Weekly Fishing Report
Here is this week’s fishing report as compiled by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
CENTRAL
Arcadia: March 24. Elevation normal. Channel catfish slow to fair various baits. Crappie slow on jigs off docks. Report by Chance Whiteley, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.
Arcadia: March 26. Elevation normal, water 46 and murky. All fishing fair. Report submitted by Sheila Hutton, gate attendant.
Hefner: March 25. Elevation below normal, water murky. Largemouth bass slow on crankbaits. White bass and crappie slow on chartreuse and red jigs at 20 ft. around the dam. Channel catfish slow on shad. Report submitted by Tim Campbell, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.
Overholser: March 25. Elevation below normal, water murky. Striped bass hybrids fair on chicken liver and night crawlers. Crappie slow to fair on jigs off the fishing dock on warm days. Catfish fair on stinkbait off the fishing dock. Report submitted by David Rempe, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.
Thunderbird: March 24. Elevation 7 1/2 ft. below normal, water murky. Crappie fair on minnows and small jigs at 8-10 ft. around structure. Bass fair on spinnerbaits around structure. Report by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.
NORTHEAST
Bell Cow: March 26. Elevation below normal, water 49 and muddy. Bass good on crankbaits at 6-10 ft. Crappie good on minnows. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.
Birch: March 26. Elevation 8 ft. below normal, water upper 40s to low 50s and clear. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around structure. Report submitted by David Clay, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Chandler: March 26. Elevation below normal, water 50 and muddy. Bass fair on crankbaits and jigs. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.
Ft. Gibson: March 25. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 51 and clear. White bass are staging for their spawning run in the Chouteau Bend area of the main river. Paddlefish slow in the Chouteau Bend area of the main river. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfish good on juglines baited with cut bait. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. Report submitted by Rick Stafford of Wagoner.
Grand: February 24. Elevation normal, water 50. Largemouth bass good on swim baits and jerk baits at 15-25 ft. off main lake points. Crappie good on minnows and green jigs at 10-15 ft. around structure at night. Paddlefish excellent from Grey’s Ranch up river to Miami Park. Catfish excellent drifting or on juglines baited with cut shad at 20-30 ft. White bass fair on small crankbaits and jigs up creeks and streams. Report submitted by Kody Moore, game warden stationed in Delaware County.
Hudson: March 25. Elevation normal. Largemouth bass very good on crankbaits, jigs, swim minnow type baits and plastic baits. White bass fair to good on small lures and jigs in the upper end near Pensacola Dam and mouths of creeks leading into the lake. Paddlefish fair, the run has not started yet. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Rogers and Mayes counties.
Kaw: March 24. Elevation normal, water 45. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 10-12 ft. around Sarge Creek. Largemouth and spotted bass good on the south end of the lake. Report submitted by Emily Long, game warden stationed in Kay and Grant counties.
Lower Illinois: March 25. Elevation normal, water 46 and clear. Largemouth bass good on minnows at 2 ft. in coves and weed beds. White bass slow on jigs and spinnerbaits at 1-3 ft. at the mouth of the river. Striped bass slow on shad at 1-4 ft. at the mouth of the river. Channel catfish good on cut bait on bottom all along the river. Crappie slow on jigs and spinnerbaits at 1-3 ft. at the mouth of the deep branch. 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: March 24. Elevation 2 3/4 ft. below normal, water upper 40s to lower 50s and clear. Crappie fair at 10-15 ft. around brush piles. Blue catfish fair on worms and shad at 10-15 ft. on flats. White bass fair on jigs in the river above the lake. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.
Sooner: March 26. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair on slabs and live shad in the lake and fair on topwater lures, sassy shad and ghost minnows in the discharge. Catfish fair on cut bait and live bait around points and channels. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County.
Tenkiller: March 25. Elevation slightly above normal, water 50 and stained. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair on most types of shallow lures in shallow cover. White bass fair trolling deep running lures from mid lake to the upper end. Report submitted by Monte Brooks of Cookson.
NORTHWEST
Canton: March 24. Elevation 14 1/2 ft. below normal, water clear. Walleye slow on jigs and crankbaits along the dam after sundown. Channel catfish good on shad in the river channel near Canadian Campground. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed Blaine County.
Ft. Supply: March 25. Elevation 1 ft. below normal. Crappie fair jigging at the intake and riprap at the dam. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Woodward County.
SOUTHEAST
Arbuckle: March 23. Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water 58. Fish are still on the move from deep water to shallow water. Crappie slow around docks and fair on swim jigs at 10-12 ft. White bass are scattered and best up the creek in the shallows under the gulls and terns. Bass slow on crankbaits and jerk baits and fair on jigs and Alabama rigs. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Blue River: March 25. Elevation normal, water 50 and clear. Trout good on orange, rainbow and pink Power Bait around current in larger pools. Fly fishing good on midges, woolly buggers, caddis flies and emergers below the falls and around riffles. Smallmouth and spotted bass fair on small crankbaits and soft plastic baits around structure in large pools. Channel catfish good on stinkbait and chicken liver in larger pools around current and brush. Approximately 2,000 rainbow trout stocked on March 18. Report submitted by Matt Gamble, biologist at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.
Broken Bow: March 25. Elevation near normal, water low 30s. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair on plastic baits, jerk baits and jigs. Crappie good on minnows and jigs in deeper water around structure. Walleye good on jigs and rogues in the upper end of the lake and mouths of creeks. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Eufaula: March 24. Elevation 2 1/2 ft. below normal, water clear. Largemouth bass fair on jerk baits and crankbaits along rocky areas. White bass fair on jigs below the dam when running water. Blue catfish good on shad along flats. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 8-10 ft. below docks and along riprap areas. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: March 24. Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water 52. Largemouth bass and crappie fair on minnows along the river channels and drop-offs. White bass fair trolling crankbaits in the upper river channel. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw and Bryan counties.
Konawa: March 25. Elevation normal, water 52 and clear. Largemouth bass good on plastic worms and crankbaits at 5-10 ft. along the cattails and points. White bass and striped bass hybrids good on shad and jigs at 15 ft. in the discharge canal. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.
Lower Mountain Fork: March 24. Fishing has been great. In addition to midges and blue-winged olive mayflies, March Browns and tan caddis flies are beginning to take trout throughout the river. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
McGee Creek: March 24. Elevation 5 2/3 ft. below normal, water 50 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on soft plastic bait at 15-25 ft. Crappie fair on minnows at 12-28 ft. over cedar brush in creek channels. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County.
Pine Creek: March 24. Elevation below normal, water 47 and clear. Bass fair on soft plastic baits. Crappie good on minnows at the back of creek channels. Catfish fair on trotlines baited with cut shad. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Robert S. Kerr: March 26. Bass fair on crankbaits and stick baits off points, along creek channels and in coves up river. White and spotted bass excellent up the Canadian River; look for concentrations of gulls. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 2-4 ft. up Big San Bois Creek and in strip pits; look for improvement with warmer days. 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: March 22. Elevation normal, water 59. Largemouth bass good on jerk baits, shallow running crankbaits, Slug-Go lures, spinnerbaits and plastic worms at 4-6 ft. White bass fair on jigs. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait and dead minnows. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 4-6 ft. Walleye fair to good trolling at 8-12 ft. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
Texoma: March 24. Elevation 3 1/4 ft. below normal, water 52 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair to good on plastic worms, spinnerbaits and large crankbaits at 10-15 ft. in creeks. Striped and white bass fair to good on live bait, slabs and sassy shad at 10-30 ft. from Alberta Creek to Caney Creek. Channel and blue catfish fair to good on live bait, cut bait and stinkbait at 10-20 ft. from the Washita River to Platter Flats. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 5-20 ft. around underwater brush. Sunfish fair on worms and small tube jigs at 5-10 ft. around fishing docks. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: March 24. Elevation normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Crappie fair on minnows and white grubs at 10-12 ft. around brushy cover. Catfish fair on juglines and trotlines baited with cut bait and dead minnows at 10-15 ft. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
SOUTHWEST
Altus-Lugert: March 24. Elevation 26 3/4 ft. below normal and steady. Overall fishing is slowly improving. Walleye and catfish slow near the dam. Report submitted by Sue Hokanson, Quartz Mountain Nature Park.
Ellsworth: March 24. Elevation 12 ft. below normal, water murky. Blue catfish fair on cut bait off rocky points. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around boathouses at Ralph’s Resort. Saugeye fair to good on spinnerbaits off the rocks by the dam. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
Foss: March 25. Elevation 12 ft. below normal with gates closed, water low 50s and clear. Striped bass hybrids good on slabs in deep water. Walleye good on live bait. Crappie slow on live bait. Catfish good on live bait. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.
Ft. Cobb: March 26. Elevation 7 ft. below normal, water 53 and murky. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 6-8 ft. Channel and blue catfish good on cut shad around windy points. Report submitted by Tyler Howser, game warden stationed in Caddo County.
Lawtonka: March 24. Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water clear. Crappie fair on jigs. Catfish fair on cut bait at the dam. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
Tom Steed: March 25. Elevation 9 ft. below normal, water 48 and murky. Crappie slow on minnows at 15 ft. near the dam and brush piles. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County.
Waurika: March 25. Elevation 11 ft. below normal, water murky. Striped bass hybrids excellent on plastic white flukes at 3-4 ft. along the dam. Channel and blue catfish good on cut shad and punch bait. Report submitted by Ted Hasty, game warden stationed in Jefferson County.
Oklahoma legislators ponder hunting, fishing bills
It would be legal for Oklahoma noodlers to catch and keep channel catfish (above) and blue catfish in addition to flatheads under a bill pending in the Oklahoma Legislature.
Here is a glance at the wildlife-related bills that have been introduced this legislative session and are still active.
Senate Bill 16: Would make it where holders of lifetime hunting licenses in Oklahoma would not have to buy a bear hunting license.
Senate Bill 216: Would require hunting guides to possess a hunting guide license from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, which would establish requirements for the license. The bill establishes a license fee of $100 for residents and $300 for non-residents.
Senate Bill 324: Would make it legal to noodle for blue catfish and channel catfish. Currently, only flathead catfish in Oklahoma are legal to catch and keep by hand-fishing.
Senate Bill 780: Would increase the minimum amount a person could be fined for improperly disposing of wildlife from $100 to $500.
Senate Bill 819: Would allow disabled persons to use laser sights for hunting.
Senate Bill 875: Would add elk to the list of wildlife nuisance species for which the Wildlife Department could issue depredation tags to control.
Senate Bill 919: Would allow aerial hunting of depredating wildlife with a permit from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
House Bill 1010: Would allow bowfishing, gigging and spear-gunning on the Upper Illinois River.
House Bill 1244: Would create a one-day non-resident fishing license and a nuisance wildlife control license.
House Bill 1595: Would increase from six months to one year the amount of time that people must live in Oklahoma before being able to buy a lifetime hunting and fishing license from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
House Bill 1596: Tightens residency requirements for persons wishing to buy lifetime hunting and fishing licenses in Oklahoma, including preventing use of an Oklahoma driver’s license as sole proof of residency.
House Bill 1920: Would allow feral hogs and other depredating animals to be shot from a helicopter.
House Bill 1928: Would modify apprentice designated hunting licenses to allow anyone younger than 30 to hunt with an apprentice license while supervised by another licensed hunter. The current law allows anyone ages 8 to 30 to get an apprentice license.
Big bass from Arbuckle
J.D. Kent of Durant holds the 13.86-pound largemouth bass that he caught March 16 on Arbuckle Lake during the Red River Bass Club tournament.
Arbuckle Lake continues its impressive run of producing big bass this spring.
On Saturday, J.D. Kent of Durant landed a 13.86 pound largemouth bass that is the 15th largest ever caught in Oklahoma, according to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s top 20 largemouth bass list.
The fish was caught using a Jewel Bait HC finesse football jig and a Yum Craw Papi as a trailer on a hump with a deep creek channel swing nearby.
The fish allowed Kent and his son, K.D., to win the Red River Bass Club tournament with a total bag of 22.4 pounds.
“It was a thrill of a lifetime to catch a fish like that and to share the moment with my son was really special,” Kent said.
Kent’s lunker obviously was the big bass of the tournament, but another team fishing in the tournament also caught a largemouth bass weighing more than 11 pounds on Saturday, said Fran McWilliams, president of the club.
The Red River Bass Club has about 50 members and was formed in 1974.
“It’s a group of guys who love fishing and the outdoors and want to learn from each other,” said McWilliams of Kingston. “That fish J.D. caught was the biggest I’ve seen in a long time.”
The club holds tournaments once a month. For more information on the club, visit www.redriverbassclub.com.
Rashaun Woods Still Catching ‘Em
Rashaun Woods and Chris Savoie won a bass tournament on Skiatook Lake last weekend.
Former Oklahoma State All American wide reciever Rashaun Woods and his bass fishing partner, Chris Savoie, won the Skiatook Lake Anglers team qualifier last Saturday with a bag of 17.04 pounds.
The pair won $1,200 in the 46-team event.
Woods if a former star at Oklahoma City Millwood High School who was recently hired as John Marshall’s new head football coach.
Woods scored 42 touchdowns while at OSU from 2000-2003, and went on to play in the National Football League, first with the 49ers, and then briefly with the Chargers and Broncos.
He is an avid bass fisherman.
Oklahoma Fishing Report
Here is this week’s fishing report as compiled by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
CENTRAL
Arcadia: March 17. Elevation normal. Channel catfish slow to fair various baits. Crappie slow on jigs off docks. Report by Chance Whiteley, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.
Arcadia: March 18. Elevation normal, water 46 and murky. All fishing fair. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 8-12 ft. along shorelines and docks early morning. Bass fair. Catfish fair on cut bait. Report submitted by Sheila Hutton, gate attendant.
Hefner: March 19. Elevation below normal, water 46-50 and murky. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits and jigs at 4-10 ft. along rocky shorelines. Smallmouth bass fair on crankbaits and jigs at 4-10 ft. along rocky shorelines. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair to good on grubs and gay blades at 4-8 ft.at the water intake and the dam. Channel catfish fair on cut bait and punch bait at the dam. Blue catfish good on cut bait and punch bait at the dam. Crappie fair on minnows, jigs and grubs at 12-20 ft. at the dam. Walleye good on grubs and jerk baits at 2-6 ft. at the dam early and late. Report submitted by Lucky Lure Tackle.
Overholser: March 18. Elevation below normal, water murky. Catfish fair on night crawlers off the fishing dock. Striped bass hybrids good on red worms, chicken liver and night crawlers all around the lake. Report submitted by David Rempe, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.
Thunderbird: March 17. Elevation 7 1/3 ft. below normal, water murky. Crappie fair on minnows and small jigs at 8-10 ft. around structure. Bass fair on spinnerbaits around structure. Report by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.
NORTHEAST
Bell Cow: March 17. Elevation below normal, water 49 and muddy. Bass good on crankbaits at 6-10 ft. Crappie good on minnows. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.
Chandler: March 17. Elevation below normal, water 50 and muddy. Bass fair on crankbaits and jigs. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.
Copan: March 18. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal, water clearing. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 5-8 ft. in Copan Point. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.
Eucha: March 19. Elevation 1 3/4 ft. below normal, water 48 and clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 14-16 ft. around brush and structure. Largemouth bass good on jerk baits and spinnerbaits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.
Ft. Gibson: March 16. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 49 and clear. Paddlefish being caught in the main river in the Mission Bend area. White bass haven’t started their spawning run but are staging below Chouteau Bend and should start moving up in the coming weeks. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits at 5-15 ft. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. Catfish good on whole shad Carolina-rigged in the main river. Report submitted by Rick Stafford of Wagoner.
Hudson: March 19. Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits and plastic baits. White bass fair to good on small jigs, lures and sassy shad in pearl white and chartreuse. Blue catfish good on cut shad. Paddlefish fair to good in the upper end of the lake below Pensacola. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Rogers and Mayes counties.
Hulah: March 18. Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water clearing. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 5-8 ft. in Skull Creek. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.
Kaw: March 18. Elevation normal, water 50. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 10-12 ft. around Sarge Creek. Blue catfish fair on juglines. Channel catfish good on fresh cut shad north on the Arkansas River. Largemouth and spotted bass good on the south end of the lake. Report submitted by Emily Long, game warden stationed in Kay and Grant counties.
Keystone: March 19. Elevation normal, water 49. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish fair on cut bait. White bass good on spinnerbaits and jigs. Report submitted by Karlin Bailey, game warden stationed in Creek County.
Lower Illinois: March 18. Elevation normal, water 43 and clear. Largemouth bass slow on crankbaits at 2-3 ft. along coves and bridges. White bass slow on jigs at 2-3 ft. at the mouth of the river. Striped bass slow on shad at 3 ft. at the mouth of the river. Channel catfish good on cut bait on bottom all along the river. Crappie slow on spinnerbaits and jigs at 1-3 ft. Trout excellent on flies at 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: March 19. Stocked 2,329 rainbow trout. The Corps of Engineers will be doing turbine inspections on Tenkiller Dam during March and April and the turbines will be out of use for 4-6 weeks. Report submitted by Josh Johnston, biologist stationed in the east central region.
Oologah: March 17. Elevation 2 3/4 ft. below normal, water upper 40s to lower 50s and clear. Crappie fair at 10-15 ft. around brush piles. Blue catfish fair on worms and shad at 10-15 ft. on flats. White bass fair on jigs in the river above the lake. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.
Skiatook: March 18. Elevation 12 3/4 ft. below normal, water clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 5-15 ft. around structure. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Sooner: March 19. Elevation normal. White bass and striped bass hybrids good on live shad, sassy shad and topwater lures in the discharge. Fishing fair on shad, cut bait and live bait at the north end of the dam. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County.
Spavinaw: March 19. Elevation slightly below normal, water 48 and dingy. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around the dam. Largemouth bass fair on jerk baits and spinnerbaits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.
Tenkiller: March 18. Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 52 and clear. Largemouth bass slow on deep running crankbaits around the main lake points. White bass fair trolling deep running crankbaits. Report submitted by Monte Brooks of Cookson.
NORTHWEST
Canton: March 16. Elevation 15 ft. below normal, water clear. No useable boat ramps on the lake at this time due to low water levels. Channel catfish fair on shad and stinkbait in the river channel near Canadian campground. Walleye slow on jigs and crankbaits along the dam after dark. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed Blaine County.
Ft. Supply: March 18. Elevation 2 ft. below normal. White bass good on Kastmaster lures, minnows, jigs and Bret Bates spinnerbaits along the dam. Walleye fair trolling minnows and spinnerbaits along the dam. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Woodward County.
SOUTHEAST
Arbuckle: March 16. Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water 54 and clear except in far upper ends of creek. All fish are moving from deep water to shallow but not there yet. Crappie slow around docks and scattered around the lake at 25-30 ft. around brush piles. White bass are in the upper creek arms and off ledges of creek channels at 25 ft. Bass slow on crankbaits, jerk baits, jigs and Alabama rigs. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Eufaula: March 17. Elevation 2 1/2 ft. below normal, water clear in the east and murky in the west. Largemouth bass good on jerk baits and plastic baits along deeper rocky areas. White bass fair below the dam when running water. Blue catfish good on shad along flats. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 8-12 ft. below docks and along riprap areas. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: March 17. Elevation 5 ft. above normal, water 51 and murky. Crappie fair on minnows along the river channel. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw and Bryan counties.
Konawa: March 11. Elevation normal, water 56 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on plastic worms and spinnerbaits at 4-8 ft. along the cattails. White bass and striped bass hybrids good on shad and jigs at 15 ft. in the discharge canal. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.
McGee Creek: March 17. Elevation 5 1/3 ft. below normal, water 52 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on soft plastic bait at 15-25 ft. Crappie fair on minnows at 12-28 ft. over cedar brush in creek channels. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County.
Pine Creek: March 17. Elevation normal. Bass fair on plastic baits and spinnerbaits. Crappie good on minnows moving into the creek channels. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Robert S. Kerr: March 19. March 5. Bass fair on crankbaits and stick baits off points, along creek channels and in coves up river. White and spotted bass excellent up the Canadian River; look for concentrations of gulls. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 2-4 ft. up Big San Bois Creek and in strip pits; look for improvement with warmer days. 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: March 15. Elevation normal, water 54. Largemouth bass fair to good on spinnerbaits, plastic worms and jigs at 2-14 ft. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait and dead minnows at 9-16 ft. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 9-12 ft. Walleye fair trolling at 9-12 ft. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
Texoma: March 17. Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 50 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair to good on plastic combination baits and large deep diving crankbaits at 10-20 ft. in creek channels. Striped and white bass fair to good on sassy shad, live bait and slabs at 10-30 ft. from Burns Run to the islands. Channel and blue catfish fair to good on live bait, cut shad and stinkbait at 10-20 ft. from Alberta Creek to the Washita River. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 5-15 ft. around rocky shorelines and underwater brush piles. Sunfish fair to good on small tube jigs and worms at 5-15 ft. around fish attractors. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: March 17. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Crappie good on minnows and fair on white grubs at 10-12 ft. around brushy cover. Catfish fair on juglines and trotlines baited with cut bait and dead minnows at 10-15 ft. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
SOUTHWEST
Altus-Lugert: March 17. Elevation 26 3/4 ft. below normal and steady. Overall fishing is very slow. Walleye slow to fair on minnows. Report submitted by Sue Hokanson, Quartz Mountain Nature Park.
Ellsworth: March 17. Elevation 12 ft. below normal, water murky. Blue catfish fair on cut bait off rocky points. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around boathouses at Ralph’s Resort. Saugeye fair to good on spinnerbaits off the rocks by the dam. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
Foss: March 14. Elevation 12 ft. below normal with gates closed, water mid-50s and clear. Striped bass hybrids good on slabs and eyeballs in deep water. Walleye good on live bait around the marina. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.
Ft. Cobb: March 19. Elevation 7 1/2 ft. below normal, water 52. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 6-8 ft. Report submitted by Tyler Howser, game warden stationed in Caddo County.
Lawtonka: March 17. Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water clear. Crappie fair on jigs. Catfish fair on cut bait at the dam. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
Tom Steed: March 18. Elevation 9 ft. below normal, water 45 and murky. Crappie fair on minnows at 15 ft. near the dam. Catfish slow on juglines baited with cut bait. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County.
Waurika: March 19. Elevation 11 ft. below normal, water murky. Striped bass hybrids excellent on 3-4 inch sassy shad along the dam. Blue catfish good on cut shad at 25-30 ft. Crappie slow on minnows in flooded timber. Report submitted by Ted Hasty, game warden stationed in Jefferson County.
Fishing film in OKC
A fly fishing film touring the country will be shown in Oklahoma City on Thursday night.
Anglers might want to check out a fly fishing film that will be shown in Oklahoma City on Thursday night.
The Will Rogers Theater, 4322 N. Western, on Thursday night will be the site of the Fly Fishing Film Tour, hosted by Backwoods.
The tour, presented by The Outdoor Channel, travels around the country and showcases films about fishing destinations, adventure and big fish being caught on a fly rod.
Tickets are available at Backwoods for $13 or can be bought at the door for $17. There also will be prizes given away to audience members.
For more information, visit www.flyfilmtour.com.
Weekly Fishing Report
This 20.5-pound striped bass hybrid was caught March 4 from Hudson Lake below the Pensacola Dam on a spinning rod by Chad Blackman of Langley. It is the new lake record.
Here is this week’s fishing report as compiled by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
CENTRAL
Arcadia: March 10. Elevation normal. Channel catfish fair to good on punch bait and chicken liver around points and flats. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs suspended early morning and midday. Carp good on hotdogs. Report by Chance Whiteley, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.
Arcadia: March 12. Elevation normal, water 46 and muddy. All fishing fair. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 8-12 ft. along shorelines and docks early morning. Bass fair. Catfish fair on cut bait. Report submitted by Sheila Hutton, gate attendant.
Overholser: March 11. Elevation below normal. Catfish fair on night crawlers and cut shad. Report submitted by David Rempe, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.
Thunderbird: March 9. Elevation 7 1/3 ft. below normal, water murky. Crappie fair on minnows and small jigs at 8-10 ft. around structure. Bass fair on spinnerbaits around structure. Report by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.
NORTHEAST
Ft. Gibson: March 9. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. above normal, water 49 and clear. White bass fair on whole shad on a Carolina rig in the main channel in the Mission Bend area. Catfish good on whole shad at 10-20 ft. drifting the flats. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits at 5-15 ft. around structure. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 15 ft. around the docks. Report submitted by Rick Stafford of Wagoner.
Hudson: March 11. Elevation normal. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits and plastic baits. White bass fair to good in the lower of the creeks and below the dams. Blue catfish fair to good on cut bait. Crappie good on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Rogers and Mayes counties.
Kaw: March 11. Elevation normal, water 44. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 10-12 ft. around Sarge Creek. Blue catfish fair on juglines. Channel catfish good on fresh cut shad north on the Arkansas River. Largemouth and spotted bass good on the south end of the lake. Report submitted by Emily Long, game warden stationed in Kay and Grant counties.
Keystone: March 12. Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal, water 46. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish fair on cut bait. Striped bass good on shad-colored jigs. Report submitted by Karlin Bailey, game warden stationed in Creek County.
Lower Illinois: March 11. Elevation normal, water 44 and murky. Largemouth bass slow on crankbaits at 1-3 ft. and minnows with corks at 1 ft. around bridges, coves and the mouth of the river. White bass slow on spinnerbaits and jigs at 2-3 ft. at the mouth of the river. Striped bass slow on shad at 3 ft. at the mouth of the river. Channel catfish excellent on cut bait on bottom all along the river. Crappie slow on spinnerbaits and jigs at 3 ft. around bridges and coves. Trout excellent on flies at 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: March 13. Stocked 2,329 rainbow trout. The Corps of Engineers will be doing turbine inspections on Tenkiller Dam during March and April and the turbines will be out of use for 4-6 weeks. Report submitted by Josh Johnston, biologist stationed in the east central region.
Oologah: March 10. Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water upper 40s to lower 50s. Crappie fair at 10-15 ft. around brush piles. Blue catfish fair on worms and shad at 10-15 ft. on flats. White bass fair on jigs in the river above the lake. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.
Sooner: March 13. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair on ghost minnows, sassy shad and topwater lures in the discharge. Saugeye fair on minnows and sassy shad. Fishing fair on live shad, cut shad and slabs where pumping water at the dam. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County.
Tenkiller: March 11. Elevation 4 ft. below normal and rising, water 50 and clear. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass slow on deep running crankbaits, soft plastics and spinnerbaits around main lake points. Report submitted by Monte Brooks of Cookson.
NORTHWEST
Canton: March 9. Elevation 15 ft. below normal, water clear. Channel catfish good on shad in the river channel near Canadian campground. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed Blaine County.
SOUTHEAST
Arbuckle: March 9. Elevation 5 3/4 ft. below normal, water 51 and clear to stained in upper creek arms and back of feeder coves. Crappie slow around docks and fair on minnows and jigs scattered around the lake at 25 ft. around brush piles. White bass are on the move and being caught at 20 ft. in back of creek arms off creek channel ledges. Bass being caught on crankbaits, jerk baits and Alabama rigs off points and bluffs. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Broken Bow: March 10. Elevation near normal and rising, water low 30s. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair on plastic baits, jerk baits and jigs. Crappie good on minnows and jigs in deeper water around structure. Walleye good on jigs and rogues in the upper end of the lake and mouths of creeks. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Eufaula: March 10. Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water clear. Largemouth bass good on jerk baits and plastic baits along rocky areas. Blue catfish good on shad along flats. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs below docks and along riprap areas. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: March 10. Elevation 2 ft. above normal. Crappie fair on minnows along the river channel. Catfish fair on trot lines baited with cut shad and live bait. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw and Bryan counties.
Konawa: March 11. Elevation normal, water 51 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on plastic worms and crankbaits at 4-8 ft. along the outside edge of weed beds and cattails. White bass and striped bass hybrids good on shad and jigs at 15 ft. in the discharge canal. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.
Lower Mountain Fork: March 10. Fishing has been great. In addition to midges and blue-winged olive mayflies, March Browns and tan caddis flies are beginning to take trout throughout the river. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Lower Mountain Fork: March 7. Stocked 1,577 lbs., approximately 2,472 rainbow trout. Report submitted by Don Groom, southeast region fisheries supervisor.
McGee Creek: March 10. Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water 52 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on soft plastic bait at 15-25 ft. Crappie fair on minnows at 12-28 ft. over cedar brush in creek channels. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County.
Pine Creek: March 10. Elevation below normal, water clear. Boat ramps have been reopened. Bass good on most jerk baits. Crappie good on jigs. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Robber’s Cave State Park: March 7. Stocked 351 lbs., approximately 547 rainbow trout. Report submitted by April Drake, secretary southeast region fisheries.
Sardis Lake: March 8. Elevation normal. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits, stick baits and spinnerbaits. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait and dead shad. Crappie fair to good at 8-10 ft. Walleye fair trolling and on jigs in shallows. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
Texoma: March 10. Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water 50 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair to good on crankbaits and plastic combination baits at 10-20 ft. off the points. Striped and white bass fair to good on live bait, sassy shad and salt craws at 10-30 ft. from Washita Point to the islands. Channel and blue catfish fair to good on live bait, cut bait and stinkbait at 10-30 ft. from Johnson Creek to Platter Flats. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 10-20 ft. along creeks and around underwater brush. Sunfish fair on tube jigs and shrimp at 5-10 ft. around the fishing docks. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: March 10. Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Crappie good on minnows and fair on white grubs at 10-12 ft. around brushy cover. Catfish fair on juglines and trotlines baited with cut bait and dead minnows at 10-15 ft. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
SOUTHWEST
Altus-Lugert: March 9. Elevation 27 ft. below normal and steady. Overall fishing is very slow. Report submitted by Sue Hokanson, Quartz Mountain Nature Park.
Medicine Creek: March 11. Trout good on salmon eggs in Bath Lake to Gondola Dam and fair on small in-line spinnerbaits and Super Dupers. Trout good on small black flies with fly equipment from the Hwy 49 Bridge to the south and fair on minnows, floating Power Baits and small spinnerbaits. Report submitted by Jimmy Miller with Gone Fishin’.
Tom Steed: March 12. Elevation 9 ft. below normal, water murky. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs at 15-20 ft. near the dam. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County.
Waurika: March 11. Elevation 11 ft. below normal. Blue and channel catfish fair on cut shad along north shorelines during strong south winds. Striped bass hybrids and crappie slow on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Ted Hasty, game warden stationed in Jefferson County.
A Big Blue from the Red
This 90-pound blue catfish was caught and released on the Red River 10 miles below the Denison Dam by 16-year-old Jessie Roberts of Sterling, Kan.
Jessie Roberts, 16, from Sterling, Kan., landed a 90-pound blue catfish while fishing with guide Norman O’Neal Monday on the Red River.
Jessie was on spring break and fishing with her dad, Steve, when the big blue swallowed a shad head on 65-pound Power Pro line.
“It put up a huge battle, but Jessie handled the fish like a champ,” O’Neal said.
The fish was caught 10 miles below the Denison Dam on the Red River with the water falling after generation, O’Neal said.
The fish was released to fight another day.
State’s largemouth bass record broken
Dale Miller of Panama holds the new state record largemouth bass, a 14-pound, 13.7-ounce fish caught from Cedar Lake in eastern Oklahoma.
For the second straight year, Cedar Lake in far eastern Oklahoma has coughed up a state record largemouth bass.
Dale Miller of Panama caught the 14 pound, 13.7 ounce lunker late Wednesday with a swim bait on an Alabama or umbrella rig. The fish beats the old state record of 14 pounds, 12 ounces which was set last year by Benny Williams Jr. of Poteau, who also caught his state record at Cedar Lake.
Cedar Lake is a 78-acre lake near Heavener in the Ouachita National Forest and a popular destination for camping and horseback riding. It’s also been known as a trophy bass destination.
The state’s largemouth bass record – considered the Holy Grail of Oklahoma fishing records – has now been broken two consecutive years.
Before that, the record had stood for 13 years. William Cross of Broken Bow caught a 14-pound 11-ounce largemouth bass from Broken Bow Lake in 1999.
State wildlife officials currently have Miller’s state record largemouth in a holding tank to keep it alive, and hope to release it back into Cedar Lake, said Micah Holmes of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Oklahoma Outdoor Guide
The 2013 Oklahoma Outdoor Recreation Guide is now available free of charge for order online or at travel information centers located statewide, Oklahoma Department of Tourism officials announced Wednesday.
The Oklahoma Outdoor Recreation guide provides 258 pages of information about state parks, RV campgrounds, trails, horseback riding, fishing spots in Oklahoma and other outdoor activities.
The book includes an extensive directory of activities, camping locations and cabins and lodging and also highlights the state’s diverse eco-regions.
Online orders may be placed at www.travelok.com/brochures.
The guide is also available at Oklahoma’s travel information centers, located in Oklahoma City (122nd and I-35 near Frontier City); Capitol Visitor Center at the Oklahoma State Capitol (near the east entrance on the first floor); Miami (Will Rogers Turnpike/20 N. Eight Tribes Trail);
Colbert (North Hwy. 69/75, just south of Durant) and Walters (H.E. Bailey Turnpike, just south of Lawton); Sallisaw (17 miles west of OK/AR border on I-40); Erick (9 miles east of OK/TX border on I-40); Thackerville (4 miles north of OK/TX border on I-35); Blackwell (10 miles south of OK/KS border on I-35); Cherokee Nation Welcome Centers in Catoosa, OK and Kansas, OK, and Midwest City (7200 S.E. 29th, MWC).
