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FISHING REPORT FOR MAY 13, 2009
 
CENTRAL
 
Arcadia: Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water 68. Crappie fair to good along north shores and around docks in the morning at 5 ft. on jigs. Reported by Linnie Mason, gate attendant.
 
Hefner: Elevation above normal, water 60 and murky. White bass good on the dam. Channel and blue catfish good on cut shad. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 10 ft. on the dam. Report submitted by Tim Campbell, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.
 
Overholser: Elevation normal, water murky. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair to good on jigs and cut baits along windy shorelines. Channel catfish fair to good on cut baits and stinkbaits along the shorelines. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs along rocky shorelines. Fish are also being caught below the dam in the tailwaters. Report submitted by Ron Comer, game warden stationed in Canadian County.
 
Thunderbird: Elevation 2 ft. above normal and murky. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 5-7 ft. around structure. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.
 
Wes Watkins: Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 65-69 and murky. Water is muddy in feeder creeks and back west area. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits, jigs, worms, assorted soft plastics and some action on topwater early morning. Catfish good on assorted crankbaits, worms, chicken livers, shrimp in shallow water. White bass good trolling crankbaits at 8 ft. Crappie being caught in shallow water around structure. Report submitted by M. Fowler.
 
NORTHEAST
 
Bell Cow: Elevation normal and murky. Largemouth bass good on plastics. Channel catfish doughbaits and minnows. Crappie good on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.
 
Birch: Elevation above normal, water 60-65 stained. White bass and striped bass hybrids good below dam on chartreuse and white jigs. Crappie fair at 4-5 ft. on minnows and jigs off the banks. Catfish fair on worms, stinkbait and livers below dam and in coves. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits and soft plastics at 4-5 ft. around structure with a few being caught on topwater late in the evening. Report submitted by Spencer Grace, game warden stationed in Osage County.
 
Carl Blackwell: Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 65 and murky. Crappie good on minnows and jigs in shallow water. Bass good on spinnerbaits. Saugeye good on jigs. Striped bass hybrids good on jigs and crankbaits. Catfish good on cut bait and live bait. Report submitted by Jon Cunningham, game warden stationed in Payne County.
 
Chandler: Largemouth bass good on plastics. Channel catfish good on doughbaits and stinkbait. Crappie good on minnows and jigs.  Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.
 
Copan: Elevation above normal and very murky. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs at 10-14 ft. Channel and flathead catfish are fair below the dam on stinkbait and cut shad due to large amount of water being released. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.
 
Eucha: Elevation slightly above normal, water 61 and murky. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around brush and structure at 8-10 ft.  Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits. Catfish fair on limb lines using cut shad. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.
 
Ft. Gibson: Elevation 21 ft. above normal, water 61 and murky. Catfish good in all the creeks that are running into the main lake on night crawlers and shad. Largemouth bass good in the buck brush and willows but scattered. White bass are good around all bridge heads at 10-15 ft. and in creek channels. Crappie are really scattered and are fair on minnows and jigs at 5-15 ft. Report submitted by Rick Stafford with 3riverguideservice.com
 
Greenleaf: Elevation 1 ft. above normal and clear. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and plastic worms around creek channels and rocky points. Catfish good on fresh cut baits near the spillway and on bottom. Crappie good on minnows and yellow, white and purple jigs around fishing dock and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.
 
Hudson: Elevation 11 ft. above normal. White bass fair to good on small lures in the upper end of the lake in creeks. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait. Paddlefish fair to good snagging in the upper end of the lake. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Rogers and Mayes counties.
 
Hulah: Elevation above normal and murky. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs at 10-14 ft. Channel catfish fair below the dam on cut shad. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.


Kaw: Elevation 22 ft. above normal and muddy. Blue catfish good to excellent using fresh shad or hotdogs while juglining between Bear Creek and the river bridge. Only the Bear Creek, Pioneer, Osage, and McFadden boat ramps are currently open due to the high water. Boaters need to use extreme caution due to floating logs and other underwater hazards. Crappie fishing has been fair to good below the dam on the eastside from the boat ramp, south. Paddlefish snagging has been sporadic due to mixed water releases. Report submitted by Tracy Daniel, game warden stationed in Kay County.
 
Keystone: Elevation 17 1/2 ft. above normal, water murky to muddy. Largemouth bass slow on large plastic worms at 6-10 ft. in the flooded brush in coves. Smallmouth bass slow on crankbaits and finesse jigs at 10-15 ft. around points. Spotted bass slow on finesse jigs and crankbaits at 8-12 ft. around the bluffs. White bass fair on minnows and jigs at 4-8 ft. below the dam. Striped bass fair on live shad and bucktails at 5-10 ft. below the dam. Channel catfish fair on worms at 6-10 ft. in creeks and shallow coves. Blue catfish fair on cut shad at 8-15 ft. on cut shad at 8-15 ft. halfway back in the coves. Flathead catfish fair on live shad at 10-15 ft. around bluffs and steep banks. Crappie fair on minnows and orange/pumpkin/chartreuse jigs at 8-15 ft. in deep coves and around docks with brush. Report submitted by Woody's Bait and Tackle.
 
Lower Illinois: Elevation above normal and rising, water 58 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits at 2 ft. White bass good on jigs and spinners at 1-3 ft. in the river and around the dam. Striped bass slow on live bait at 1-3 ft. below Gore Landing. Channel catfish good on cut bait on bottom. Crappie fair on jigs at 1-3 ft. Trout fair on roster tails at 1-2 ft. and power bait on bottom. Report submitted by D. Tracy, Town of Gore.
 
Oologah: Elevation 14 ft. above normal and rising, water upper 50's to lower 60's and muddy. Channel and blue catfish good around flooded willow trees and in flooded fields at 5 ft. using shad, livers or dough baits. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs along rocky banks and around flooded willows at 3-6 ft. Crappie and white bass fair below the dam on jigs. Boaters should be advised to watch for floating debris in the lake.  Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.
 
Skiatook: Elevation 3 ft. above normal, water in the mid 60's and muddy.  Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits along rocky shorelines. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 18-24 inches around shallow brush. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County.  
 
Sooner: White bass and striped bass hybrids fair on live shad and slabs. Catfish good on cut bait and worms in the discharge canal. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County.
 
Spavinaw: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water 67 and murky. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around brush. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.
 
Tenkiller: Elevation 11 ft. above normal, water 62-64. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits, crankbaits or soft plastics in flooded brush. Catfish fair on minnows or worms at 5-10 ft. in coves or creeks. Sunfish good on night crawlers in coves. Report by Monte Brooks Cookson Village Resort.
 
Webbers Falls: Elevation 8 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits in creek channels and along riprap. Catfish good on fresh cut bait in the mud flats and creek channels. Crappie fair on minnows and purple jigs around brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.
 
NORTHWEST
 
Canton: Elevation 1 ft. above normal. White bass good along dam on jigs. Walleye good in the upper end of lake on jigs and crankbaits. Crappie good at 3-8 ft. on jigs and minnows. Striped bass hybrids good on crankbaits and slabs near submerged islands. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County.
 
Ft. Supply: Elevation 1 ft. above normal and clear. White bass fair on spinners in the mouth of the river. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Woodward County.
 
SOUTHEAST
 
Arbuckle: Elevation 2 1/2 ft. above normal, water 66-68 and fairly clear main lake, creeks muddy. White bass are on main lake points. Crappie are still spawning in coves. Bass are hitting flukes, spinnerbaits, shallow crankbaits and worms.  Channel catfish up creeks in fresh water is excellent Report submitted by Jack Melton.
 
Blue River: Elevation above normal, water 60 and murky. Channel catfish excellent on stinkbait and chicken livers. Report submitted by Matt Gamble, biologist at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.
 
Broken Bow: Elevation 18 ft. above normal and murky. Channel catfish fair on cut bait and stinkbait. All boat ramps are closed. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
 
Eufaula: Elevation 5 ft. above normal. Largemouth bass fair on plastic baits flipping flooded timber. White bass good on jigs around bridges. Blue catfish good on fresh cut shad in mouth of river. Crappie good at 4-8 ft. on minnows and jigs around submerged brush and rocky area. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
 
Hugo: Elevation 16 ft. above normal and rising, water 61. Crappie fair on minnows in flooded timber. Catfish fair on cut bait and stinkbait. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw and Bryan counties.
 
Konawa: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water 73 and clear. Largemouth bass excellent on plastic worms and jigs in weed beds and cattails at 3-6 ft. White bass and hybrid striped bass fair on minnows and jigs in the discharge canal at 15 ft. Channel catfish good on chicken liver, stinkbait along points at 5-10 ft. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.
 
McGee Creek: Elevation 5 feet above normal, 62 degrees, and murky in upper end of lake and clear in lower end. Largemouth bass fair to good on black and blue jigs and a green colored whoodaddys and flukes fished at 4-8 ft. Crappie fair around cedar brush on minnows. Channel catfish fair to good on commercial baits in upper end of lake where fresh water is coming in. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County
 
Murray: Slightly below normal and muddy. Smallmouth Bass and White bass being caught. Channel catfish picking up. Report submitted by Jeremy Brothers, game warden stationed in Carter County.
 
Pine Creek: Elevation extremely high, water very murky. Bass fair on jigs and grubs fished slowly around points.  Crappie good on minnows around flooded timber. Catfish fair on cut shad. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
 
Robert S. Kerr: Elevation 1 ft. above the normal pool level and the flood gates are open. Water muddy and water 64.Crappie fair and they are biting on minnows and jigs at the San Bois Creek area. White bass slow on minnows and jigs. Largemouth bass fair on soft baits and crankbaits at 2-4 ft. along the grass beds. Blue and channel catfish very good on fresh shad and fresh cut bait and shrimp and they can found at the mouths of the creeks running into the lake. Report submitted by Leland Sockey, game warden stationed in Haskell County.
 
Sardis Lake: Elevation above normal and murky. Bass good in grass beds or shallows up at 1-5 ft. on chatter bait, spinnerbaits and plugs also good on watermelon lizards. Crappie trying to spawn and excellent shallow on pink grubs or green and black and off of Jack Fork Bridge, half bridge and tower using live minnows. Flathead catfish fair on juglines or trotlines with shad. Blue and channel catfish fair on juglines and trotlines with cut bait, shrimp or shad. White bass fair trolling and excellent when found surfacing on lake. Walleye fair trolling around islands on rattletraps. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
 
Texoma: Elevation 9 1/2 ft. above normal and rising, water 62 and clear south and murky to muddy north. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair to good south part of lake. Striped and white bass fair to good from Platter Flats south. Channel and blue catfish fair to good from the highway 70 Bridge north to the Washita River. Crappie fair to good in Kansas and Widow Moore creeks. Sunfish fair to good around the shoreline. Paddlefish fair below the dam. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
 
Wister: Elevation 17 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass good on chartreuse spinnerbaits. Crappie good on small chartreuse spinnerbaits and pink jigs and good on jigs and grubs below dam area. Channel catfish good on doughbaits, cut shad and liver with jugs and on red worms below the dam area. Flathead catfish fair to good on live sunfish. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
 
SOUTHWEST
 
Altus-Lugert: Elevation 5 1/4 ft. above normal. Crappie good. Walleye and striped bass hybrids good to very good. Report submitted by Sue Hokanson, Quartz Mountain State Park.
 
Ellsworth: Elevation 2 1/2 ft. below normal and murky. Crappie good in shallow water on minnows and jigs. Catfish fair to good on cut bait. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
 
Foss: Elevation normal, water 64 and clear. Gates open. Walleye fair on north end of lake. Striped bass hybrids fair. White bass and catfish good. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.
 
Ft. Cobb: Elevation 1 ft. above normal. Crappie slow to fair on minnows and jigs in shallow water. Catfish slow to fair on cut baits. Saugeye slow to fair. Striped bass hybrids slow to fair on jigs. Report submitted by James L. Edwards Jr., game warden stationed in Caddo County.
 
Tom Steed: Crappie good on creeks on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County.
 
Waurika: Elevation 3 ft. above normal and murky. Crappie fair. Blue catfish good on punchbait, cut bait and on juglines. 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.