diving crankbaits. Report submitted by M.M Fowler, St. Gregory's.

NORTHEAST

Birch: Elevation 1 ft. below normal and murky. Largemouth bass fair on artificial lures, crankbaits and spinners. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair on spinners on the north end of the flats. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs along creek channels. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County.

Carl Blackwell: Elevation 2 ft. below normal, water 65 and muddy. Crappie good on minnows and jigs. Striped bass hybrids good trolling with crankbaits and plastic grubs. Catfish fair on cut bait. Report submitted by Jon Cunningham, game warden stationed in Payne County.

Chandler: Elevation below normal and murky. Crappie fair on jigs around the fishing dock and from the bank. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.

Copan: Elevation 4 ft. above normal and muddy. Reservoir release is 715 cubic feet per second. Crappie starting to move into shallow waters and good near rocky banks and brush on chartreuse or black/pink tube jigs and bank fishing on the south end of Washington Cove, East of the boat ramp at Copan Point, the coves and creek around Osage Plains and under Cotton Creek bridge. Catfish fair to good on juglines 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 above normal, water 64 and clear. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around brush and structure. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits and jerk baits. Catfish good on trotlines using worms. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.

Ft. Gibson: Elevation 2 1/2 ft. above normal, water 60 and murky. Largemouth bass good at 6 ft. on spinnerbaits and jig and frog combos around structure, bluffs and off windy points. White bass excellent in the upper end of the lake and in tributaries on inline spinners and twister tail jigs. Channel catfish good at 10-12 ft. in the mud flats and along the edge of creek channels on trotlines and juglines baited with whole or cut shad. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 3-6 ft. around docks. Report submitted Don Cole, game warden stationed in Wagoner County.

Grand: Elevation normal and clear. White bass fair to good on rocky points using spinnerbaits and spoons. Crappie fair to good around baited areas using minnows and jigs. Channel catfish fair to good in lake tributaries using worms and shad guts. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

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

Hudson: Elevation normal. White bass good in the upper end of the lake on small lures. Largemouth bass good at 5-7 ft. on jig and chunk or jig and pig. Paddlefish snagging good on the upper end. Blue and channel catfish fair to good on cut shad on mud flats. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Mayes County.

Hulah: Elevation 7 ft. above normal and muddy. Reservoir release is 26 cubic feet per second. Crappie good and starting to move into shallow waters near rocky banks and brush on chartreuse or black/pink tube jigs. Bank fishing for crappie is currently best in Skull creek, Washashee Park and in the river near Rocky Ford boat ramp marina. 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 8 ft. above normal, water 60 and the lake has crested. White bass very good in Beaver Creek and should remain good for a few days. Crappie excellent above the boat ramp on Beaver Creek. Fishing below dam has been very good for white bass, crappie walleye, blue catfish, channel catfish. The floodgates are open today (4/3/07), which will change the fishing for a few days. Paddlefish are being caught in small numbers below Kaw Dam. Report submitted by Larry Green, game warden stationed in Osage County.

Keystone: Elevation 6 ft. above normal, water 60 and murky to muddy. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits and dark salt craws at 2-6 ft. in creeks and coves off secondary points. Smallmouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits at 4-8 ft. along riprap and points in the Salt Creek Area. Spotted Bass fair on crankbaits and small jigs at 4-8 ft. in main lake pockets. White bass good on 1/8 oz grubs that are white or chartreuse in color at 4-6 ft in creeks feeding the upper end of the lake. Striped bass below the dam fair on sassy shad and buck tails at 2-6 ft. when discharging. Striped bass in the lake fair on swim baits and sassy shad at 4-8 ft. in rivers and creeks in the upper end. Channel catfish good on worms and shrimp at 4-8 ft. in creeks and shallow coves. Blue catfish good on worms, shad and minnows at 4-10 ft. in the mouth of coves. Flathead catfish fair on large minnows and goldfish at 5-10 ft. along riprap. Crappie excellent on minnows and magnum jigs at 2-10 ft. in sunny

, rocky coves. Report submitted by Larry Sellers, Woody's Bait and Tackle.

Oologah: Elevation 6 ft. above normal and rising. Water muddy on the north end and clear on the south end. Water temp in lower 60s. Crappie good in creeks around standing timber and brush piles at 5-8 ft. on minnows and jigs. Blue and channel catfish good on flats in upper areas of the lake at 10 ft. on shad. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits around submerged bushes at 2-5 ft. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.

Skiatook: Elevation 8 ½ ft. below normal, water 63-68 and muddy, but beginning to clear. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass good on spinnerbaits and jigs in shallow water. Crappie fair on minnows, starting to spread out, in creek channels, at docks and Hwy 20 bridge. Catfish fair on cut baits and large minnows, in most of the creeks.

Sooner: Elevation normal. Largemouth bass, white bass, crappie and striped bass hybrids slow, Channel and blue catfish fair off the highway on cut or live bait. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County.

Spavinaw: Elevation slightly below normal, water 65 and clear. Crappie good on jigs and minnows around the dam area. Largemouth bass good using crankbaits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.

Tenkiller: Elevation 1/3 ft. above normal, water 59-60. Largemouth bass slow with some action on bass jigs at 15-20 ft. around drop-offs and around brush at 15-20 ft. White bass good trolling mid-lake to upper end - better in the mornings and good in the upper end on spinners, spoons, or jigs. Crappie fair trolling deep runners mid-lake to upper end in the mornings. Catfish fair on flip-flops at 30-40 ft. on cut shad and some action shallow on minnows.

Webbers Falls: Elevation normal and murky. Largemouth bass good on spinners along shoreline and riprap. Channel catfish good on cut bait on bottom. Flathead catfish good on minnows and jigs at 3 ft. brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

NORTHWEST

Canton: Elevation 6 ft. below normal. Walleye good along dam on jigs and crankbaits. Striped bass hybrids and walleye good near beach area on night crawlers. Channel catfish fair on shad near big bend. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs near brush piles. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County.

Ft. Supply: Elevation normal and clear. White bass fair on spinners along the dam. Channel catfish fair on stinkbait along the dam. Crappie fair on jigs and spinners in the shallows. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Harper County.

SOUTHEAST

Arbuckle: Elevation 3 ft. above normal and rising. Water 64 and muddy. Fishing last week was good on all species. Friday's rain has lake muddy. Report submitted by Jack Melton.

Blue River: Elevation normal, water 60 and muddy. Largemouth bass slow on minnows and flies. Channel catfish slow on stinkbait and liver. Trout slow 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: Largemouth bass good on soft plastics off points and in the mouth of creeks, White bass good on road runners, rooster tails white and yellow in color running up the Mountain Fork River. Walleye fair on 1/4 oz. lead heads and five-inch grubs in the upper end of the Mountain Fork River. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Eufaula: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal and clear to the east and murky to the west. Largemouth bass good on jerk baits at 3-8 ft. in rocky areas. White bass slow. Blue catfish good on shad at 5-10 ft. on the shallow flats. Crappie good on minnows or jigs at 1-5 ft. along the banks. Report submitted Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.

Hugo: Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water 57 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinners and soft plastic lures. Crappie good on live minnows and light-colored jigs. Blue catfish fair on cut bait and liver. White bass good on small spinners and grubs. Report submitted by Wendell Smalling, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.

Konawa: Elevation normal, water 65 and clear. White bass and striped bass hybrids good on minnows and jigs in the discharge canal at 15 ft. Largemouth bass excellent on plastic worms in weed beds and creek channels at 5-8 ft. and on crankbaits along points at 1012 ft. Channel catfish good on chicken liver and stinkbait in the discharge canal at 15 ft. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: Trout slow but being caught on various dry flies. Insects hatching include: caddis, mayflies, crane flies and midges. The powerhouse has been relatively inactive lately. Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

McGee Creek: Elevation 1 1/2 ft. above normal, water 59 and murky. Largemouth bass fair to good on spinnerbaits and soft plastic lures at 2-10 ft. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10-14 ft. over cedar brush. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County.

Murray: Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 60 and clear. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass good on minnows, jigs and crankbaits. Walleye fair off dam on jigs and minnows. Report submitted by Jeremy Brothers, game warden stationed in Carter County.

Pine Creek: Elevation normal and clear. Bass good on soft plastics at 2-8 ft. in the upper end of the lake. Crappie fair on minnows at the old bridge and around timber. Catfish fair on pole and line with liver or night crawlers. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Robert S. Kerr: Elevation above normal, water 68 and murky. Largemouth bass good at 2-5 ft. using spinnerbaits, jerk baits and plastic baits fishing the weed, rock and woody shorelines. Crappie good at 1-3 ft. using minnows fishing the weed and woody shoreline spawning areas. White bass good at 2-6 ft. using shad imitation lures fishing below Webbers Falls Dam and the major creek tributaries around the lake. Blue catfish good at 2-6 ft. using large minnows, fresh cut shad and worms fishing the fresh water flowing into the lake from the major creeks. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Sardis Lake: Bass excellent on spinnerbaits in grass beds. White bass good up creeks on grubs and sassy shad. Blue catfish and flathead catfish fair on trotlines and juglines baited with cut bait. Crappie good on minnows along gravel beds and around bridges. Walleye fair up creeks and around islands on grubs. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.

Texoma: Elevation 1 ft. below normal but rising, water 56 and clear to the south and murky to the north. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass fair to good on deep-diving baits at 5-20 ft. in the south part of the lake. Striped bass and white bass fair to good on live bait, slabs, and sassy shad at 10-20 ft. deep at Washita Point and Platter Flats. Channel and blue catfish fair to good on stinkbait and cut bait at 5-15 ft. in the Washita River. Crappie fair to good on jigs and minnows at 5-15 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 plastic worms. Channel catfish good on liver and cut shad. Flathead good on live sunfish. Crappie good on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.

SOUTHWEST

Altus-Lugert:  Elevation 6 1/2 ft. below normal. White bass good to very good off the main swim beach. Striped bass hybrids good off the main swim beach. Crappie good to very good near the old fish-o-rama. Walleye are now good but most are NOT long enough to keep - must be 18 inches. You may want to check for current depth by going to: http://www.swt-wc.usace.army.mil/ALTU.lakepage.html. Report submitted by Sue Hokanson, Quartz Mountain State Park.

Ellsworth: Elevation 7 ft. below normal and murky. Crappie good at 2-3 ft. on jig and minnows. Catfish good on cut bait around the dam and off rocky points. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.

Foss: Elevation 3 1/2 ft. below normal, water 60 and clear. Striped bass hybrids good. Walleye good. Crappie good. Catfish good. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.

Ft. Cobb: Elevation 1/4 ft. above normal and rising. Crappie slow to fair around docks. Striped bass hybrids slow to fair on crawfish tails. Catfish slow to fair using cut baits. Report submitted by James Edwards Jr., game warden stationed in Caddo County.

Tom Steed: Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 6-10 ft. near the rocks. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County.

Waurika: Elevation normal, water 49 and murky to the south and muddy to the north. White bass and striped bass hybrids good on white or pearl sassy shad or on live bait. Channel catfish good on live bait or punch bait. Crappie good on jigs or minnows. Report submitted by Phillip Cottrill, game warden stationed in Jefferson County.

Cold Fishing at Texoma.......   Mike with Texoma striper....