Rain brings positive effects on fishing

       Recent springtime rains can trigger fish spawns, cause aggressive feeding behavior and provide nursery areas for young fish that can lead to outstanding angling in the future, according to biologists with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

       According to Paul Balkenbush, southeast region fisheries supervisor for the Wildlife Department, anglers should take advantage of fishing opportunities now.

       "The weather may be wet at times, but the temperatures outside haven't become hot yet," Balkenbush said. "And the significant rainfall that we've been getting lately can have positive effects on the fishing, both now and in the future."

       Balkenbush also said that flowing water can make for some great fishing action, especially for catfish. "Moving water usually means an active catfish bite," Balkenbush said. "And the warmer weather tends to heat up the angling for most all species."

       According to Balkenbush, key spots to fish are those where tributary streams are flowing into a reservoir. Species like channel catfish concentrate in these areas and take advantage of the abundant food source. Oklahoma's sport fish are also cold-blooded and become less active in the winter months, but they become aggressive feeders when waters warm up during the spring.

As area lakes fill up, shoreline vegetation also becomes flooded which creates great nursery areas for newly-hatched fish. This means that more young fish may survive and show up in anglers' creels in following years.

       Although last year's drought cycle did not significantly affect fishing, Department biologists say recent rains are a relief for state lakes. Many lakes, especially in the eastern portion of the state, are currently near or above normal levels.

       Balkenbush said anglers who venture out in the spring, even after heavy rains, can look forward to some of the best fishing the state offers throughout the year.  

FISHING REPORT FOR MAY 9, 2007

CENTRAL

Arcadia: Elevation above normal and murky. Largemouth bass fair. Spotted bass fair on spinnerbaits and sassy shad. Blue catfish good on cut bait. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows. Report submitted by Wade Farrar, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.

Hefner: Water clear. White bass being caught on the upper part of the lake around the canal area on jigs. Channel catfish being caught on cut bait and stinkbait off the bank. Report submitted by Kelly Roberson, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.

Overholser: Water 75 and murky. Striped bass hybrids being caught on jigs around the dam. Channel catfish being caught on cut bait and shrimp. Crappie being caught on minnows and jig along the shoreline. Report submitted by Kelly Roberson, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.

Thunderbird: Elevation 6 ft. below normal and clear. Crappie good on minnows and small jigs at 3-5 ft. around structure. Saugeye fair to good off points early and late day on jigs, sassy shad and medium-diving lures. Channel catfish fair to good on stinkbait in areas of water inflow from previous rainfall. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.

Wes Watkins: Elevation above normal, water 60-69 and very muddy. Largemouth bass good on assorted soft plastics at 4-9 ft, spinnerbaits of a lighter color also good, some early morning and early afternoon action with top water lures. Rattletraps also attracting attention. White bass fair when trolling lake with shallow diving crankbaits. Catfish fair on chicken liver, bait shrimp, worms and minnows. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs in shallow water on west end on lake around stumps and other structures. Report submitted by M.M. Fowler, St. Gregory's.

NORTHEAST

Bell Cow: Elevation normal and muddy. Largemouth bass fair on plastics an spinnerbaits. Channel catfish good on doughbaits and worms. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs around the fishing dock and off the bank. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game stationed in Lincoln County.

Birch: Striped bass hybrids fair in the main lake. Channel catfish good on cut shad. Report submitted by James Williams, game warden stationed in Osage County.

Carl Blackwell: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 64 and murky. Crappie excellent on minnows and jigs at 8-10 ft. Crappie are moving into shallow water. Striped bass hybrids good on shad and trolling crankbaits. Report submitted by Jon Cunningham, game warden stationed in Payne County.

Chandler: Elevation normal and muddy. Largemouth bass slow. Channel catfish fair on worms. Crappie good on minnows around the dam and docks. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.

Copan: Elevation 7 ft. above normal. Reservoir release is 5 cubic feet per second. Water is muddy. Crappie good in shallow waters near rocky banks and brush on minnows, chartreuse tube jigs or black/pink tube jigs. Bank fishing for crappie is currently best on the south end of Washington Cove, east of the boat ramp at Copan Point, the coves and creek around Osage Plains, Endicott's Pond, and under Cotton Creek bridge. Catfish fair to good on jug lines in or near the river channel. White bass are fair in the same areas as crappie. Report submitted by Marni Loftis, game warden stationed in Washington County.

Eucha: Elevation slightly above normal, and rising. Water dingy and 67 degrees. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around brush and structure. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits. Catfish good on trotlines and juglines baited with sunfish. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.

Ft. Gibson: Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water 66 and murky. Largemouth bass good in flooded grass and buck brush. White bass excellent on jigs and minnows in shallow water around rocky points and bridges. Channel catfish good to excellent on cut bait, shad, worms and chicken liver. Crappie good on minnows and jigs suspended at 20 ft. Paddlefish snagging good at the low water dam. Report submitted Marvin Stanley, game warden stationed in Wagoner County.

Grand: Elevation above normal. Channel catfish good using juglines at 10 ft. on cut and whole shad. Crappie fair in baited areas around docks using minnows and jigs. White bass good on spinnerbaits. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: Elevation ½ ft. above normal, water is clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits and spinners in creek channels and shorelines. Channel catfish good on cut bait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at brush structures. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Hudson: Elevation normal. White bass good on small minnows and lures in the upper end of the lake trolling. Channel and blue catfish good on cut shad around pints and in rocky flats. Paddlefish snagging good in the upper end of the lake. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Mayes County.

Hulah: Elevation 10 ft. above normal. Reservoir release is 26 cubic feet per second. Water is muddy. Crappie good in shallow waters near rocky banks and brush on minnows, chartreuse tube jigs or black/pink tube jigs. Bank fishing for crappie is currently best in Skull Creek, Wa-Sha-She Park and in the river near Rocky Ford boat ramp marina. White bass are running and fishing is good in the Caney River North of the lake. 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 5 ft. above normal, water 69. Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority is generating power, total release through Kaw Dam Monday, May 7 is 6,232 cubic feet per second. Water clarity stained on the upper end and stained by the dam. Blue and channel catfish fair in the main tributaries that feed Kaw. Fish the flooded willows, points or bends in the river with worms, stinkbait or fresh cut bait. Jug fishing has improved. White bass are moving out of creeks. Crappie good on minnows in Beaver Creek and in the main portion of the lake. Crappie have moved back onto the shoreline at 2-9 ft. to spawn, with good numbers of fish being caught on the Washunga Bay riprap. Also the main coves are producing good numbers of crappie. The fishing dock in Osage Cove was good on minnows and are a constant producer fished below a bobber at 2-9 ft. and on 1/8 to 1/4 ounce jigs with two-inch shad bodies. Fish jigs vertically, adding as little action as possible to the bait. Suspending jigs (black a

nd green, purple, red and white in color) below a bobber also works well. Fishing below Kaw Dam for crappie and white bass fishing has slowed down but is still good, fishing two 1/8 or 3/16 jigs was the best producer over the weekend, sassy shad or tub bodies both worked well; red/white was a popular choice. Paddlefishing has slowed with the spawning run near the end. Report submitted by Larry Green, game warden stationed in Osage County.

Keystone: Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water 62 and murky to muddy. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits and salt craws at 3-6 ft. on backs of coves and creeks. Smallmouth bass fair on crankbaits, jigs and chunk at 4-10 ft. at mouths of coves. Spotted bass good on spinnerbaits and 6 inch plastic worm at 4-10 ft. at large boulder areas. White bass excellent on minnows and tube jigs at 2-6 ft. below dam at Salt Creek and Appalachia Bay. Striped bass fair below dam on bucktails and sassy shad at 2-6 ft. on turbine side when generating. Striped bass fair on lake with live shad and storm swim baits at 5-10 ft. on Hwy 412 Bridge and riprap. Channel catfish good on worms and shrimp 3-8 ft. on coves and creeks below dam. Blue catfish good on cut shad and punch bait at 5-10 feet at mouths of coves. Flathead catfish fair on goldfish and live shad at 5-10 ft. in rocky coves. Crappie good on minnows and tube jigs at 2-6 ft. on gravel banks. Report submitted by Larry Sanders, Woody's Bait and Ta

ckle.

Oologah: Elevation 6 ft. above normal. Water temp in upper 60s to near 70 and muddy. Channel catfish good on worms and shrimp fished around flooded willows. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush piles at 10-12 ft. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and jigs fished around flooded brush. Blue catfish fair on juglines baited with shad at 10-15 ft. on flats. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.

Skiatook: Elevation 6 ½ ft. below normal, water mid 60s and murky. Upper end muddy. Striped bass hybrids fair in mouths of creeks and on points, on sassy shad, pearl white and chartreuse colors working well. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits and jig and chunk in shallow water. Smallmouth bass fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Crappie good on minnows, in creeks, and on structure, at docks and Hwy 20 bridge. Catfish fair on cut baits and large minnows, in the creeks. Report submitted by Greenwood Fishing Center. 

Sooner: Elevation normal. White bass and striped bass hybrids good around the dam when releasing water and slow in the discharge channel. Channel and blue catfish fair on cut and live bait around Hwy 15. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County.

Spavinaw: Elevation slightly above normal, and rising. Water clear and 70 degrees. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits. Catfish fair on trotlines using night crawlers. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.

Tenkiller: Elevation ½ ft. above normal, water 59-62. Largemouth bass slow some action at 15 ft. around drop-offs with bass jigs or four-inch worms on jig heads. Crappie fair mid-lake trolling deep runners over the channel and hitting around docks on minnows. White bass fair in coves on shallow crankbaits or inline spinners. Sunfish fair in docks on worms at 10-15 ft. Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort.

Webbers Falls: Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water is murky. Largemouth bass fair on crankbait and spinnerbaits in creek channels and riprap. Channel catfish good on cut bait and stinkbait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs on bottom near bridges. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

NORTHWEST

Canton: Elevation 1 ft. below normal. White bass, striped bass hybrids and walleye good along dam on live and artificial bait and also good trolling crankbaits. Channel catfish good in upper end of lake on shad and stinkbait. Crappie good along dam and in shallows on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County.

SOUTHEAST

Arbuckle: Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 69 and stained. White bass chasing shad up Rock Creek. Crappie slow on docks, fair on fish shelters. Bass fishing has been fair to good on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, flukes and shaky jig and worm. Report submitted by Jack Melton.

Blue River: Elevation above normal, water 70 and muddy. Largemouth bass slow on minnows and flies. Channel catfish slow on liver and worms. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.

Broken Bow: Water 4-5 ft. above normal and stained. Largemouth bass good in the mouths of creeks and rocky points on soft plastics, lizards, Carolina or Texas rigged. Crappie good on minnows and jigs in standing timber in the upper end of the lake. Walleye fair on deep-running crankbaits around islands after dark. Catfish being caught on juglines and trotlines baited with cut bait. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Eufaula: Elevation 1 1/2 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits at 3-6 ft. around rocky areas. White bass very good on rattletraps trolling and throwing to surfacing fish at 6-10 ft. in the shallow flats. Channel catfish good on fresh shad at 3-6 ft. in flooded flats. Crappie good on minnows or jigs at 2-10 ft. around brush piles. Report submitted Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.

Hugo: Elevation 3 1/3 ft. above normal, water 65 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits. Crappie fair on live minnows. Blue catfish fair on cut shad and stinkbait. Report submitted by Wendell Smalling, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.

Konawa: Water 68 and clear. Largemouth bass good on plastic worms in weed beds and around cattails at 4-6 ft. White bass good on shad, jigs and spoons in the discharge canal at 15 ft. Channel catfish good on shad and chicken liver along points and in the discharge canal at 15 ft. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: The Power House has been releasing water all day long and well into the night, about 17 hours during each 24-hour period. This makes fishing zone 2 and 3 very unlikely. The inclement weather will cause many anglers to stay home. A small white wooly bugger is usually a very productive fly for these fish. Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

McGee Creek: Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 63 and clear. Largemouth bass fair to good on soft plastic lures at 2-6 ft. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs over submerged cedar trees. Channel catfish and flathead catfish fair on live bait on jugs and trotlines. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County.

Murray: Elevation below normal, water 56 and clear. Bass good on spinnerbaits, soft plastics and crankbaits. White bass fair early morning on topwaters and crankbaits. Channel catfish being caught on stinkbait, shrimp, cut bait and worms. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs around brush piles and habitat buoys. Report submitted by Jeremy Brothers, game warden stationed in Carter County.

Pine Creek: Elevation above normal and murky. Bass fair on crankbaits when fished off points. Crappie fair on minnows at night with a crappie light. Catfish good on cut shad. Large numbers of catfish are in the upper river channel holding around rocky uplifts where they are waiting to ambush shad. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Robert S. Kerr: Elevation below normal, water 70 and stained. Largemouth bass good at 2-5 ft. using plastic baits and spinnerbaits fishing the weed, rock and woody shorelines. Crappie good at 2-6 ft. using minnows fishing the weed and woody shorelines. Fish are still moving in and out of the spawning areas. White bass good at 5-10 ft. using shad-imitation lures and jigs fishing below Webbers Falls dam and downstream off the rock jetties. Blue catfish good at 5-12 ft. using fresh cut shad fishing the edge of the old river and creek channels. Flathead catfish fair at 15-20 ft. using live bait using juglines and trotlines. 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 3 ½ ft. above normal, water 68 degrees and clear to the south and murky to the north. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass fair to good on shad-type baits at 5-10 ft. along riprap. Striped and white bass fair to good on live bait and shad-type lures at 10-20 ft. near the Islands. Channel and blue catfish fair to good on cut shad and live bait at 10-20 ft. above Hwy 70 bridge. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs along surface at 10 ft. along the shorelines with riprap. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.

Wister: Elevation 1-1/2 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass excellent on plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Crappie good on minnows and jig. Channel catfish good on liver and cut baits with jugs and trotline. Flathead catfish good on live sunfish with trotline. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.

SOUTHWEST

Altus-Lugert: Elevation 10 ft. below normal and rising. White bass have slowed but are still good off the main swim beach. Hybrid striped bass have also slowed but are still good off the main swim beach. Crappie have also slowed but are still good near the old fish-o-rama. Walleye have also slowed but are still good; watch length - must be 18 inches to keep. Boat Ramp Status: North Shore boat ramp is still getting water - smaller boats have been launched. Main & Hicks Mountain boat ramps are great. 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 5 ½ ft. above normal and murky. Crappie fair in shallow water on minnows and jigs. Catfish fair on cut bait. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.

Foss: Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal, water 70 and clear. We had 4 ½ inches of rain Sunday night. Walleye and saugeye fair along the rocks. Striped bass hybrids and white bass fair. Catfish fair. Crappie good. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.

Ft. Cobb: Elevation 2/3 ft. above normal and rising; water murky. Catfish slow to fair on cut baits. Report submitted by James Edwards Jr., game warden station in Caddo County.

Tom Steed: Elevation 4 ft. below normal and murky. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 5-8 ft. around the rocks. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County.

Waurika: Elevation normal, water 60 and murky. White bass fair on jigs and live bait. Striped bass hybrids fair. Channel catfish good on jugs, rod and reel, live bait, shad and crawfish tails. Crappie good on minnows and jigs in flooded weeds at Wichita Ridge. Report submitted by Phillip Cottrill, game warden stationed in Jefferson County.