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).
Paddlefish station now open on Grand
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation makes caviar from paddlefish eggs and sells the product to a wholesaler. The money earned is used to support paddlefish research and management in the state. The above photo is an illustration and does not depict an actual packaged product..
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has opened its paddlefish processing station at Twin Bridges State Park on Grand Lake.
State wildlife officials will clean an angler’s paddlefish, or spoonbills, for free in exchange for the eggs from the female fish, which the state makes into caviar and sells to a wholesaler.
It is the fifth year for the program. Money made from the sale of the caviar is used for paddelfish management and research.
Spoonbill caviar is considered by many second only to the real thing, caviar made from beluga sturgeon.
The biggest market for the Oklahoma made caviar is in Europe and Japan.
Most of the paddlefish are currently being caught in the lake, but the spoonbills will soon begin spawning runs up the rivers. The peak of the spawn is usually in late March and early April.
Paddlefish do not eat bait and are caught by snagging.
Weekly Fishing Report
Billy Lemon of Sand Springs caught this 12.3 pound largemouth bass March 3 that is the new record for Grand Lake. Lemon caught the fish on an Alabama rig in the Duck Creek area of the lake during the Nichols Marine Series Team Tournament.
Here is this week’s fishing report as compiled by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
CENTRAL
Arcadia: March 3. Elevation normal. Channel catfish good on punch bait, stinkbait and liver around points, especially on windy days. Report by Chance Whiteley, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.
NORTHEAST
Bell Cow: March 3. Elevation below normal, water 44 and muddy. Bass good on crankbaits at 10-15 ft. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.
Eucha: March 5. Elevation 4 1/2 ft. below normal, water 44 and clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 16-18 ft. around brush and structure. Largemouth bass good on jerk baits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.
Ft. Gibson: March 2. Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 15 ft. Catfish good on juglines and drifting at 10-20 ft. along the flats. White bass good on Carolina rigs with whole shad in the holes south of Mission Bend. Paddlefish good in the Mission Bend and Mazie Landing areas in deep holes in the main river. Report submitted by Rick Stafford of Wagoner.
Grand: February 5. Water 38-40 in the north end and 40-43 in the south end. Paddlefish excellent in the Grey’s Ranch Area and some reports some being caught all the way up to the Conner’s Bridge. Catfish good to excellent on cut shad at10-30 ft. on the north end of the lake around Sailboat Bridge area. Catfish being caught at 40-70 ft. in winter pattern on ledges. Bass good on Alabama rigs, jigs and jerk baits around secondary points in mid-lake to the dam. Report submitted by Rusty Pritchard, Pritchard’s Guide Service.
Hudson: March 4. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits and plastic baits around rocky points and shorelines. Catfish fair on cut bait. Crappie good on small jigs and minnows at 10-18 ft. around brush pile areas and heated docks. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Rogers and Mayes counties.
Kaw: March 4. Elevation normal, water 59. 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 white spinnerbaits on the south end of the lake. Report submitted by Emily Long, game warden stationed in Kay and Grant counties.
Keystone: March 5. Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal, water 43. Striped bass good on jigs. Catfish good on cut bait. Crappie good on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Karlin Bailey, game warden stationed in Creek County.
Lower Illinois: March 4. Elevation normal, water 45 and clear. Largemouth bass slow on crankbaits at 1-3 ft. along coves and bridges. White bass slow on jigs and spinnerbaits at 1-3 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 jigs and spinnerbaits at 1-3 ft. at the mouth of the river. Trout excellent fly fishing the surface, on rooster tails at 1-3 ft. and on Power Bait on bottom from the dam to Gore Landing. Note: some big trout are left over from the trout tournament. Report submitted by D. Tracy, Town of Gore.
Lower Illinois: March 5. 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 3. Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water upper 40s and clear. Crappie fair at 10-15 ft. around brush piles. Blue catfish fair on worms and shad at 10-15 ft. on flats. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.
Pawhuska: March 5. Trout fair on Power Bait. Report submitted by David Clay, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Skiatook: March 5. Elevation 12 1/2 ft. below normal, water clear. Largemouth bass fair to good on soft plastics along rocky shorelines. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Sooner: March 4. Striped bass hybrids fair on ghost minnows and sassy shad in the discharge canal and good on cut bait and live bait along the dam. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County.
Spavinaw: March 5. Elevation slightly below normal, water 43 and dingy. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.
Tenkiller: March 4. Elevation 5 1/4 below normal, water 48 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits, deep diving crankbaits and soft plastic baits near main lake points. Report submitted by Monte Brooks of Cookson.
NORTHWEST
Ft. Supply: March 4. Elevation 2 1/2 ft. below normal. White bass fair on Kastmaster lures and spinnerbaits along the dam. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Woodward County.
Watonga: March 1. Stocked 700 lbs. of rainbow trout on March 1. Report submitted by Jody Laubhan, secretary at Byron State Fish Hatchery.
SOUTHEAST
Arbuckle: March 2. Elevation 5 3/4 ft. below normal, water48 and clear in the main lake and stained in the feeder coves and upper end of creeks. Crappie slow around docks early morning; moving from deep water. White bass also on the move, some are in the upper creek arms, gulls and terns will sometimes show you where to fish. Bass slow on crankbaits in shad patterns, jigs, jerk baits and Alabama rigs. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Blue River: March 5. Elevation normal, water 53 and clear. Trout good on rainbow, orange and yellow Power Bait, in-line spinnerbaits with hook dressing and gold spoons. Fly fishing good on egg patterns, green woolly bugger, caddis flies and midges around riffles and current in larger pools and below falls. Channel catfish good on stinkbait, chicken liver and minnows in larger pools around breaks in the current. Smallmouth and spotted bass fair on small crankbaits fished slowly in deeper pools around structure. Approximately 2,000 rainbow trout were stocked on March 5. Report submitted by Matt Gamble, biologist at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.
Broken Bow: March 3. Elevation 9-10 ft. below normal, water 50. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair to good on jerk baits and crankbaits around structure and points. Walleye good on rogues, rattletraps and 5-inch twirl-tail grubs with 1/4 ounce jig heads in the upper end of the lake. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Eufaula: March 3. Elevation 3 1/2 ft. below normal, water clear in the east and murky in the west. Largemouth bass fair on jerk baits and plastic baits along rocky areas near the dam. Blue catfish fair on shad along the flats. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around docks with brush and around riprap areas. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: March 3. Elevation normal. Crappie fair on minnows along the river channel. Catfish fair on trot lines baited with cut bait and live bait. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw and Bryan counties.
Konawa: March 4. Elevation normal, water 52 and clear. Largemouth bass good on plastic worms at 4-8 ft. along the edge of the cattails. 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: March 3. 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 3. Elevation 11 ft. below normal, water 51 and clear. Largemouth bass fair to good 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 3. 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.
Robert S. Kerr: March 5. Bass fair on crankbaits and stick baits off points, along creek channels and in coves up river. Spotted bass excellent up the Canadian River; look for concentrations of gulls. Crappie fair up Big San Bois Creek around deeper submerged brush. As water clears from recent rains look for improvement. White bass and striped bass fair on minnows and shad crankbaits upriver 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: March 1. Elevation slightly above normal. Largemouth bass fair to good on plastic worms and jerk bait at 5-10 ft. Blue and channel catfish good on cut bait and dead minnows. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 8-12 ft. Walleye fair trolling at 10-12 ft. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
Texoma: March 3. Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water 50 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair to good on large crankbaits, plastic combination baits and spinnerbaits at 10-20 ft. around the river channel drop-offs. Striped and white bass fair to good on live bait, sassy shad and salt craws at 10-30 ft. from Burns Run to Caney Creek. Channel and blue catfish fair to good on live bait, stinkbait and cut shad at 10-30 ft. from Johnson Creek to Platter Flats. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 10-20 ft. in underwater brush and fish attractors. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: March 3. Elevation 1 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
Ellsworth: March 3. Elevation 12 ft. below normal, water murky. Blue catfish fair on cut bait off rocky points. Crappie slow to fair on minnows around boathouses at Ralph’s Resort. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
Foss: March 4. Elevation 12 ft. below normal with gates closed, water lower 50s and clear. Striped bass hybrids good on slabs in deep water. Walleye good on live bait and small jigs near the shore. Crappie fair on live bait. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.
Lawtonka: March 3. Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water clear. Crappie fair on jigs. Catfish good on cut bait at the dam. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.
Medicine Creek: March 4. Trout good on minnows, Super Dupers and small in-line spinnerbaits all through Medicine Creek and fair on Power Bait and salmon eggs. Report submitted by Jimmy Miller with Gone Fishin’.
Tom Steed: March 4. Elevation 9 ft. below normal, water 45 and murky. Crappie fair on minnows at 15-20 ft. near the dam. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County.
