Big bass from McGee Creek
Tim Pryor of Greenwood, Ark., caught this 10-pound largemouth Saturday at McGee Creek
McGee Creek, an Oklahoma big bass factory in southeastern Oklahoma near Atoka, coughed a 10-pounder Saturday for an Arkansas angler.
Tim Pryor of Greenwood, Ark., caught his lunker on a drop shot rig while fishing with McGee Creek guide Chuck Justice. The fish measured 25 inches in length and an 18-inch girth.
It is the second 10-pound plus fish to come from McGee Creek this month. Justice caught a 10 pound, 7 ounce largemouth on a 5-inch Gene Larew Salt Head Shaky Worm two weeks ago.
“Winter time fishing is always really good down here,” Justice said. “That’s when I catch my most fish.”
During the winter, Justice said the fish go deeper but group in tighter schools. The trick is not so much catching them, but finding them.
Pryor’s big bass was caught at a depth of 50 feet, Justice said. The other 10-pounder was hooked at a depth of 45 feet.
Justice, who owns the McGee Creek lake record largemouth (12 pounds, 7 ounces) said he catches more, but “skinnier” fish during the winter.
“But that will totally change in February,” he said.
Justice said 90 percent of the bass he catches in January are males, but that flip-flops in February.
“In February, the females start making up for lost time,” he said.
“They are getting ready for the spawn and they start feeding up and I starting catching a lot more healthier, fatter fish.”
For more information on McGee Creek bass fishing, call Justice at (580) 889-6742 or visit www.chuckjustice.com.
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Comments
There truly are some giant bass in Mcgee. I landed a 13.82 post spawn largemouth there last June and have lost two others that were larger, lost them both at the boat. It won’t be long before someone lands a 15 plus from Mcgee, they are definetely in there. I have a feeling it will be sometime this spring.
Tim Prior’s Large Mouth Bass,the 10 pounder was a wonderful one. *Note:Early Spring 08 We had two young men scuba diving who brought in great pictures of super large catfish and Lg Mouth bass and showed them to us on their under water camera. They were bigger than any caught that we have seen here at our store,so far.
It was a thrill to measure and weigh Tim’s lunker and the smile on his face as IB checked it in, was priceless. We’re anticipating new state records coming out of McGee Creek Lake, whatever the species.
We’re looking forward to the next anglers bringing in even larger fish. So far, the best smallmouth is 4 lbs., and Chuck’s 12lb.7oz, can be seen here at the store, if anglers need a little inspriration. What a great article on the McGee Fish and a great place to view them. IB & Connie Moreland, McGee Creek Store-Lake Records Check-in.