Weekly Fishing Report
Here is this week’s fishing report as compiled by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
CENTRAL
Arcadia: December 20. Elevation 11 ft. below normal. Blue catfish good to fair on blood and dough baits, at 9 ft. in morning around coves in central north shores. Crappie good to fair on jigs and minnows in the morning at the south docks at 5-7 ft. All other fishing fair. Report by Linnie Mason.
NORTHEAST
Ft Gibson: December 21. Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 51 and clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. around docks. Catfish good drift fishing the main channel using whole shad and sunfish. Bass fair on crankbaits and plastic craws at 10-20 ft. Report submitted by Rick Stafford of Wagoner.
Lower Illinois: December 24 . Elevation normal, water 49 and clear. Largemouth bass slow on crankbaits at 1-2 ft. in coves and under the bridge. Striped bass slow on trout and shad at river mouth. Channel catfish excellent on cut bait on bottom 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 by D. Tracy, Town of Gore.
Pawhuska: December 23. Trout good on Power Bait and Super Dupers. Report submitted by David Clay, game warden stationed in Osage County.
NORTHWEST
Canton: December 23. Elevation 9 ft. below normal, water clear. Channel catfish fair on stinkbait and cut chad near big bend and spill way. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed Blaine County.
Ft. Supply: December 23. Elevation 3-4 ft. below normal. Crappie fair jigging at the intake. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Woodward County.
SOUTHEAST
Lake of the Arbuckles: December 22. Elevation 5 1/4 ft. below normal, water 53 and clear to stained in upper arms. Algae bloom on surface. Crappie slow on docks, brushpiles in 25+ ft. water, good using white or chartreuce jigs and minnows. Sand bass have moved to the knolls and dropoofs in midlake out from dam, ¾ oz. CC spoon near drops. Bass fishing can be good using crankbaits, jerkbaits and dropshot jigs, Alabama rigs also working. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Broken Bow: December 23. Elevation below normal, water clear. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass good on spinner and crankbaits in 10-15 ft. around structure. Catfish good on juglines and trotlines baited with live sunfish and cut bait. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 20-25 ft. around points and dead standing timber. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Konawa: December 23. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal, water 58 and clear. Largemouth bass good on plastic worms and crankbaits at 5-15 ft. in the discharge canal and around points. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.
Lower Mountain Fork River: December 23. Try mayfly nymphs in sizes 16, 18 and 20. Size 20 soft hackles in yellow, olive and orange are working in all three zones as well as pink and yellow egg patterns. Report submitted by Jesse King, Three Rivers Fly Shop.
McGee Creek: December 26. Elevation 9 ft. below normal, water 56 and clear. Fishing is slow due to weather this week.
Robert S. Kerr: December 25. Bass fair on crankbaits and stick baits off points, along creek channels and up river in coves. Spotted bass excellent up Canadian River, look for concentrations of gulls. Crappie fair around deeper submerged brush. White bass and striped bass fair on minnows and shad crankbaits up river in deeper holes and around rock ledges. Channel and blue catfish excellent on trotlines and juglines baited with cut bait at 12-20 ft. close to creek and river channels. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Haskell County.
Sardis Lake: December 21. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal, water 49. Largemouth bass good on stick baits and crankbaits at 4-6 ft. in creek channels. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 10-14 ft. Walleye fair trolling at 8-14 ft. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
Texoma: December 23. Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water 60 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair to good on crankbaits and plastic worms at 5-20 ft. in the creek channels. Striped and white bass fair to good on live bait, sassy shad and slabs at 10-30 ft. from Platter Flats to Caney creek. Channel and blue catfish fair to good at 10-20 ft. from the Washita River to Catfish Bay on live bait, worms and stinkbait. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 5-20 ft. around underwater brush. Sunfish fair on worms and small tube jigs at 5-10 ft. around the fishing docks. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: December 23. Elevation 2 ft. below normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on black/blue plastic worms and good on silver crankbaits. Crappie fair on white tail grubs at 15-20 ft. Catfish fair on jug lines and trotlines baited with cut bait and liver. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
SOUTHWEST
Foss: December 25. Elevation 11 3/4 ft. below normal with gates closed, water high-40s and clear. Hybrids fair on slabs in deep water. Walleye fair on live bait. Crappie slow. Catfish fair with dough bait. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.
More Americans fishing, hunting and watching wildlife
A national survey shows a dramatic increase in wildlife-related activities by Americans.
The details are shown in the final report (Final Report) of the 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation which was released Thursday by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Final Report, which follows the August 2012 Preliminary Review and the September 2012 State Overview, provides more information on the types of activities and money spent for fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching.
Highlights of the Final Report include:
More than 90 million U.S. residents 16 years old and older participated in some form of wildlife-related recreation in 2011; that is up 3 percent from five years earlier.
The increase was primarily among those who fished and hunted.
Wildlife recreationists spent $144.7 billion in 2011 on their activities, which equated to 1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.
Of the total amount spent, $49.5 billion was trip-related, $70.4 billion was spent on equipment, and $24.8 billion was spent on other items such as licenses and land leasing and ownership.
The number of sportspersons rose from 33.9 million in 2006 to 37.4 million in 2011. The data show that 33.1 million people fished, 13.7 million hunted, and 71.8 million participated in at least one type of wildlife-watching activity such as observing, feeding and photographing wildlife.
Fishing and Hunting
Of the 13.7 million hunters that took to the field in 2011, 11.6 million hunted big game, 4.5 million hunted small game, 2.6 million hunted migratory birds, and 2.2 million other animals.
Of the 33.1 million anglers that fished, 27.5 million freshwater fished and 8.9 million saltwater fished.
While 94 percent of the U.S. population 16 years of age and older resided in metropolitan areas (50,000 and over populations), 89 percent of all anglers and 80 percent of all hunters were metropolitan residents.
73 percent (24.2 million) of all anglers were male and 27 percent(8.9 million) were female. 89 percent (12.2 million) of all hunters were males and 11 percent (1.5 million) were females.
Wildlife Watching Highlights
71.8 million U.S. residents observed, fed, and/or photographed birds and other wildlife in 2011. Almost 68.6 million people wildlife watched around their homes, and 22.5 million people took trips of at least one mile from home to primarily wildlife watch.
Of the 46.7 million people who observed wild birds, 88% did so around their homes and 38% on trips a mile or more from home.
Other types of wildlife also were popular for trip takers: 13.7 million people enjoyed watching land mammals such as bear, squirrel, and buffalo.
Four million people watched marine mammals such as whales and dolphins; 6.4 million enjoyed watching fish; and 10.1 million enjoyed watching other wildlife such as butterflies.
People spent $54.9 billion on their wildlife-watching trips, equipment, and other items in 2011. This amounted to $981 on average per spender for the year.
At the request of state fish and wildlife agencies, the Fish and Wildlife Service has been sponsoring the national survey every five years since 1955. It is viewed as one of the nation’s most important wildlife-related recreation databases and the definitive source of information concerning participation and purchases associated with hunting, fishing and other forms of wildlife-related recreation nationwide.
Sooner Lake temporarily closed
Sooner Lake will be closed to boating, walk-in hunting and fishing until Jan. 3, according to state wildlife officials.
There have been some shaking issues with new transmission lines that were recently installed across a portion of the lake.
The lake will be off-limits to avoid risk to hunters and anglers until repairs can be made.
Oklahoma Fishing Report
Here is this week’s fishing report
CENTRAL
Hefner: December 18. Elevation below normal and dropping, water 48-55 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair on crankbaits at 4-10 ft. along the dam and jetties. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair to good on grubs and jigs at 10-20 ft. along the dam. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait at 20-30 ft. along the dam. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 15-20 ft. along the dam. Walleye fair on jerk baits and crankbaits at 6-10 ft. along the dam and jetties. Report submitted by Lucky Lure Tackle.
NORTHEAST
Eucha: December 17. Elevation 13 ft. below normal, water 50 and dingy. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 14-16 ft. around brush and structure. Largemouth bass fair on plastic worms. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.
Ft. Gibson: December 14. Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 52 and clear. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 15-20 ft. around docks. Catfish good on shad and cut bait drifting the main river. Bass slow on crankbaits and Sinkos at 15-20 ft. Report submitted by Rick Stafford of Wagoner.
Hudson: December 18. Elevation normal. Largemouth bass good on plastic baits. Crappie good on small minnows and jigs around brush pile areas. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Rogers and Mayes counties.
Kaw: December 17. Blue catfish fair along river channels. Crappie good on small jigs in black, purple and green at 18-22 ft. around brush piles in the Washunga Bay and Sarge Creek areas. Report submitted by Larry Green, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Keystone: December 18. Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 51. Catfish good on cut bait. Crappie fair on minnows at the docks. Report submitted by Karlin Bailey, game warden stationed in Creek County.
Lower Illinois: December 17. Elevation normal, water 46 and clear. Largemouth bass slow on crankbaits at 1-2 ft. in coves. White bass slow on jigs and spinnerbaits at 1-2 ft. at the mouth of the river. Striped bass slow on shad at 4 ft. at the mouth of the river. Channel catfish good on cut bait on bottom all along the river. Crappie slow on jigs at 1-4 ft. at the mouth of 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 by D. Tracy, Town of Gore.
Oologah: December 17. Elevation 3 1/2 ft. below normal, water mid-50s and murky. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. around brush piles and standing timber. Blue catfish fair on shad and liver around standing timber in the north end of the lake. White bass fair trolling shad colored crankbaits at 10-15 ft. in near creek channels. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.
Pawhuska: December 17. Trout good on Power Bait and Super Dupers. Report submitted by David Clay, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Sooner: December 16. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair on sassy shad, ghost minnows and topwater lures in the discharge. Catfish good on cut bait and live bait off points and channels. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County.
Spavinaw: December 18. Elevation slightly below normal, water 47 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: December 17. Elevation 9 1/3 ft. below normal, water 56-58 and clear. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass slow on soft plastic bass jigs in the back of coves. Crappie fair on tube jigs at 20-25 ft. around docks. Sunfish fair on worm-tipped jigs at 10-15 ft. around docks. Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson.
NORTHWEST
Canton: December 15. Elevation 9 ft. below normal, water clear. Channel catfish fair on stinkbait near big bend. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed Blaine County.
Ft. Supply: December 17. Elevation 3-4 ft. below normal. Crappie slow to fair jigging at the intake. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Woodward County.
SOUTHEAST
Arbuckle: December 15. Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water 55 and clear to stained in upper arms. Algae bloom present on calm days. White bass excellent on CC Spoons at 17-35 ft. near drop-offs in creek channels. Crappie fair off docks early morning and on white/chartreuse jigs around brush piles. Bass being caught on smaller crankbaits in perch and chartreuse/pearl patterns, shaky heads, tube jigs and jerk baits. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Blue River: December 18. Elevation normal, water 47 and clear. Trout good on garlic scented Power Bait, power eggs and in-line spinnerbaits around falls and current. Fly fishing good on woolly buggers, elk hair caddis flies, hare’s ears and zebra nymphs around breaks in current. Smallmouth and spotted bass fair on soft plastics in deeper pools around structure. Channel catfish good on stinkbait and cut bait around current in deeper pools. Report submitted by Matt Gamble, biologist at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.
Blue River: December 18. Approximately 2,405 rainbow trout were stocked on December 5 and approximately 2,405 rainbow trout were stocked on December 13. Report submitted by Matt Gamble, biologist at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.
Broken Bow: December 16. Elevation below normal, water clear. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass good on spinner and crankbaits in 10-15 ft. around structure. Catfish good on juglines and trotlines baited with live sunfish and cut bait. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 20-25 ft. around points and dead standing timber. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Eufaula: December 16. Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water clear. Blue catfish fair on shad in the shallow flats. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around boat docks with brush and along riprap areas. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: December 16. Elevation 8 1/2 ft. below normal. Boating extremely hazardous. Catfish fair on trotlines baited with cut shad. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw and Bryan counties.
Konawa: December 17. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal, water 56 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on plastic worms and crankbaits at 5-15 ft. in the discharge canal and around points. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair 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: December 16. Try mayfly nymphs in sizes 16, 18 and 20. Size 20 soft hackles in yellow, olive and orange are working in all three zones as well as pink and yellow egg patterns. Report submitted by Jesse King, Three Rivers Fly Shop.
Lower Mountain Fork: December 17. Stocked 1,577 lbs., approximately 1,896, rainbow trout. Stocked 8,000, 11-inch rainbow trout from Norfork Federal Hatchery throughout the 12 mile reach of the designated trout stream. The number of fish stocked per Zone are as follows: Zone I, including Evening Hole area and Lost Creek, 2,600 total fish; Zone II, between the Old Park Dam and Regulation Dam, 4,000 total fish; Zone III, below the Regulation Dam, 1,400 total fish. Report submitted by Don Groom, southeast region fisheries supervisor.
McGee Creek: December 16. Elevation 9 ft. below normal, water 60 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on soft plastic baits at 6-20 ft. Crappie fair on minnows 12-20 ft. over cedar brush piles in creek channels. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County.
Pine Creek: December 16. All public boat ramps have been closed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. No fishing activity to report due to extremely low water levels. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Robber’s Cave State Park: December 17. Stocked 385 lbs., approximately 490, rainbow trout. Report submitted by Don Groom, southeast region fisheries supervisor.
Robert S. Kerr: December 19. Bass fair on crankbaits and stick baits off points, along creek channels and up river in coves. Crappie fair around deeper submerged brush. White bass and striped bass fair on minnows and shad crankbaits up river in deeper holes and around rock ledges. Channel and blue catfish excellent on trotlines and juglines baited with cut bait at 12-20 ft. close to creek and river channels. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Haskell County.
Sardis Lake: December 14. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal. Largemouth bass good on stick baits and crankbaits at 4-6 ft. in creek channels. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 10-14 ft. Walleye fair trolling at 8-14 ft. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
Texoma: December 16. Elevation 5 3/4 ft. below normal, water 59 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair to good on crankbaits and plastic worms at 10-20 ft. in the creek channels. Striped and white bass fair to good on live bait, cut shad and sassy shad at 10-30 ft. from Platter Flats to East Burns Run. Channel and blue catfish fair to good at 10-20 ft. from the Washita River to Catfish Bay on live bait and stinkbait. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. around underwater brush. Sunfish fair on worms and small tube jigs at 5-10 ft. around the fishing docks. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: December 16. Elevation 2 1/2ft. below normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on black/blue plastic worms and good on silver crankbaits. Crappie fair on white tail grubs at 15-20 ft. Catfish fair on juglines and trotlines baited with cut bait and liver. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
SOUTHWEST
Ellsworth: December 16. Elevation 12 ft. below normal, water murky. Blue catfish fair on cut bait off rocky points. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
Foss: December 18. Elevation 11 3/4 ft. below normal with gates closed, water mid-50s and clear. Striped bass hybrids fair on slabs in deep water. Walleye fair on live bait. Catfish fair. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.
Lawtonka: December 16. Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water clear. White bass fair on minnows and spinnerbaits at the pipeline in morning and evening. Saugeye good on minnows and spinnerbaits at the pipeline in morning and evening. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
Goose hunts still available at Washita NWF
Geese on the Washita National Wildlife Refuge near Butler
The Washita National Wildlife Refuge, located west of Butler on the upper end of Foss Reservoir, is currently hosting limited public hunting for geese and sandhill cranes during the 2012-2013 season.
The public hunting has been offered on the refuge since 1982, which is one of the premier public waterfowl hunts in the state.
So far this season, goose hunters are doing well in the Washita reguge hunts. Goose numbers remain high mid-way through the season, and upcoming hunts look promising.
Though weekend hunts have already been filled, there are still two Wednesday hunts available this season: Dec 26 and Jan. 2.
Blinds will be filled by reservation only, on a first call, first served basis.
Hunters may reserve a blind by calling the refuge office (580) 664-2205 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the business day before the desired hunt date. The refuge office will be closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
A $10 blind fee is collected from hunters when they leave the hunt area at 11:30 a.m.
Going to the Bassmaster Classic? Here are some tips.
Oklahoma pro bass angler Edwin Evers signs an autograph at the start of the 2012 Bassmaster Classic on the Red River in Bossier City, La.
The biggest outdoors event ever in Oklahoma is coming to Tulsa and Grand Lake Feb. 22-24: The 2013 Bassmaster Classic.
The fishing will be at Grand Lake, the daily weigh-ins will be at Tulsa’s BOK Center and across the street at the convention center will be the Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo. If you are planning to go, B.A.S.S. offers the following tips on where and when to go and what you can expect.
At the Launch: Fans are invited to come out and watch 53 of the world’s best anglers slip their slick new bass rigs into Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. The takeoff time is set for 7 a.m. at Wolf Creek.
Fans are advised to be there much earlier than 7 a.m. so they can see the rigs in tow, just before the boats touch water.
Star-spotting is part of the morning fun — Kevin VanDam, Gerald Swindle, Michael Iaconelli, Skeet Reese and others will be there.
At the Outdoor Expo: Anyone could easily fill an entire day at the annual Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods.
A die-hard bass fan could fill three days, no problem. The Expo will take place Friday, Feb. 22, from noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The venue is the Tulsa Convention Center in downtown Tulsa.
What’s at the Expo? The short answer is: anything an anglers’ hearts’ desires. For starters, there are the newest bass boats and engines to see up close.
Experts will be there to answer any question a visitor might have about a boat and motor.
Tip: Ask about test rides. Then there are the add-ons that all the best bass boats wear, from Power-Pole positioning devices to the newest in fishfinding and GPS technology.
Want more? New Toyota Trucks. High-tech apparel for fishing, for work (like Carhartt) or just for fun.
Did we forget to mention fishing tackle? No, we did not. The place is packed with tackle, some of it never before shown to the public.
Look for contests, giveaways, seminars and special appearances. Many well-known pro bass anglers will be at the various booths.
Tip: Classic competitors are known to show up at the Expo after the weigh-in.
Another tip: Be prepared to make decisions. Show-goers don’t have to leave the exhibit hall with a bad case of look-can’t-buy.
Retailers, such as Dick’s Sporting Goods, will be there stocked and ready to sell.
At the weigh-in: This is the main attraction. Arena doors open each day at 3 p.m. at the BOK Center. That’s right across the street from the where the Expo will be, so it’s a park-once-and-you’re-done deal for those driving to the downtown destinations.
Fans are advised to come early, get a good seat and enjoy some surprise entertainment.
The first two days all 53 of the Classic competitors will walk across the stage. Not all will pull lunkers out of their livewells, but it’s a rare Classic angler who doesn’t have a good fish or two to show off to the crowd.
On the final day, when the field is cut to the Top 25, a $500,000 first prize will be on the line.
If previous Classic finales are any indication, the excitement level will hit the rafters, and the crowd will rock the stands.
Trout season opens at Dolese Park on Jan. 1
A rainbow trout scoots across the ice to an open hole during a past winter day at Dolese Park
The City of Oklahoma City’s annual trout season will open Jan. 1 at Dolese Youth Park Pond, NW 50th and Meridian.
Approximately 4,000 rainbow trout will be stocked during the two-month season, taking place the weeks of Jan. 10, Jan. 24, Feb. 7 and Feb. 21. The season will last through Feb. 28.
To fish on any Oklahoma City municipal waters, all anglers between the ages of 16 and 62 must have a city fishing permit unless otherwise exempt. A state fishing license is also required.
Trout season regulations include:
- A daily catch limit of six trout per person per day
- Anglers may only use one rod and reel, or pole, to catch trout
- Fish caught and placed on a stringer or in a bucket cannot be released back into the water
- Boat fishing is not allowed at Dolese Park Pond.
A free fishing clinic hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department and the Department of Wildlife Conservation will take place on Friday, Jan. 11, at the Putnam City High School gymnasium.
The clinic is from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and free to the public. Registration is required by calling 755-4014.
Weekly Fishing Report
CENTRAL
Hefner: December 11. Elevation below normal and dropping, water 48-55 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair on crankbaits at 4-10 ft. along the dam and jetties. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair on grubs and jigs at 10-20 ft. along the dam. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait at 20-30 ft. along the dam. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 15-20 ft. along the dam. Walleye fair on jerk baits and crankbaits at 6-10 ft. along the dam and jetties. Report submitted by Lucky Lure Tackle.
NORTHEAST
Greenleaf: December 11. Bass good on crankbaits, soft jerk baits, chartreuse/white spinnerbaits and sink-o type baits. Report submitted by Mike’s Outdoors.
Keystone: December 11. Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 56. Catfish fair on cut bait. Report submitted by Karlin Bailey, game warden stationed in Creek County.
Lower Illinois: December 10. Elevation normal, water 49 and clear. Largemouth bass slow on crankbaits at 2 ft. in coves. White bass slow on jigs and spinnerbaits at 1-3 ft. at the mouth of the river. Striped bass slow on trout and shad at 3 ft. Channel catfish excellent on cut bait on bottom. Crappie slow on jigs at 3 ft. 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 by D. Tracy, Town of Gore.
Lower Illinois: December 10. Stocked 2,405 rainbow trout and 16,000 6-8 inch brown trout from Norfork National Fish Hatchery. Brown trout must be 20 inches or longer to be kept from the Lower Illinois River, so these fish must be released immediately upon being caught. However, they grow fast in the stream, and should produce some great opportunities in the future. Report submitted by Josh Johnston, fisheries biologist east central region.
Oologah: December 9. Elevation 3 1/2 ft. below normal, water mid-50s and murky. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. around brush piles and standing timber. Blue catfish fair on shad and liver around standing timber in the north end of the lake. White bass fair trolling shad colored crankbaits at 10-15 ft. in near creek channels. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.
Sooner: December 10. White bass and striped bass hybrids good on sassy shad and topwater lures in the discharge. Catfish good on cut bait and live bait off points. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County.
Tenkiller: December 10. Elevation 9 ft. below normal, water 58-60 and clear. Largemouth bass slow on soft plastic baits around docks. Crappie fair on minnows and tube jigs around docks or brush. Sunfish fair on worm-tipped jigs at 10-15 ft. around docks. Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson.
Webbers Falls: December 10. Bass good on spinnerbaits, shad, square bill crankbaits and chatter baits up creeks. Striped bass hybrids good on shad colored or shad imitation baits. Report submitted by Mike’s Outdoors.
NORTHWEST
Canton: December 10. Elevation 9 ft. below normal. Channel catfish fair on cut shad near big bend. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs near brush. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed Blaine County.
Watonga: December 6. Stocked 710 lbs. of trout. Report submitted by Jody Laubhan, Byron State Fish Hatchery/Northwest Region.
SOUTHEAST
Broken Bow: December 9. Elevation below normal, water clear. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass good on spinner and crankbaits in 10-15 ft. around structure. Catfish good on juglines and trotlines baited with live sunfish and cut bait. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 20-25 ft. around points and dead standing timber. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Eufaula: December 9. Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water clear. Blue catfish good on shad in the shallow flats. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around boat docks with brush and along riprap areas. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: December 9. Elevation 8 ft. below normal. Boating extremely hazardous. Blue catfish fair on trotlines baited with cut shad along the river channel. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw and Bryan counties.
Konawa: December 8. Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 56 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on plastic worms at 5-8 ft. around points and weed beds. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair 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: December 9. Try mayfly nymphs in sizes 16, 18 and 20. Size 20 soft hackles in yellow, olive and orange are working in all three zones as well as pink and yellow egg patterns. Report submitted by Jesse King, Three Rivers Fly Shop.
McGee Creek: December 9. Elevation 8 1/2 ft. below normal, water 60 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on soft plastic baits at 6-20 ft. Crappie fair on minnows 12-20 ft. over cedar brush piles in creek channels. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County.
Pine Creek: December 9. Elevation below normal, water clear. Crappie fair on jigs. No information available on catfish or bass. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Sardis Lake: December 7. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal. Largemouth bass good on stick baits and crankbaits at 4-6 ft. in creek channels. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 10-14 ft. Walleye fair trolling at 8-14 ft. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
Texoma: December 9. Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water 62 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair to good on crankbaits and plastic combination baits at 5-15 ft. in the creek channels. Striped and white bass fair to good on live bait, cut shad and sassy shad at 10-30 ft. from Platter Flats to East Burns Run. Channel and blue catfish fair to good at 10-20 ft. from the Washita River to Catfish Bay on live bait and stinkbait. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 5-15 ft. around underwater structure and the fish attractors. Sunfish fair on worms and small tube jigs at 5-10 ft. around the fishing docks. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: December 9. Elevation 1 1/2ft. below normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on black/blue plastic worms and good on silver crankbaits. Crappie fair to good on white tail grubs at 15-20 ft. Catfish fair on juglines and trotlines baited with cut bait and liver. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
SOUTHWEST
Altus-Lugert: December 9. Elevation 26 3/4 ft. below normal and dropping. Catfish and crappie fair. Walleye and striped bass hybrids bass fair. Report submitted by Sue Hokanson, Quartz Mountain Nature Park.
Ellsworth: December 9. Elevation 12 ft. below normal, water murky. Blue catfish fair on cut bait off rocky points. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
Foss: December 9. Elevation 11 3/4 ft. below normal with gates closed, water high 50s and clear. Striped bass hybrid fair on slabs in deep water. Walleye slow on live bait. Catfish fair on dough bait. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.
Lawtonka: December 9. Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water clear. White bass fair on minnows and spinnerbaits at the pipeline in morning and evening. Saugeye good on minnows and spinnerbaits at the pipeline in morning and evening. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
To check current Oklahoma lake conditions across the state go to the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department’s website at http://www.travelok.com/checkmyoklake/.
It’s cold now so the trout fishing is hot
A 17-inch rainbow trout from the Lower Mountain Fork River near Broken Bow
November through February is guide Jess King’s favorite time to fly fish on the Lower Mountain Fork River.
“While most of the country’s trout streams are locked in the deep freeze, the trout fishing on the Lower Mountain Fork is red hot,” said King, owner of Three Rivers Fly Shop in Hochatown.
“The trout fishing is great all year long, but winter provides more fishable water, less crowds and the most predictable dry fly fishing of the year.
“December is the perfect time to fish with Blue Winged Olives nymphs and dry flies.”
While King certainly has a financial incentive to lure visitors to the Lower Mountain Fork River – in fact his comments were taken from a news release from the McCurtain County Tourism Authority – he isn’t just blowing smoke.
Donny Carter of Stratford is a frequent visitor to the Oklahoma’s best trout stream and often provides fishing reports to me.
“I was down there last Tuesday (Dec. 4) and the small browns were everywhere,” Carter said. “To say the least, it’s pretty exciting. Hope these little guys really take off and we’ll have an even better brown trout fishery.
“The brown trout fishing has still been very good and I caught several of them on the Elk Hair Caddis and the Adams. I really enjoy watching trout surface to your fly.
“Kind of like top-water bass fishing, no difference. Both can give you heart failure. I only fished in Zone One and found surfacing trout in all areas. There were plenty of small mayflies coming off along with some black caddis. Both of my dry fly patterns worked just fine on those hatches.”
The Lower Mountain Fork River offers 12 miles of trout habitat. The Lower Mountain Fork is a tailwater fishery flowing out of Broken Bow Lake and includes a 3.8-mile trophy section where boats and barbed hooks are banned.
“Good fishing can be expected throughout the day,” King said. “Cold, cloudy, windy, wet, and just downright winter weather can produce a lot of fish and some big fish.”
State wildlife officials are now stocking trout in Oklahoma waters from a new hatchery in Nebraska, and anglers are reporting catching bigger fish on average.
Including the Lower Mountain Fork River, the Wildlife Department offers another year-round trout fishery on the Lower Illinois River near Gore.
The state’s winter-only trout areas also are now open: the Blue River, Lake Pawhuska, Robber’s Cave, Lake Watonga and Lake Carl Etling.
On Jan. 1, the state’s newest winter trout area will be open for fishing, Medicine Creek in Medicine Park.
Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake will leave a lasting mark
Professional bass anglers prepare to launch at Grand Lake during the Sooner Run Elite Series tournament in 2007. Grand Lake will be the site of the top event in professional fishing in 2013, the Bassmaster Classic.
The Bassmaster Classic is coming to Oklahoma’s Grand Lake Feb. 22-24 and more than 70,000 people are expected to attend the tournament and the Outdoor Expo which is held in conjunction with it.
The event is expected to pump more than $24 million into the economy of Tulsa – where the weigh-ins are being held at the BOK Center – and Grove and the other communities around Grand Lake.
“It’s easily the biggest fishing event ever to come to Oklahoma,” said Gene Gilliland, fisheries chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Among the renovations underway for Grand Lake because of the upcoming Bassmaster Classic is the building of a six-lane boat ramp at Wolf Creek Park in Grove and a parking lot for 300.
Restrooms, pavilions, a drive-through weigh-in station and courtesy docks also are being built for the Bassmaster Classic, but it will all stay there after the Super Bowl of fishing has ended.
“This facility being built at Grand Lake is not just for the big level tournaments,” Gilliland said. “The City of Grove is trying to make something that the local fishermen can use so they have some nicer facilities to be able to do some of their weigh- ins.”
Over the course of the two-phase project, the Wildlife Department will contribute about $3 million, which will be combined with several million dollars provided by the City of Grove, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Grand River Dam Authority, which owns the lake.
“It’s a big deal,” Gilliland said. “I’m hoping that the folks at Lake Eufaula and at Lake Texoma and Fort Gibson and some of our other major reservoirs get really jealous about seeing all this, because we’d like to do this same kind of project at those lakes and put in some really first-class facilities at other places around the state.”
