Turkey and crappie
Today is the final day of spring turkey season and what a sorry one it was. Stormy weather, howling winds and henned up birds made this spring’s hunting season one of the toughest in memory for many hunters.
Some hunters, of course, had success. But just based on the stories I’ve heard and the number of photos I’ve received from turkey hunters this spring, it appears the number of gobblers killed this year will be way down.
Crappie fishing, however, is picking up on some local lakes. On Monday, two anglers on Lake Thunderbird reported the crappie were on the banks and sent me photos of a couple of ice chests of fish as proof.
At Canton Lake, northwest of Oklahoma City, guide Donnie Jinkens said the best crappie fishing should be in the next couple of weeks.
“The crappie are starting to come in,” he said. “We are just a little ways away.”
The sand bass and hybrid fishing remain strong on Canton by trolling and drifting, and the draft fishing for walleye in the flats has been excellent, he said.
Anglers are also catching crappie off the fishing piers on Oklahoma City lakes – Draper, Hefner and Overhosler – on small minnows and jigs.
You will need a boat, since the pedestrian areas below Hefner Dam are closed, but anglers have been catching walleye by drift fihsing with bottom-bouncing sinkers and earthworms near the dam, said Bob Martin, fishery biologist for the City of Oklahoma City.
Trolling with crankbaits, in-line spinners and minnows and worms are also effectivce for Hefner walleye, he said.
And believe it or not, anglers are still catching rainbow trout at Dolese Youth Park Pond in Oklahoma City, NW 50 and Meridian. Bass Pro Shops had a kids day last weekend at Dolese and kids were catching fish, Martin said.
“If they are biting for kids, they will be biting for adults,” he said.
Anglers fishing on Oklahoma City municipal waters need to remember that a city fishing permit is required in addition to a state fishing license.
At Foss Lake, Eric Puyear of the B & K Bait House reports that fishing for walleye is fair with live bait along rocks on the dam. Hybrids are fair with live bait and white or chartreuse jigs. The sand bass fishing is slow but the catfish are biting on Danny King stink bait.
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