|
March 7, 2014
Wildlife Department Youth Camp
application available now!
Youths can log on to wildlifedepartment.com any time through April 18 and
apply completely online for the 16th Annual Wildlife Youth Camp.
The weeklong event is slated this year for June
22-27 at Oklahoma University Biological Station at Lake Texoma. The camp is
run entirely by employees of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation and aims to teach youth about the rewards offered by a career
in wildlife - be it as a game warden, fish and wildlife biologist or even a
communications or education specialist.
The free camp increases awareness of conserving
and managing Oklahoma's wildlife resources through courses on
wildlife-related career opportunities, rifle and shotgun training, archery,
wildlife identification, wildlife law enforcement, fishing, fisheries
management, ropes, swimming, turkey and waterfowl hunting, management and
law enforcement.
"We urge anybody between the ages of 14 and 16
that's interested in hunting or fishing or a career with the Department to
apply," said Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw and Bryan counties
and coordinator for the Wildlife Youth Camp.
To attend Wildlife Youth Camp, applicants must be Oklahoma residents, and
they must turn 14 prior to June 22, 2014, and be no older than 16.
Prospective campers must fill out an application form and write a 75-word
essay describing why they want to attend the camp, why they should be
selected and what they expect to learn. Additionally, they must provide a
letter of recommendation by someone other than a family member and a recent
photograph showing the applicant participating in an outdoor-related event
or activity. The application process can be completed online, including the
submission of the required essay, photo and signed letter of recommendation.
To apply, prospective campers should log on to wildlifedepartment.com. The
page also includes additional information about the camp and photographs
from previous years.
The camp will be open to a
maximum of 35 youths, and applications will be accepted until 4:30 p.m.
April 18, 2014.
February 19, 2014
NatureWorks wildlife art show to fund Oklahoma
conservation
Any sportsman knows that the right piece of wildlife or outdoor-related
artwork can create just the right atmosphere in a home, lake cabin or
hunting camp. Whether it is a sculpture of a deer, a painting of a lone
coyote or a hand-crafted wood carving, nature-focused artwork has a way of
grabbing the attention of anyone nearby. Those interested in viewing or
shopping a large selection of outdoor and wildlife artwork can do so March
1-2 at the 2014 NatureWorks Art Show and Sale in Tulsa.
NatureWorks is a Tulsa-based nonprofit group dedicated to wildlife
conservation and education, and its annual art show is the fundraising tool
it uses to support a range of conservation projects.
The show will feature works created by artists from across the United
States and abroad. Art sales from the show help generate matching grants to
assist with a variety of state wildlife conservation projects.
NatureWorks has partnered with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation on several efforts that are now benefiting Oklahoma wildlife
and sportsmen. Past projects funded by the art show have included, among
others, habitat and renovation work on Spavinaw Wildlife Management Areas in
northeast Oklahoma and a telemetry project on Grand Lake to monitor the
impact of catch-and-release paddlefish snagging on the fish's spawning
success and mortality.
NatureWorks also has supported Wildlife Department's duck stamp print
program and centennial duck stamp print, and habitat work at the Harold
Stuart Waterfowl Refuge Unit within the Deep Fork Wildlife Management Area
(WMA) and the Grassy Slough WMA. NatureWorks also has been an important
supporter of the Wildlife Department's Hunters Against Hunger program, in
which hunters can donate their legally harvested deer to feed hungry
Oklahomans.
In recent years the art show also has funded a renovation to the entrance of
the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters building to
make it more accessible to persons with disabilities as well as
more aesthetically pleasing to motorists and pedestrians. A monument was
created on the property by wildlife sculptor Stephen LeBlanc depicting three
whitetail deer on the run. The whitetail monument is one of more than 20
life-size and heroic-size wildlife monuments donated to others by
NatureWorks, many of which can be seen along the City of Tulsa's Riverside
Drive.
This year the show's feature artist will be Maryland sculptor Paul Rhymer,
whose artwork has been exhibited in a variety of museums, zoos, public
buildings and private parks across the United States. A listing of other
artists exhibiting at the 2014 show is available on the NatureWorks website
at
natureworks.org.
The show will be held at the Tulsa Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center
is located at 6808 South 107th East Avenue (71st and U.S.-169) in Tulsa. For
more information about NatureWorks or the art show, log on to www.natureworks.org.
Hours for the show are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 1, and 11 a.m. to 5
p.m. Sunday, March 2. Tickets are $5, and one ticket is good for both days.
-30-
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.
Sept
26th....
Anglers from Oklahoma
that have qualified for the 2002 National Championship!
Okies will compete for approximately
$250,000.00 in combination of cash and prizes. This includes three (3) Triton
21 foot bass boats fully rigged with a Honda Marine BF225 Four Strokes, TH
Marine Jack Plates and Hot Foots, Raymarine electronics and Minn Kota's
Maxxum trolling motors.
Anglers that have made the TOP 500 from Oklahoma are as follows: WISH THEM
LUCK!
National Ranking Name Points
(as of 20 Sept 2002) (1200 max)
12th RODNEY MAYNARD, Stigler 1187
34th SAL RICCOBENE, Eufaula 1179
81th LES GIBSON, Checotah 1168
86th DOUG GRAY, McAlester 1167
106th JAY BELL, Eufaula 1162
116th JOHNNIE LARGE, Talala 1161
126th DENNIS BRADY, Canadian 1159
126th TIM REAVIS, Harrah 1159
190th BILL SWAN, Tahlequah 1151
275th JOHN MURRAY, Tahlequah 1139
384th KENNETH SPENCER, Newalla 1124
392th JIM ROGERS, Oklahoma City 1123
Note: Other anglers from Oklahoma that did not make the TOP 500 will be
accepted on a stand-by basis.
Click here for an up to date National Points listing: NATIONAL POINTS
This year's national championship will be held on beautiful Wheeler Lake
October 6 - 11, 2002 launching out of Decatur Alabama at River Walk Marina.
There will be three days of official practice and three days of tournament.
The top 500 national point holders will or have been invited to compete in
the National Championship. If one or more of the top 500 do not accept the
invitation, additional point holders will be accepted on a stand-by basis.
These anglers must still meet the qualifications to fish the national by
fishing 4 one-day tournaments and 1 two-day tournament.
The National Championship will kick off with a special salute to America and
each of the armed services with an on the water flag presentation. We have a
very patriotic celebration at the launch of the first day of competition.
Instead of giving away prizes and awards at the weigh-in site, we host a sit
down banquet for our members. At this awards banquet, we have a special guest
speaker and present awards.
This is going to be a great week for our members and their families to fish,
meet new friends, and win some big prizes. We will even have special programs
during the day for the family members while our anglers are competing on the
lake.
Order of Events
Sunday 10/062002:
Safe Light: First day of official practice (You must be pre-registered for
before entering the tournament waters.
4:00 pm: Registration at the Host Hotel (Holiday Inn)
Monday 10/07/2002:
Safe Light: Second day of official practice.
10 am - 2 pm: Open House at the National Office located at The Boat House in
Athens, 800-232-4428
7 pm - 9 pm: Open social at River Walk Marina
Tuesday 10/08/2002
Safe Light: Final Day of Practice
9 am - 1 pm: Triton/Honda Test rides at River Walk Marina (Tournament Launch
Site)
5:00 pm: Mandatory Pairings Meeting at River Walk Marina (Tournament Launch
Site)
Wednesday 10/09/2002
Safe Light: First day of competition beginning with a Salute to American and
the Armed Forces.
3:00 pm: First day, First flight weigh in. River Walk Marina (Tournament
Launch Site)
Thursday 10/10/2002
Safe Light: Second day of competition
3:00 pm. Second day, First flight weigh in. River Walk Marina (Tournament
Launch Site)
Friday 10/11/2002
Safe Light: Final day of competition
2:00 pm: Final day, First flight weigh in. River Walk Marina (Tournament
Launch Site)
7:00 pm: 2002 National Awards Banquet, at Point Mallard.
American Bass Anglers is not a Pro-AM trail
it is a true draw trail format. Boaters and non-boaters alike are welcome.
These tournaments are designed for the true weekend angler with a level
playing field. We all work too hard during the week to go and fish
tournaments against guides, pros and team members that have lived on the lake
for weeks. The weekend angler wants a simple tournament format, one that
allows him/her a chance to compete against other weekend anglers and have a
good chance to win a much bigger end of the year prize, like a fully rigged
Triton TR21PD, with a 225hp outboard trimmed with all the right equipment and
water ready. At our Draw National Championship, you can actually have a shot
at one of three Triton TR21PD fully rigged Bass Boats!
Boaters are allowed to use their boat at any
1-day or 2-day event. "Bring your boat - Use your boat". The exception to
this is at the National Championship; it is NOT guaranteed boat use. Again,
the weekend angler is looking for a level playing field.
Most anglers like the team format because they want to make sure they can use
their boat. Our format is the best of both worlds, it allows the angler to
use his boat and also gain national standings as an individual fisherman, not
as a team. Pros like Davy Hite and many others got their early tournament
start fishing our draw tournaments. If they had fished as a team, they would
not have made the jump to the professional ranks.
Since 1975, the group has grown to a point
that it has been incorporated under American Bass Anglers. Entry fees are
$55.00 for a one-day tournaments and $110.00 for two-day tournaments. Payback
is 1 in 7. For every 7 anglers, one place is added to the payout. Our payout
is geared for payout to the center of the field, not just first place.
American Bass Anglers Draw Trail is unique and set apart from the other
trails because it is very simple for any angler in the country to qualify for
a large National Championship without all the hurdles that face most anglers.
Our anglers expect and deserve the right to fish a National Championship the
same season, not in 18 months after surviving many regional, state and
divisional championships. Our members want a level playing field making it
possible for them to advance and gain recognition for their individual
fishing talents. Do well locally and you will be off to the National
Championship!
Our anglers compete for national rankings against members all over the
country, but they do it on their home waters. This means if someone in
California is catching 30-pound strings, the person in Oklahoma still
competes just placing in his/her tournament regardless of the weight. We DO
NOT use a points and pounds system, we use a POINTS ONLY system. This means
no area of the country gains an advantage because they have a longer growing
season. This approach gives the anglers in Minnesota a level playing field
against the anglers in Florida.
The National Office located in Athens,
Alabama, is doing a fabulous job acquiring the best in the industry: Triton
Boats, Abu Garcia, All Star Rods, Berkley, Golden Flake, Johnson, Lucky
Craft, Minn Kota, Mitchell, PROBASS Networks, Raymarine, Red Wolf,
SpiderCast, SpiderLine, T-H Marine, and The Boat House. In January 2002,
American Bass Anglers announced Honda Marine as a Title Sponsor of the
American Bass Anglers Tournament Trail. Honda Marine's introduction of the
BF225 Four- Stroke Outboard will take the market by storm.
Local Sponsors for District 57 - Oklahoma
East: Nichols Marine (Tulsa, Norman and McAlester) A&B Distributing
(Okmulgee), Albert's 1-Stop (Eufaula), Bucks Pizza (Eufaula), Extreme Marine
(McAlester), HL's Gun and Pawn (McAlester), House of Trophies (Wetumka),
Hurricoma Lures, K-FOX 102.5, and Snake Creek Wilderness Market and Lodge
(Lake Tenkiller).
Point system:
For one-day tournaments, 200 points at 1-point increments. For example: 1st
Place 200-points, 2nd Place 199-points and so on. For two-day tournaments,
400 points at 2-point increments. For example: 1st Place 400-points, 2nd
Place 398-points and so on. With a full field, (20 anglers or more) you will
receive maximum points. For every angler short of a full field, one point is
deducted from the maximum on a one-day tournament and two points on a two-day
tournament.
You may fish as many one-day and two-day tournaments as you wish, but only
your BEST 4 one-day tournaments + your BEST two-day tournament count toward
national standings. This allows the angler to put a bad tournament behind
them.
A PERFECT score is 1200 points: 4 one-day tournaments at 200 points each =
800 points, plus 1 two-day tournament at 400 points = 1200 points.
American Bass Anglers will again give away
three (3) Triton TR21PD fully rigged bass boats in 2003. One Triton TR21PD
Bass Boat will go to the winner of the 2002 National Championship. One Triton
TR21PD Bass Boat will go to the 2002 Angler of the year. One Triton TR21PD
Bass Boat will be given away by a drawing at the National Championship and
you said it right, you do not even have to be present to win!
If you meet the minimum requirements to fish
the National Championship in 2003, which is to fish 4 one-day tournaments and
1 two-day tournament. This will hopefully qualify you for the National
Championship and the boat given away by draw, and you do not have to be
present to win.
Oklahoma will have 3 districts in 2003 and
you may fish any district throughout the United States. All count for points!
Fish as many one-day tournaments as you wish throughout the United States,
but remember only the top 4 count. After fishing at least 4 one-day events
you are now eligible to fish as many 2-day events as you wish, but again,
only your best finish will count for points.
Come and try American Bass Anglers Draw Trail
and see what a difference it can make to fish a trail that is committed to
you the angler! We welcome anglers to contact the National Headquarters with
questions or comments, call us at 1-888-203-6222 or visit our web site for
more info.
Oklahoma State Director, Sal Riccobene (918) 689-4222
Info provided by The
Bass Zone
Check out their website at
www.basszone.com
OU
Athletic Caravan to Make Stop at Lake Tenkiller
> Joe Castiglione, Kelvin Sampson, Ray Hayward scheduled to
appear NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department
Caravan is scheduled to make a stop at Lake Tenkiller on June 29. The
event, which will start off with bass fishing at the first of light
followed by a lunch at 2:30 p.m., will be held at Elk Creek Landing on
Lake Tenkiller. Athletics Director Joe Castiglione, head men's
basketball coach Kelvin Sampson and baseball pitching coach Ray Hayward
are scheduled to appear. The cost for the event, which includes fishing
and lunch, is $150. To make a reservation, contact the Sooner Club at
405/325-8000 or 1-800-522-0772, ext. 8000.
Channel
catfish record smashed!
Just about everyday in Oklahoma someone, somewhere is fishing for
catfish, but not once in the last 28 years has anyone caught a channel
catfish over 30 pounds. That changed the morning of May 16 when
Barry Bond of Clinton reeled in a
monster 34-pound, 11- ounce channel catfish.
Bond was fishing from a boat during the annual Canton Walleye Rodeo on
Canton Lake when he hooked the huge fish using spinning tackle and 30
pound test line. He used a sunfish for bait and was fishing for walleye
when the record fish hit.
"We were on the upper end of the lake and when it hit, it hit pretty
hard," Bond said. "After I set the hook, it got real stiff, like I just
had a log or a turtle."
It wasn't until the dark fish came to the surface that Bond realized
what he had hooked.
"I was pretty excited when I saw how big it was. It really took off
after that, but I finally got it into the boat," Bond said.
The huge fish measured 34 1/4 inches long and 25 inches in girth. It was
weighed on certified scales at the Canton Post Office and was verified
by John Stahl, northwest region fisheries supervisor for the Wildlife
Department.
The previous channel catfish record of 30 pounds was caught by Richard
Simmons in the Washita River in 1974.
Bond has donated the fish to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation and the Oklahoma Aquarium and the fish will be housed and
available for public display at the Aquarium, which is scheduled to open
this fall in Jenks. According to Bo Dempsey, fisheries biologist for the
Oklahoma Aquarium, the fish is eating and remains in good health. It
will be one of the largest captive channel catfish in the nation.
For a complete list of record fish and the procedures regarding state
record fish consult the “2002 Oklahoma Fishing Guide.” If you think you
may have hooked a record fish it is important that you weigh the fish on
a Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture certified scale and the
weight is verified by a Wildlife Department employee.
For the complete story about the new record channel catfish and
information on other state record fish, log on to
www.wildlifedepartment.com
Who: Barry Bond of Clinton, OK
What: new record Channel Catfish, 34 pounds 11 ounces, broke the
previous record of 30 pounds set in 1974.
When: Thursday, May 16, 2002
Where: Caught from Canton Lake during the 35th annual Canton Walleye
Rodeo. The fish will be housed and available for public display at the
Aquarium, which is scheduled to open this fall in Jenks (for more
information contact the Aquarium at (918) 296-3474).
How: The record fish was caught from a boat using a rod and reel with a
sunfish for bait.
Cold Front Blues What To Do!
Mother Nature can
destroy the best-made plans. You could be on any Oklahoma lake, at a peak
time of the year, with all of the latest gear, and still come up empty
handed after a dreaded cold front comes rolling through. Cold fronts have
given fisherman a time-honored excuse for poor fishing results. Whenever a
fellow angler uses the "cold front excuse" for a less than expected catch,
the excuse is accepted without question, and no more mention is made. It's
the code of the west.
Anglers, who have spent any amount of time
on the water, understand how devastating a severe cold front can be. Even
during the best of times, a cold front can shut things down totally, and it
may be several days before conditions get back to normal and the action
picks up again.
As tough as that sounds, the really good
anglers have learned to deal with this natural phenomenon, and know that
there are adjustments that can be made to help increase their odds of
finding and catching fish.
The first consideration in dealing with a
cold front, is judging it's timing. As bad as the whole cold front scenario
may sound, fishing can be pretty good at times, and a passing front can
actually spur fish activity. When a high-pressure system (a.k.a. cold front)
approaches, certain species can turn on and feed heavily. Weather associated
with a passing front can fall into the category of classic, optimum
conditions, like overcast skies, rain, and a good " chop". While good
fishing can be had (and even expected), before and during the passing of a
front, it‚s the period following that can get a little tough.
The period following is usually typified by
clear blue skies, low humidity, and high pressure. For whatever reason, this
period can bring fish activity to a grinding halt. It could be the high
pressure, it could be the added light, or it could be the fact that they've
already eaten everything they needed to get by for a couple days. Nobody
knows for sure, but it doesn't really matter as long as you know it happens.
Knowing that it does happen will allow you
to react accordingly, and adjust where and how you have been fishing, if
necessary.
The next consideration is measuring the
severity of the front, and includes whether or not it was accompanied by an
electrical storm, and how drastic the temperature has changed. Angling
during an electrical storm is absolutely crazy, and can be downright
phenomenal, but is not worth the risk, ever. The fact that it can be so
good, has kept anglers out longer than they should have, and some haven't
made it back.
Although the action can be pretty intense
before an electrical storm passes, the period following can be among the
toughest you'll face. While a cold front by itself has at least a small
chance to change things for the worse, a front accompanied by an electrical
storm can really shut things down. Whether it's all that electricity, or the
fact that electrical storms are often followed by big temperature and
pressure changes, fronts with lightening can be expected to have a
detrimental effect.
Regardless of the severity of a cold front,
the first thing to do is to relax, and not panic. If you've been on fish and
are worried about losing what you've had, stop worrying and get fishing. It
would be a mistake to immediately believe that all is lost, and you might as
well stay home. Even if a front has had an effect, there are ways to deal
with it.
If you've been on fish, the first thing to
do is get back there and see what's happening. If you get back and find
conditions similar to what they were, you better drop those fish a line and
see if they have had an attitude change. If conditions have changed, like
the notable absence of bait and fish on a graph, it may be time for altering
your game plan.
One of the first reactions to a big change
is to look a little deeper. Deeper is relative term, and may mean a few
feet, to twenty feet deeper or more. After a cold front passes, many fish
will head for deeper water, where they can hole up until better conditions
return. Although many of those fish will probably be turned off, chances are
that a least a few can be caught.
Another factor is that while there may be
plenty of fish shallow, there are almost always some deep. Deep fish are
less affected than those that are shallow, and they may continue to feed in
the same places, at the same times, as they did prior to the passing of
front.
Changes in presentations may become
necessary, especially if what you have been using is getting little or no
results. Small changes, like using smaller bait, may be all that is
necessary. For example, if you've been fishing for Hybrids, Stripers, or
Sandbass and you where using a large slab, like the big 3 oz Sooner Slab,
and you where dropping it to the bottom and cranking up, you may try
something with a softer action, like the Regular Sooner and finesse the lure
slowly on the bottom. Another option would be to put the slab down
completely, and try a live shad. The downside to replacing a slab with live
bait is the fact you may be giving up your big fish opportunities. Day in
and day out, fishing with the slab will produce bigger fish than with live
bait. On the other hand, live bait may be the only way to elicit a strike,
and may be your best option.
If you've been using live bait, you may
need to change to the slab slowly fishing the bottom.
All in all, cold fronts do have their
effect, but by making the right adjustments you can continue to catch fish
under the worst conditions. In fact, you just might surprise yourself by how
good it can really be.
 Have
you heard about this one? An Outboard motor oil, that helps protect the
environment, Increases gas mileage, and performance all at once!
Read the articles from:
______________________________________________________
Page [1] [2]
[3] [4]
|
