New app for wildlife refuges
The 40-Foot Hole is a favorite hiking destination in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Tim Campbell.
Want to know where is the nearest national wildlife refuge and what can you do for fun there? Well, now there is an iphone app for that and it’s free to download until April 1.
“Myrefuge,” a mobile application by Zaia Design, helps outdoor enthusiasts explore natural areas and learn what resources refuges offer.
It features searchable maps and instant information on bird watching, trails and historic sites. The app currently showcases 59 of the country’s 556 national wildlife refuges, including the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in southwest Oklahoma, but more are continually being added.
“MyRefuge” can be downloaded from iTunes: http://bit.ly/v3diSJ and appshopper: http://bit.ly/uKh1jg. After April 1, the app will cost $.99.
For each refuge on the app, detailed maps show trails, recreational facilities such as photo blinds, hunting blinds and fishing areas, and nearby public roads. The app tells viewers, for example, about the length of auto tour routes and identifies hiking trails by trail length and location. The app also tells you how near you are to any featured refuge.
You can also pick up highlights of a refuge’s history, culture or wildlife setting along with birding information and safety tips.
Jim Kurth, chief of the Refuge System, part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said the app is “one of many exciting new ways the Refuge System is finding to engage people, especially young people, in appreciating recreation in natural settings. The refuge system conserves our wildlife heritage. Our lives are all richer for making that connection.”
The MyRefuge app was conceived by Eugene Marino, cultural resources program manager for the refuge system. “The idea is to give people a new way to learn about cultural resources and other activities we offer,” he said.
National wildlife refuges not only conserve America’s wildlife habitat but they also preserve archaeological sites, museum collections of artifacts, and historic homes and lighthouses.
More than 320 refuges offer hunting and fishing. Many also contain hiking and canoe trails.
Weekly Fishing Report
Jerry Reed of Canton caught this 21-pound channel cat last week at Canton Lake. The lake record, however, is 34 pounds. "The channel cat fishing up here has been excellent and they are starting to catch a lot of walleye on the rocks," said angler Donnie Jinkens of Canton.
Here is the latest fishing report compiled by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
CENTRAL
Arcadia: March 11. Water murky. Channel catfish slow to fair. Crappie slow to fair on minnows and jigs around structure. Report submitted by Chance Whiteley, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.
Hefner: March 11. Elevation below normal, water 46-51 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and soft plastic baits at 4-15 ft. Smallmouth bass fair on spinnerbaits, soft plastic baits and crankbaits at 4-15 ft. White bass good on grubs and lipless baits at 6-20 ft. Channel catfish good on cut baits at 8-12 ft. in the inlet area. Blue catfish fair on cut bait at 20-25 ft. at the dam. Crappie fair on jigs at 15-20 ft. at the dam. Walleye fair on jerk baits and grubs at 3-10 ft. along rocky shorelines. Report submitted by Lucky Lure Tackle.
Overholser: March 12. Water murky. Catfish fair on cut shad and worms along west side of the lake. Report by David Rempe, game warden Oklahoma and Canadian counties.
Thunderbird: March 10. Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water clear. Crappie fair on small minnows and small jigs at 10-12 ft. off the dam and Willow Creek. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.
Wes Watkins: March 12. Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water 55 and murky. Northwest boat ramp is closed due to low water. Largemouth bass fair on shad and worms around windy points. Crappie fair on minnows around deep structure. Report submitted by Mike France, game warden stationed in Pottawatomie County.
NORTHEAST
Bell Cow: March 11. Elevation below normal water 55 and clear. Crappie fair on minnows at 12 ft. off the fishing dock. Report submitted Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.
Birch: March 11. Elevation 8 ft. below normal, water 50 and clear. Largemouth bass being caught on plastic craws. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around structure. Report submitted by David Clay, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Carl Blackwell: March 14. Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water 52 and muddy. Crappie fair on jigs. Saugeye fair trolling crankbaits. Report submitted by Jon Cunningham, game warden stationed in Payne County.
Copan: March 11. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water clearing. Crappie good on minnows at 4-8 ft. near Osage Plains and the new fishing dock at Copan Point. Catfish slow on cut shad below the dam and near Copan Point. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.
Eucha: March 13. Elevation slightly above normal, water 53 and clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 14-16 ft. around brush and structure. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.
Ft. Gibson: March 9. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 52 and clear. White bass slow on shad, white grubs and swim baits in the main river and creeks. Largemouth bass good on crank baits and spinnerbaits at 5-15 ft. in the shallow coves and south facing banks. Catfish good on shad and cut bait in the main river channel and below the dam. Crappie fair on chartreuse jigs and minnows at 15 ft. under the docks and in submerged brush. Report submitted by Rick Stafford in Wagoner.
Grand: March 12. Elevation below normal, water 52. Bass good on worms at 10-20 ft. around points. White bass fair up creek channels. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. Paddlefish fair from Sailboat Bridge to the Ogeechee Flats. Report submitted by Kody Moore, game warden stationed in Delaware County.
Greenleaf: March 12. Elevation normal, water clear. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and bill baits along creek channels, rocky points and brush structure. Catfish good on fresh cut bait and stinkbait on bottom near the spillway and upper end of creek channels. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 12 ft. around fishing docks and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.
Hudson: March 12. Largemouth bass good on plastic baits and spinnerbaits. White bass fair to good on small lures; not quite at full run. Crappie good on minnows and jigs up coves and creeks and around brush areas. Paddlefish fair and starting to move closer to dams. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Rogers and Mayes counties.
Hulah: March 11. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water clearing. Crappie good on minnows at 4-8 ft. near and around Skull Creek. Channel catfish slow on cut shad on bottom. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.
Keystone: March 13. Elevation normal, water 57. Largemouth bass fair on plastic baits at 10-12 ft. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. Report submitted by Karlin Bailey, game warden stationed in Creek County.
Lower Illinois: March 13. Elevation normal, water 44 and clear. Largemouth bass slow on sink baits and jerk baits at 2 ft. in coves. White bass slow on jigs at 1-3 ft. all along the river. Striped bass slow on jigs at 1-3 ft. at the mouth of the river. Striped bass hybrids slow on jigs at 1-3 ft. at the mouth of the river. Channel catfish good on cut bait on bottom all along the river. Crappie slow on jigs at 1-3 ft. all along the river. Trout excellent fly-fishing on the surface, on rooster tails at 1-2 ft. and on Power Bait on bottom from the dam to Gore Landing. Report submitted by D. Tracy, Town of Gore.
Oologah: March 10. Elevation normal, water lower 50s and clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 12-18 ft. around brush piles. Blue catfish fair on juglines baited with shad at 20-25 ft. near the river channel. White bass fair on jigs in the Verdigris River above the lake and fair on jigs below the dam. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.
Pawhuska: March 11. Elevation below normal, water 50 and clear. Trout good on Power Bait and sliver Super Dupers. Report submitted by David Clay, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Skiatook: March 13. Elevation 13 ft. below normal, water upper 40s to lower 50s and clear. Largemouth bass fair on soft plastic baits in the back of creeks. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair drifting live shad at 30-40 ft. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Sooner: March 12. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair on slabs and live shad. Catfish fair on cut bait and live bait in channels. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County.
Spavinaw: March 13. Elevation slightly above normal, water 53 and dingy. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around the dam area. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.
Tenkiller: March 12. Water 54 and clear. Largemouth bass slow on crankbaits and soft plastics at 5-15 ft. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs around docks. Sunfish fair on worm-tipped jigs in or near the docks. Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort.
Webbers Falls: March 12. Elevation normal, water murky. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits along riprap, creek channels and brush structure. Catfish good on fresh cut bait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around bridges. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.
NORTHWEST
Canton: March 10. Elevation 10 ft. below normal, water clear. Walleye good on jigs and crankbaits along dam after sundown. Channel catfish good on shad in river channel. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County.
Ft. Supply: March 12. Elevation normal, water murky. White bass and crappie fair jigging along the bank at the dam. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Woodward County.
SOUTHEAST
Arbuckle: March 10. Elevation 3 1/2 ft. below normal, water 53 and stained in upper creeks, clear in the main lake. Bass being caught on crankbaits in shad patterns, Texas-rigged blue/black lizards off rocks and Alabama rigs. Crappie being caught at 12-15 ft. brush piles and good around docks early and late. White bass being caught on crankbaits, grubs and rattletraps in upper creeks along and near creek channels. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Blue River: March 12. Elevation normal, water 59 and clear. Trout good on salmon eggs, Power Bait and jigs. Fly-fishing good on hare’s ear, woolly buggers and midges. Smallmouth and spotted bass fair around structure in larger pools. Channel catfish fair on stinkbait around current in large pools. Report submitted by Matt Gamble, biologist at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.
Broken Bow: March 11. Bass being caught on crankbaits; they are moving to shallower water along the mouths of creeks. White bass should start to run in the next few weeks and will be caught on white or yellow road runners and white or chartreuse jigs. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs. Walleye fair on grubs and rogues in the upper end of the river along the narrows. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Eufaula: March 11. Elevation normal, water clear. Largemouth bass good on jerk baits and crankbaits in rocky areas. Blue catfish fair on fresh shad along deep flats. Crappie fair on minnows at 6-15 ft. along riprap, standing timber and boat docks. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: March 11. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 52. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits along the edges of creek channels. Channel catfish good on below the dam when releasing water. Crappie good on minnows in the creek channels of the Kiamichi River and good below the dam when releasing water. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw and Bryan counties.
Konawa: March 12. Elevation normal, water 56 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on plastic worms at 4-6 ft. along weed beds and cattails. White bass and striped bass hybrids good on minnows and jigs at 15 ft. in the discharge canal. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.
Lower Mt. Fork: March 11. Water flow 100 cfs above Powerhouse, visibility 3 ft., water 55 and clear. Call 866-494-1993 for hydroelectric release schedule. Big rainbows and browns have been caught this week on March Brown Dry flies on smooth water high stick presentation with nymphs in fast water. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
McGee Creek: March 11. Elevation 1/4 ft. above normal, water 52 and clear. Largemouth bass fair to good on soft plastic lures and spinnerbaits at 4-12 ft. Crappie fair at 10-20 ft. around cedar brush just off of main creek channels. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County.
Murray: March 13. Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water 53 and murky. Largemouth and smallmouth bass good on various baits. White bass good. Crappie slow to fair around brush piles, tires and structure. Walleye fair at the dam before dark. Report submitted by Jeremy Brothers, game warden stationed in Carter County.
Pine Creek: March 11. Elevation normal and rising, water murky. Bass fair on crankbaits at 15 ft. Crappie fair on minnows. Catfish picking up on liver. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Robert S. Kerr: March 12. Elevation normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair along riprap. White bass fair in the Big San Bois Creek. Catfish good on shad and minnows in creek channels. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs in the Big San Bois Creek arm. Report submitted by Leland Sockey, game warden stationed in Haskell County.
Sardis: March 9. Elevation normal, water 51. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and swim baits at 3-14 ft. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait and dead minnows. Crappie good on minnows at 11-16 ft. Walleye fair trolling at 12-14 ft. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
Texoma: March 11. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 50 and mostly clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair to good on crankbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic combination baits at 10-15 ft. in the creek channels. Striped and white bass fair to good on live bait, sassy shad and slabs at 15-20 ft. from Alberta Creek to Caney Creek. Channel and blue catfish fair to good on stinkbait and live bait at 10-15 ft. from Johnson Creek to Platter Flats. Crappie fair to good on minnows and worms at 10-15 ft. in Glasses and Kansas creek. Paddlefish fair below the dam while generating. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: March 11. Elevation normal, water murky. Crappie good on minnows and jigs below the dam. Largemouth bass good on black 6-inch plastic worms, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfish fair to good on juglines baited with cut shad and liver. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
SOUTHWEST
Altus-Lugert: March 11. Elevation 26 1/3 ft. below normal and rising slowly. Walleye and white bass being caught on minnows and jigs off the main swim beach and Hicks Mtn. Report submitted by Sue Hokanson.
Ellsworth: March 11. Elevation 11 1/2 ft. below normal. Blue catfish good on juglines baited with cut bait. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
Foss: March 13. Elevation 6 1/2 ft. below normal with gates closed, water high 50s and clear. Striped bass hybrids fair on slabs in deep water. Walleye fair on live bait along dam. Bass slow on live bait. Crappie fair. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.
Tom Steed: March 12. Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water murky and 45. Saugeye fair on jigs at 5-10 ft. along rock areas. Crappie fair on minnows at 20 ft. near dam. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County.
Waurika: March 14. Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water murky to muddy. Blue catfish slow to fair on cut bait in channels using rod-and-reel and juglines. Crappie slow to fair on minnows and jigs around rocks off Corum Road. Report submitted by Vince Mesis, game warden stationed in Cotton County.
Weekly Fishing Report
David Definfender of Oklahoma City with a brown trout from the Lower Mountain Fork River
CENTRAL
Arcadia: March 4. Elevation below normal. Crappie slow to fair on jigs around docks and points. Report submitted by Chance Whiteley, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.
Hefner: March 6. Elevation below normal and rising, water 48-52 and murky. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits at 5-15 ft. on the east side. Smallmouth bass fair on crankbaits at 5-15 ft. on the east side. White bass good on grubs and Gay Blades at 6-15 ft. Channel catfish good on cut bait at 20 ft. along the dam. Blue catfish fair on cut bait at 20 ft. along the dam. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 12-18 ft. Walleye good on jerk baits at 2-10 ft. along rocky shorelines. Report submitted by Lucky Lure Tackle.
Thunderbird: March 4. Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10-12 ft. off dam and Willow Creek. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.
Wes Watkins: March 5. Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water clear. Northwest boat ramp is closed due to low water. Largemouth bass fair on shad and worms around windy points. Crappie fair on minnows around deep structure. Report submitted by Mike France, game warden stationed in Pottawatomie County.
NORTHEAST
Birch: March 4. Elevation 8 ft. below normal, water 50 and clear. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around structure. Report submitted David Clay, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Carl Blackwell: March 6. Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water 52 and muddy. Crappie fair on jigs. Saugeye fair trolling crankbaits. Report submitted by Jon Cunningham, game warden stationed in Payne County.
Copan: March 5. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water clearing. Crappie slow on minnows at 4-8 ft. near Osage Plains and the new fishing dock at Copan Point. Catfish slow on cut shad below the dam and near Copan Point. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.
Eucha: March 7. Elevation slightly below normal, water 52 and clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 14-16 ft. around brush and structure. Largemouth bass fair on plastic baits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.
Ft. Gibson: March 2. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 50 and clear. White bass good on whole shad on the bottom in the main channel of the river in the Three Finger Bay Area. Largemouth bass excellent on crankbaits and spinnerbaits at 5-15 ft. Catfish good on shad and little smokies in the main channel in the main lake. Crappie excellent on minnows and jigs in the Paradise Cove area under the docks and structure. Report Submitted by Rick Stafford of Wagoner.
Grand: March 6. Elevation below normal, water 51. Bass fair on worms at 10-15 ft. off points. White bass fair up creeks. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. Paddlefish fair from Sailboat Bridge to Grays Ranch. Report submitted by Kody Moore, game warden stationed in Delaware County.
Greenleaf: March 5. Elevation normal, water clear. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits along shorelines, creek channels, brush structure and rocky points. Catfish good on fresh cut bait and stinkbait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs in green, yellow and red around fishing docks and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.
Hulah: March 5. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water clearing. Crappie slow on minnows at 4-8 ft. near and around Skull Creek. Channel catfish slow on cut shad on bottom. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.
Kaw: March 5. Elevation near normal, water 51 and murky. The water at the Coon Creek boat ramp is too low to launch boats. Blue catfish very good on juglines baited with fresh or frozen cut shad at 10 ft. in or near the Arkansas River channel from the Sarge Creek Bridge up stream with the best area being around Coon Creek, and upstream from the Washunga Bay Bridge. White bass being caught on small white curly tail jigs. Crappie fair at 10 ft. around boat slips at both marinas, and on the riprap at Sarge Creek and Washunga bay. Walleye and white bass being caught on small jigs below Kaw dam in the discharge area. The paddlefish that spawn below Kaw Dam spend most of the year, winter; summer and fall in Keystone Lake, in the spring they make a spawning run into the rivers that form the lake. The Arkansas, Cimarron and the Salt Fork of the Arkansas Rivers, depending on preferred water conditions by the paddlefish they choose one of these three rivers to run up and spawn. The Salt Fork confluences with the Arkansas River 90 miles upstream from Keystone Lake and 8 miles south of Ponca City. The paddlefish are going to choose the river that has the biggest flow of water with the warmest temperature. Paddlefish spawn between 53 and 60 degrees. A tip that will help knowing approximate surface water temps is the water temperature will be close to overnight low air temps. Report submitted by Larry Green, game warden stationed in Osage County; for more information call 580-761-4097.
Lower Illinois: March 5. Elevation normal, water 42 and clear. Largemouth bass slow on crankbaits at 1-3 ft. all along the river in the coves. White bass fair on jigs at 1-3 ft. all along the river. Striped bass fair on jigs at 1-4 ft. at the mouth of the river. Channel catfish good on cut bait on bottom all along the river. Blue catfish good on cut bait on bottom at the dam. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 1-3 ft. all along the river. Trout excellent fly-fishing the surface, on rooster tails at 1-2 ft. and on Power Bait on bottom from the dam to Gore Landing. Report submitted D. Tracy, Town of Gore.
Oologah: March 4. Elevation near normal, water clear and near 50. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 12-18 ft. around brush piles. Blue catfish fair on juglines baited with shad at 20-25 ft. near the river channel. White bass fair on jigs below the dam. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.
Pawhuska: March 4. Elevation below normal, water 50 and clear. Trout good on Power Bait and small spinnerbaits. Report submitted David Clay, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Skiatook: March 6. Elevation 13 ft. below normal, water upper 40s and clear. Largemouth bass fair on soft plastic baits in the back of creeks. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair drifting live shad at 30-40 ft. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Sooner: March 5. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair on live shad and slabs in the lake and fair on sassy shad and live shad in the discharge. Catfish fair on cut bait and live bait. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County.
Spavinaw: March 7. Elevation slightly above normal, water 52 and dingy. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around the dam area. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.
Tenkiller: March 5. Water 50 and clear. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass slow on crankbaits and spinnerbaits along the bluffs and rocky shores. Crappie slow on minnows or jigs in or near docks. Catfish fair on flip-flops with cut bait at 20-40 ft. Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort.
Webbers Falls: March 5. Elevation normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits along riprap and brush structure. Catfish good on fresh cut bait and stinkbait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs in purple and black around bridges and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.
NORTHWEST
Canton: March 3. Elevation 10 ft. below normal. Channel catfish good on cut shad in river channel near spillway. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County.
Ft. Supply: March 5. Elevation normal, water clear. White bass good on jigs along the dam. Walleye fair on jigs along the shorelines. Report submitted Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Woodward County.
SOUTHEAST
Arbuckle: March 4. Elevation 3 1/3 ft. below normal, water 50-53 degrees and stained up creeks. Bass being caught on Alabama rigs, crankbaits and Texas-rigged lizards. Crappie being caught at 12 ft. on most brush piles and fair at the docks. White bass being caught on small grubs and rattletraps during warm afternoons moving up stream to shallows. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Blue River: March 6. Elevation normal, water 59. Trout good on in-line spinnerbaits, brown jigs and Power Bait. Fly-fishing good on olive woolly buggers, zebra midges, prince nymphs and hares ear. Channel catfish fair on minnows and stinkbait around structure in larger pools. Report submitted by Matt Gamble, biologist at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.
Broken Bow: March 5. Bass good on Alabama rigs around structure. White bass should start to run in the next two weeks. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around structure. Walleye being caught on rogues and grubs in the upper end. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Eufaula: March 4. Elevation normal, water clear. Largemouth bass fair on jerk baits, crankbaits and plastic baits in rocky areas. Blue catfish fair on fresh shad along deeper flats. Crappie fair on minnows at 8-15 ft. along riprap, standing timber and boat docks. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: March 4. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 52. Crappie fair on minnows along the river channel and creek channels. Largemouth bass fair near structure along points off the main channel. Blue catfish and crappie good below the dam. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw and Bryan counties.
Konawa: March 3. Elevation normal, water 52 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on plastic worms at 4-6 ft. in the cattails. White bass and striped bass hybrids good on minnows and jigs at 15 ft. in the discharge canal. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.
Lower Mountain Fork River: March 4. Water flow 100 cfs above the Powerhouse, water 53 and clear. Big rainbows and browns being caught on March Brown Dry flies on smooth water High Stick presentation with nymphs in fast water. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
McGee Creek: March 4. Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water 50 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on soft plastic lures and jig-and-pigs at 6-20 ft. Crappie fair at 10-20 ft. around cedar brush just off of main creek channels. Report submitted Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County.
Murray: March 5. Water 52. Largemouth and smallmouth bass good on various baits. White bass slow to fair on rattletraps and jigs in the north end. Crappie slow to fair around brush piles. Report submitted by Jeremy Brothers, game warden stationed in Carter County.
Pine Creek: March 4. Elevation normal and dropping, water clear. Bass great on spinnerbaits and crankbaits at 15 ft. Crappie good on minnows but catches are smaller fish. Catfish picking up on liver. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Robert S. Kerr: March 6. Elevation normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair. Catfish fair on minnows and shad in creek channels. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush piles. Report submitted by Leland Sockey, game warden stationed in Haskell County.
Sardis: March 3. Elevation normal, water 53. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits, swim baits, plastic worms and spinnerbaits at 4-7 ft. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 5-15 ft. Walleye fair trolling at 11-14 ft. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
Texoma: March 4. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 50 and mostly clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair to good on crankbaits, plastic worms, and slabs at 10-20 ft. around the drop-offs and creek channels. Striped and white bass fair to good on live bait, sassy shad and slabs at 15-25 ft. in the river channels. Channel and blue catfish fair to good on live bait, stinkbait and worms at 10-15 ft. from Platter Flats to Johnston Creek. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 5-15 ft. in Glasses, Widow Moore and Kansas creeks. Paddlefish fair below the dam while generating. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: March 4. Elevation normal, water murky. Crappie good on minnows and jigs below the dam. Largemouth bass good on 6-inch black plastic worms, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfish fair to good on juglines baited with cut shad and liver. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
SOUTHWEST
Altus-Lugert: March 4. Elevation 26 1/2 ft. below normal and slowly rising. Walleye and white bass being caught off Hicks Mountain. Catfish good on night crawlers from the main swim beach. Report submitted by Sue Hokanson.
Ellsworth: March 4. Elevation 11 1/2 ft. below normal. Blue catfish good on juglines baited with cut bait. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
Ft. Cobb: March 7. Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water 55 and clear. There are still two boat ramps, Sunset and Lemon Hill. Crappie slow on minnows around Marina and boat slips late evening and early mornings. Catfish biting on juglines baited cut shad around rocks by the dam mainly at night. Report submitted by Kevin Bean, park ranger at Ft. Cobb State Park.
Tom Steed: March 6. Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water 45. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 20 ft. near the dam. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County.
Waurika: March 6. Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water murky to muddy. Striped bass hybrids slow on jigs. Blue catfish fair on juglines and rod-and-reel at 3-12 ft. in the channels. Report submitted by Vince Mesis, game warden stationed in Cotton County.
Website details Oklahoma hiking
A hiker at the top of Black Mesa with New Mexico peaks in the background.
Larry Floyd, one of the co-authors of Oklahoma Hiking Trails, undoubtedly the most comprehensive book ever written about hiking trails in the state, sent me an email to let me know about new features on the Oklahoma Hiking Trails website.
The biggest addition is the news page, www.bestoklahomatrails.com/news.html, which will feature a selected hike each month, updates on state trails and hikes and any other hiking-related announcements.
The featured hike each month will be a venue from somewhere in the state and will include directions to the trailhead, a narrative of the trail and a trail map for this hike, Floyd said.
Visitors to the news page can download or print the trail map and narrative as a PDF on a standard-sized sheet of copy paper. The page also provides an email link for anyone who wants to provide hiking-related information
“We have also added a website page featuring Oklahoma’s highpoint, Black Mesa Summit at 4,973-feet and near Kenton in the far northwest corner of the Panhandle,” Floyd said. “Oklahoma’s highpoint at Black Mesa probably gets most of its traffic from outside the state, primarily members of the national Highpointers Club.
“These Highpointers have an obsessive habit of visiting the highest point in each of the 50 states. I ought to know. I have collected 44 state highpoints myself as a member of the Highpointers Club.”
The website page should serve as the definitive page for anyone from in or outside the state who wants to visit Oklahoma’s exotic highpoint in the Panhandle, Floyd said.
It also includes a PDF for downloading or printing the trail map and narrative. The Black Mesa page on the website can be found at www.bestoklahomatrails.com/blackmesatrail.html.
New Texoma Largemouth Record
Royce Harlan with the new Lake Texoma largemouth bass record
Royce Harlan, the former owner of Nichols Marine in Norman, caught a 12-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass Saturday that is the new lake record for Lake Texoma.
Harlan was fishing in a JC bass tournament that he and his partner, Gary Bolser, won with a 25.54-pound bag.
He caught the big fish on a Carolina rig and released it after the weigh in.
Harlan, a graduate of U.S. Grant High School, moved to Lake Texoma from Oklahoma City about one year ago to retire. He is in the process of selling his boat business to his partners.
Harlan has now caught two lake records at Texoma in two years.
He also holds the spotted bass record for Lake Texoma, catching the 3.8 pound spotted bass on Texoma in March 2010.
Watonga Trout Derby
Anglers will be fishing for tagged rainbow trout in the Watonga Trout Derby
The Watonga Trout Derby is Friday through Sunday (March 2-4) at Lake Watonga in Roman Nose State Park.
Anglers can register for the derby at the lake from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday.
All fish must be weighed in by 3 p.m. Sunday which will mark the end of the derby.
The three-day event gives anglers a chance to catch tagged trout for prizes. An additional 100 tagged trout are put in the lake in conjunction with the normal trout stockings done by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
A drawing for the tags from all registered trout will determine the $300 grand prize cash winner.
A $100 prize will be given in the senior division (ages 18 and older) for the biggest trout caught each day. In the junior division (ages 17 and younger), a $50 prize will be awarded each day for the largest trout..
Prizes also will be given for the heaviest stringer of trout. All tagged trout are worth cash or gifts.
Alsor, one registration will be drawn to win a deluxe patio package from Lowes valued at more than $1,200 and a “Stay and Play” package from Oklahoma State Parks also will be given away. The package includes a one night stay in a cabin or standard lodge room at Roman Nose State Park, plus one round of golf for two, including cart.
The trout derby is sponsored by Friends of Roman Nose State Park and the Watonga Chamber of Commerce.
H&H Shooting Sporting Complex Power Lunch Outdoors Chat with Ed Godfrey and Nels Rodefeld
