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FISHING REPORT FOR MAY 20, 2009
 
CENTRAL
 
Arcadia: Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits, weightless Texas-rigged plastic baits and dark colored shallow running crankbaits at 4-8 ft. in the standing cover. White bass fair on sassy shads and grubs at 8-20 ft. on windy days. Channel and blue catfish fair on shrimp, cut shad and punchbaits from the dam and rocky points on the north side of the lake. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 3-10 ft. throughout the lake. Report submitted by Mark Murray, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.
 
Draper: Elevation 1 1/2 ft. above normal and murky. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs off fishing docks. Channel catfish good on cut baits and stinkbaits. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.
 
Hefner: Elevation above normal, water 60 and murky. Largemouth and smallmouth bass good on crankbaits. Channel and blue catfish good on cut shad and worms. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at the dam. Walleye good on crankbaits trolling the flats. Report submitted by Tim Campbell, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.
 
Overholser: Striped bass hybrids good on soft white plastic grubs below the dam and all over the lake. Channel catfish good on jigs all around the lake. Report submitted by David Clay, game warden stationed in Oklahoma and Canadian County.
 
Thunderbird: Elevation 2 3/4 ft. above normal and murky. Crappie good on minnows and small jigs at 6-8 ft. around structure. Catfish good on stinkbait and cut baits off points and drops. Bass fair on tandem spinnerbaits and medium- diving crankbaits in coves and structure. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.
 
NORTHEAST
 
Bell Cow: Elevation normal, water clear. Bass good on plastic lures and spinnerbaits. Channel catfish good on blood baits, doughbaits and stinkbaits. Crappie excellent on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.
 
Birch: Elevation above normal, water 66 and stained. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and soft plastic lures at 1-3 ft. Striped bass hybrids good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits in shallow water. Channel catfish excellent on chicken liver and worms up the creek. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 4-6 ft. Report submitted by Spencer Grace, game warden stationed in Osage County.
 
Carl Blackwell: Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 65 and murky. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits and plastic baits. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around docks and rock structures. Saugeye fair on night crawlers and plastic baits. Striped bass hybrids fair trolling with crankbaits. Catfish good on most types of bait. Report submitted by Jon Cunningham, game warden stationed in Payne County.
 
Chandler: Elevation normal, water clear. Bass good on plastic lures. Channel catfish good on blood baits. Crappie good on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.
 
Copan: Elevation 16 ft. above normal and very murky. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs at 10-14 ft. Channel catfish slow below the dam on stinkbait and cut shad. Boaters should take extra precaution due to the increased amount of floating logs and trees due to high water. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.
 
Eucha: Elevation slightly above normal, water 66 and dingy. Largemouth fair on spinnerbaits. Catfish fair on limb lines with cut shad. Bluegill fair on crickets and worms. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush and structure at 8-10 ft. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.
 
Ft. Gibson: Elevation 18 1/2 ft. above normal, murky and rising. Catfish good on night crawlers and cut shad. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and plastic worms in the brush and shallows. White bass have slowed down and can be caught on minnows and jigs around the bridge heads in shallow water. Crappie fair on minnows in shallow water brush piles. Report submitted by Rick Stafford with 3riverguideservice.com
 
Grand: Upper end elevation above normal, water 65 and murky. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits, buzzbaits and jigs at 5-15 ft. White bass good on white rooster tails, white sparkle tails and slab spoons in the main lake areas of Elk River and Honey Creek. Channel, blue and flathead catfish good on live sunfish, shad, liver, shrimp and night crawlers at 5-20 ft. along banks and bluffs. Crappie fair on minnows, Grandpa's jigs and Bobby Garland baits in shallow water around brush piles, docks and banks. Report submitted by Sam Williams, Grand Lake Sports Center.
 
Greenleaf: Elevation 1 1/2 ft. above normal, water clear. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits in creek channels, riprap, rocky points and shoreline. Catfish good on fresh cut bait on bottom in creek channels and near spillway. Crappie good on minnows and yellow, white and green jigs at fishing docks, creek channels and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.
 
Hulah: Elevation 20 ft. above normal and murky. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs at 10-14 ft. Channel catfish slow below the dam on cut shad. Boaters should use caution due to high water. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.

Kaw: Elevation 23 ft. above normal, water 69. Crappie excellent below dam on 1/16th and 1/8th ounce dark colored tube jigs. Striped bass hybrids good on four-inch swim baits that are shad colored. Channel and blue catfish good on stinkbait and cut shad with rod and reel or limb lines and juglines between Bear Creek and Traders Bend. Report submitted by Marshall Reigh, game warden stationed in Grant and Kay counties.
 
Keystone: Elevation 18 1/2 ft. above normal, water murky to muddy. Largemouth bass fair on buzzbaits, 10-inch worms and spinnerbaits at 4-8 ft. in flooded flats with grass. Smallmouth bass slow on crankbaits and jig and chunk at 8-12 ft. around bluffs and rocky points. Spotted bass fair on small jigs and crankbaits at 8-12 ft. around bluffs and rocky banks. White bass fair on minnows and jigs at 6-10 ft. below the dam. Striped bass fair on live shad and bucktails at 6-10 ft. below the dam. Channel catfish fair on worms at 4-8 ft. in creeks. Blue catfish good on cut shad at 8-12 ft. below the dam and backwater coves. Flathead catfish fair on goldfish and live shad at 8-12 ft. below the dam and around bluffs. Report submitted by Woody's Bait and Tackle.
 
Lower Illinois: Elevation above normal, water 50 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on jerk baits and rattletraps at 1-3 ft. in the lower river. Striped bass fair on red fins and rogues at 1-5 ft. all along the river. Striped bass hybrids good on red fins and rouges at 1-3 ft. in the lower half of the river. Channel catfish good on cut baits on bottom in the lower river. Crappie fair on spinnerbaits and jigs at 1-3 ft. all along the river. Trout excellent on rouges and rooster tails at 1-3 ft. and on power bait drifting all along the river and Gore Landing. Report submitted by D. Tracy, Town of Gore.
 
Oologah: Elevation 15 ft. above normal and falling. Water 60-65 and muddy. Channel catfish good around flooded trees on livers, worms and dough baits. White bass fair on minnows and jigs in the creeks where the water is clear. Blue catfish fair on juglines and drifting with shad on flats at 15 ft. Blue catfish also fair below the dam on shad. Crappie fair below the dam on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.
 
Skiatook: Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water mid to upper 60s and muddy. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfish fair on chicken liver. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 18 inches. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County.
                                                                                                    
Sooner: White bass good on chicken liver along Highway 15. Striped bass hybrids good on chicken liver along Highway 15 and intake. Catfish good on live bait and cut bait. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County.
 
Spavinaw: Elevation slightly above normal, water 71 and clear. Largemouth fair on spinnerbaits. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around the dam area. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.
 
Webbers Falls: Elevation 6 ft. above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits in riprap, creek channels and oxbow. Catfish good on fresh herring and shad on mud flats. Crappie good on minnows and purple and black jigs in creek channels and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.
 
NORTHWEST
 
Canton: Elevation 1 ft above normal. Walleye good drifting night crawlers and trolling crankbaits in upper end of lake. Channel catfish good on cut bait and crawdads. White bass and striped bass hybrids good on slabs and trolling crankbaits near underwater islands. Crappie good on minnows and jigs in upper end of lake. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County.
 
Ft. Supply: Elevation slightly above normal, water clear. Crappie fair on jigs and spinnerbaits off jetties and gate tower. Walleye fair on minnows below the dam and on the lake. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Woodward County.
 
SOUTHEAST
 
Arbuckle: Elevation 6 ft. above normal, water 68 and muddy. There is a lot of floating debris. Crappie slow off docks. White bass good on swim baits off most points. Bass being caught on spinnerbaits, flukes and crankbaits in the shallows. Channel catfish good up creeks. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
 
Blue River: Elevation 2 ft. above normal and rising, water 61 and murky to muddy. Bass fair on crankbaits and minnows. Channel and blue catfish fair to good on liver and worms. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.
 
Eufaula: Elevation 6 ft. above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on plastic lures flipping the flooded timber. White bass good on jigs below the dam. Blue catfish good on shad below the dam. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 4-10 ft. in brushy, rocky areas. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
 
Hugo: Elevation 25 ft. above normal, water 61. Crappie fair to good on minnows in flooded timber. All boat ramps are closed at this time. Blue catfish fair on cut bait below the dam. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw and Bryan counties.
 
Konawa: Elevation normal, water 76 and clear. Largemouth bass good on plastic worms at 4 ft. in weed beds and cattails. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair on minnows and jigs at 15 ft. in the discharge canal. Channel catfish good on stinkbaits and chicken liver at 8-10 ft. along the points. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.
 
McGee Creek: Elevation 12 3/4 ft. above normal, 64 degrees, and murky in upper end of lake and clear in lower end. Largemouth bass fair on black and blue jigs and on green colored whoodaddys and flukes fished in flooded timber. 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: Elevation normal, water clear to murky south towards the dam and very murky in the upper end. Largemouth bass good on various lures and live baits. Channel catfish good on stinkbaits, worms and live baits in the north end. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs. Walleye fair on minnows and jigs in the south end. Carp good on doughbaits throughout the lake. Report submitted by Jeremy Brothers, game warden stationed in Carter 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 excellent shallow on pink grubs or green and black and on live minnows off of Jack Fork Bridge, half bridge and tower; trying to spawn. 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 12 ft. above normal and rising. Water 64 and clear south and murky to muddy north. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair to good in the south half of lake. Striped and white bass fair to good in the south end of the lake and upper Glasses Creek. Channel and blue catfish good in the Washita River arm of the lake and upper Red River. Crappie fair to good in the upper end of the creeks. Sunfish good around the shorelines. Paddlefish fair below the dam. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
 
Wister: Elevation 21 1/2 ft. above normal and rising, water murky. Largemouth bass good on chartreuse spinnerbaits. Crappie good with small chartreuse spinnerbaits and pink jigs and on minnows and grubs below dam area. Channel catfish good on doughbaits, cut shad and liver; best on cut shad below dam area. Flathead catfish good on live sunfish. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
 
SOUTHWEST
 
Altus-Lugert: Elevation 4 1/2 ft. below normal. Crappie good. Walleye and striped bass hybrids fair to good. Report submitted by Sue Hokanson, Quartz Mountain State Park.
 
Ellsworth: Elevation full with 6 floodgates open. Catfish fair to good in flooded timber and grass on cut bait. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
 
Ft. Cobb: Elevation 2/3 ft. above normal and falling. Catfish slow to fair on cut baits and stinkbaits. Crappie slow in shallow water. Striped bass hybrids slow on jigs. Saugeye slow on jigs. Report submitted by James L. Edwards Jr., game warden stationed in Caddo County.
 
Tom Steed: Crappie good on jigs in Glen Creek and Otter Creek. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County.
 
Waurika: Elevation above normal. Spillway is open with both gates at 2 1/2 ft. The only boat ramps that are open are Chisholm and Wichita Ridge. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair. Channel and blue catfish good on cut baits. 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.