H&H Shooting Sports Complex Outdoors Chat with Ed Godfrey and Alan Peoples
Weekly Fishing Report
Shannon Forrest of Wichita, Kan., caught this 5.9-pound smallmouth bass at Arbuckle Lake on Nov. 21 that is the new lake record.
CENTRAL
Hefner: December 4. Elevation below normal and dropping, water 54-59 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair on jerk baits at 3-6 ft. along the dam and jetties. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair on small grubs at 6-15 ft. along the west side of the dam. Channel catfish good on cut bait at 15-20 ft. along the dam. Blue catfish good on cut bait at 20-35 ft. along the dam. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 15-20 ft. along the dam. Walleye fair on jerk baits at 3-6 ft. along the dam and jetties. Report submitted by Lucky Lure Tackle.
NORTHEAST
Ft. Gibson: December 3. Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 54 and clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 5-15 ft. around underwater structure. Catfish fair on shad and drifting the flats north of Taylors Ferry Bridge. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and plastic worms at 10-15 ft. Report submitted by Rick Stafford of Wagoner.
Keystone: December 4. Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 56. Catfish good on cut bait. Crappie good on minnows around docks. Largemouth bass good on jigs and plastic baits. Report submitted by Karlin Bailey, game warden stationed in Creek County.
Lower Illinois: December 3. Elevation normal, water 48 and clear. Largemouth bass slow on crankbaits at 2-3 ft. in coves and the mouth of the river. White bass slow on jigs at 1-2 ft. at the mouth of the river. Striped bass slow on shad at 1-3 ft. Channel catfish excellent on cut bait on bottom. Crappie slow on jigs at 1-3 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.
Oologah: December 2. Elevation 3 1/2 ft. below normal, water upper 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 livers around standing timber in the north end of the lake. White bass fair trolling shad colored crankbaits at10-15 ft. in creek channels. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.
Pawhuska: December 3. Trout good on Power Bait and Super Dupers. Report submitted by David Clay, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Skiatook: December 3. Elevation 12 1/4 ft. below normal, water clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10-20 ft. around brush piles. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Tenkiller: December 3. Elevation 8 1/2 ft. below normal, water 58-60 and clear. Crappie fair midday on minnows or tube jigs around docks. Sunfish good on nightcrawlers around docks. Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson.
NORTHWEST
Canton: December 1. Elevation 9 ft. below normal. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair on slabs near drop-offs. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs near brush along dam. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed Blaine County.
SOUTHEAST
Arbuckle: December 1. Elevation 4 3/4 ft. below normal, stained, algae bloom bad on calm days. Bass being caught on shaky head jigs, crankbaits, drop-shot rigs and bass jigs off rocky banks and bluffs. Hydrilla bed off pavilion point has been good using drop-shot rigs. Crappie slow off docks and good on chartreuse/white jigs at 25 ft. around brush piles. White bass excellent on CC spoons at 35-42 ft. near drop-offs in creek channels. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Blue River: December 4. Elevation normal, water 58 and clear. Trout good on garlic scented Power Bait, super dupers and in-line spinnerbaits around falls and current. Fly fishing good on dark colored woolly buggers, elk hair caddis flies, soft hackles and egg patterns. Smallmouth and spotted bass fair on soft plastics fished slow in deeper water. Channel catfish excellent on blood bait in larger pools around current. Report submitted by Matt Gamble, biologist at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.
Blue River: December 4. Approximately 2,405 Rainbow Trout were stocked on November 28. Report submitted by Matt Gamble, biologist at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.
Broken Bow: December 2. Elevation below normal, water clear. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass good on spinner and crank baits 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: November 25. Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water clear. Largemouth bass slow. White bass slow. 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.
Konawa: November 30. Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 54 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits at 5-10 ft. around points. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.
Lower Mountain Fork: December 2. With the full moon, fishing has been tough. Try these flies: Zone I- Light Cahill’s, size 22 and 20; Yellow and Hare’s Ear Soft Hackles, size 20; Miracle Midges, size 20; BWO’s, size 18 and 20; Pink egg patterns, size 12. Try trailing the miracle midges under a pheasant tail nymph, stimulator or other dry fly. Zones II and III: Wooly Buggers (olive), size 12. Report submitted by Jesse King, Three Rivers Fly Shop
Lower Mountain Fork: November 30. Stocked 1,577 lbs., approximately 1,895, rainbow trout. Stocked approximately 22,000, six-inch brown trout.Report submitted by Don Groom, southeast region fisheries supervisor.
McGee Creek: December 2. Elevation 8 ft. below normal, water 61 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 2. Elevation below normal, water clear. Bass good on jigs around creek inlets. Catfish good on trotlines baited with cut shad. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Robbers Cave State Park: November 30. Stocked 385 lbs., approximately 452, rainbow trout. Report submitted by Don Groom, southeast region fisheries supervisor.
Robert S. Kerr: December 4. 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 adt 12-20 ft. close to creek and river channels. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Haskell County.
Sardis Lake: November 30. Elevation 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 2. Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water 62 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair to good on crankbaits and plastic worms at 5-15 ft. in the upper creek channels. Striped and white bass fair to good on live bait, sassy shad and slabs at 10-30 ft. from Platter Flats to Burns Run. Channel and blue catfish fair on live bait and worms at 10-20 ft. from the Washita River to Johnson Creek. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 5-15 ft. in Little Glasses Creek. 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 2. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. 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 with cut bait and liver. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
SOUTHWEST
Altus-Lugert: December 2. Elevation 26 3/4 ft. below normal and falling. Overall fishing has been very slow. Catfish fair. Crappie fair on minnows. Striped bass hybrids and walleye fair. Report submitted by Sue Hokanson, Quartz Mountain Nature Park.
Ellsworth: December 2. Elevation 12 ft. below normal, water murky. Blue catfish fair on cut bait off rocky points. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
Foss: December 3. Elevation 11 1/2 ft. below normal with gates closed, water low 60s and clear. Striped bass hybrids fair to slow on slabs. Walleye fair on live bait. Catfish fair on stinkbait. Crappie slow. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.
Lawtonka: December 2. Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water clear. White bass and saugeye fair to good on minnows and spinnerbaits at the pipeline morning and evening. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
Ask the wildlife chief
Alan Peoples, head of the wildlife division for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, will be my guest for a live online chat Friday from the H&H Shooting Sports Complex in Oklahoma City.
If you have a question for Alan, log on to http://newsok.com/sports/outdoors by 11:30 a.m. Friday and send it in. The chat will last until noon.
Among the topics that I’m sure we will be discussing is the proposed regulation to reduce the buck limit for the combined muzzleloader and gun deer seasons from two to one. But we will also be talking the quail, pheasant, bear and duck seasons in Oklahoma and the recent decision by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on prairie chickens.
Campgrounds that consumers give an “A”
Looking for a good campground? Check out these 42 campgrounds RV parks or resorts that earned all around “A” grades in a recent consumer satisfaction survey.
The top parks were announced Friday during the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds’ annual Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo, which took place at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev.
More than 30,000 camping and RV enthusiasts participated in the online survey, which evaluated guest experiences at 3,200 campgrounds, RV parks and resorts that are affiliated with the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC).
The 42 parks earning “A” grades this year are listed below. They include:
Acres of Wildlife Campground in Steep Falls, Maine, a four-time “A” grade winner, www.acresofwildlife.com
Anaheim Resort RV Park, Anaheim, Calif., a two-time “A” grade winner, www.anaheimresortrvpark.com
Ashland Resort, Northfork, W.V., a three-time “A” grade winner, www.atvresort.com
Beaver Dam Campground, Berwick, Maine, a first-time “A” grade winner, www.beaverdamcampground.com
Buffalo Lake Camping Resort, Montello, Wis., a three-time “A” grade winner, www.buffalolakecamping.com
Buttonwood Campground, Mexico, Penn., a five-time “A” grade winner, www.buttonwoodcamp.com
Camp A Way, Lincoln, Neb., a two-time “A” grade winner, www.campaway.com
Chalk Creek Campground & RV Park, Nathrop, Colo. a four-time “A” grade winner, www.chalkcreek-campground.com
Cherry Hill Park, College Park, Md., a four-time “A” grade winner, www.cherryhillpark.com
Cross Creek Camping Resort, Delaware, Ohio, a two-time “A” grade winner, www.alumcreek.com
Custer State Park, Custer, S.D., a first-time “A” grade winner, http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/custer/
D & W Lake Camping and RV Park, Champaign, Ill., a three-time “A” grade winner, www.dwlake.com
Dogwood Acres Campground, Newville, Penn., a five-time “A” grade winner, www.dogwoodcamping.com
Far Horizons 49er Village RV Resort, Plymouth, Calif., a first-time “A” grade winner, www.49ervillage.com
Gettysburg Campground, Gettysburg, Penn., a four-time “A” grade winner, www.gettysburgcampground.com
Kalyumet Camping & Cabins, Lucinda, Penn., a two-time “A” grade winner, www.kalyumet.com
Lake George RV Park, Lake George, N.Y., a five-time “A” grade winner, www.lakegeorgervpark.com
Las Vegas RV Resort, Las Vegas, Nev., a three-time “A” grade winner, www.lasvegasrvresort.com
Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, Yankton, S.D., a first-time “A” grade winner, http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/lewis-and-clark/
Magnolia RV Park & Campground, Kinards, S.C., a three-time “A” grade winner, www.magnoliarvparksc.com
Meadowcliff Lodge & RV Resort, Coleville, Calif., a four-time “A” grade winner, www.meadowcliff.com
Misty River Cabins & RV Resort, Walland, Tenn., a five-time “A” grade winner, www.mistyriverrv.com
Moose River Campground, Saint Johnsbury, Vt., a two-time “A” grade winner, www.mooserivercampground.com
Mountain Vista Campground, East Stroudsburg, Penn., a four-time “A” grade winner, www.mtnvistacampground.com
Myrtle Beach Travel Park, Myrtle Beach, S.C., a two-time “A” grade winner, www.myrtlebeachtravelpark.com
Ocean Lakes Family Campground, Myrtle Beach, S.C., a five-time “A” grade winner, www.oceanlakes.com
Pioneer Campground, Laporte, Penn., a five-time “A” grade winner, www.pioneercampground.com
Pismo Coast Village RV Resort, Pismo Beach, Calif., a three-time “A” grade winner, www.pismocoastvillage.com
Pontchartrain Landing, New Orleans, La., a four-time “A” grade winner, www.pontchartrainlanding.com
Red Apple Campground, Kennebunkport, Me., a four-time “A” grade winner, www.redapplecampground.com
Rivers Edge Campground, Connellsville, Penn., a first-time “A” grade winner, www.campriversedge.com
Shadow Hills RV Resort, Indio, Calif., a first-time “A” grade winner, www.shadowhillsrvresort.com
Snowy Peaks RV Park, Buena Vista, Colo., a two-time “A” grade winner, www.southhavenfamilycg.com
South Haven Family Campground, South Haven, Mich., a five-time “A” grade winner, www.southhavenfamilycg.com
Sunny Brook RV Resort, South Haven, Mich., a five-time “A” grade winner, www.sunnybrookrvresort.com
The Springs at Borrego RV Resort and Golf Course, Borrego Springs, Calif., a three-time “A” grade winner, www.springsatborrego.comn
The Vineyards Campground & Cabins, Grapevine, Texas, a five-time “A” grade winner, www.vineyardscampground.com
West Canada Creek Campsites, Poland, N.Y., a four-time “A” grade winner, www.westcanadacreekcampsites.com
Willow Tree Resort, Longs, S.C., a four-time “A” grade winner, www.willowtreerv.com
Wine Country RV Resort, Paso Robles, Calif., a first-time “A” grade winner, www.winecountryrvresort.com
Wishon Village RV Park, Shaver Lake, Calif., a two-time “A” grade winner, www.wishonvillage.com
Yellowstone Holiday Campground, West Yellowstone, Mont., a two-time “A” grade winner, www.yellowstoneholiday.com
The GuestRated.com national online survey program was launched in February 2008 in collaboration with ARVC.
A pheasant report
Pheasant are going to be harder to find this season in northwest Oklahoma
A friend of mine, Roy Loris, and a group of hunters went to Drummond Flats near Enid Saturday for the opening day of pheasant season.
I normally join Roy on his opening day hunt at Drummond but was covering a couple of high school football semifinal games this year.
However, according to Roy, I didn’t miss much this year. The hunting party killed one rooster during more than seven hours of hunting.
“We had just one good bunch of pheasant get up of about six or seven, and they got up really a little to far from us,” Roy said.
“We walked over 10 miles from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. We heard a little bit of shooting, but not hardly any at all, and it really looked pretty sad.”
The poor results were not surprising. Two years of drought have hit the pheasant population pretty hard.
This season is expected to be one of the worst hunting seasons for pheasant in recent years.
Pheasant season remains open in northwest Oklahoma and parts of north central Oklahoma through Jan. 31.
Plight of the Prairie Chickens
Lesser prairie chickens could be listed as a “threatened species” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Friday that it is considering formally listing the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species.
The announcement begins a yearlong review that will include public meetings in four of the five states, including Oklahoma, where the member of the prairie grouse family lives.
“The lesser prairie chicken is a species that is in peril and has been for some time,” said Fish and Wildlife Director Dan Ashe.
State wildlife officials have been trying to save the small population of lesser prairie chickens in northwest Oklahoma for several years.
“We’ve seen this coming for quite a while,” said Alan Peoples, chief of the wildlife division for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, of Friday’s announcement. “We’ve got people, that’s all they do is work on lesser prairie chickens.”
Peoples said the Wildlife Department is working with landowners to try and improve habitat for the birds.
State wildlife officials also are advising energy companies with projects in lesser prairie chicken country on best management practices for the birds, he said.
“All along, we have been trying to maintain state control (on management of the lesser prairie chickens),” Peoples said.
If the birds are formally listed for federal protection, there likely will be additional restrictions placed on all activities near lesser prairie chickens, Peoples said.
Ranchers, farmers and wind farm operators worry about a listing and increased regulations. Wind turbines, oil wells and fences are among the culprits biologists say have caused the chicken’s decline.
The lesser prairie chicken’s range includes parts of New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas.
