The Oklahoman’s Ed Godfrey is your guide to the great outdoors

Oklahoma Fishing Report

Here is this week’s fishing report as compiled by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
CENTRAL
Arcadia: February 25. Elevation 3/4 ft. above normal, water semi-clear. Channel catfish good on dough bait at 15 ft. around the northeast cove in mornings. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 8-10 ft. around south enclosed docks at midday. Report by Linnie Mason, gate attendant.
Hefner: February 26. Elevation below normal and rising, water 44-47 and murky to muddy. White bass fair on grubs and gay blades at 2-5 ft. at the dam and water intake. Striped bass hybrids fair on jigs and grubs at 2-5 ft. at the dam and water intake. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait and punch bait at the dam and water intake. Crappie fair on minnows, jigs and grubs at 15-25 ft. at the dam. Walleye fair on grubs and gay blades at 2-5 ft. at the dam and water intake. Report submitted by Lucky Lure Tackle.
NORTHEAST
Eucha: February 26. Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water 42 and dingy. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 16-18 ft. around brush and structure. Largemouth bass fair on jerk baits at 18-20 ft. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.
Ft. Gibson: February 22. Elevation normal, water clear. Catfish good on juglines baited with whole shad and sunfish on a Carolina rig and drifting the main channel. Paddlefish good in the main channel and deep holes around the Mission Bend and Mazie Landing area. White bass good on small whole shad on Carolina rigs on bottom in the main channel around the Mission Bend area. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 15-25 ft. around boat docks. Report submitted by Rick Stafford of Wagoner.
Greenleaf: February 26. Bass good on jerk baits and spinnerbaits. Crappie good on 1/32 ounce jigs and minnows. Report submitted by Mike’s Outdoors.
Hudson: February 20. Elevation normal. Largemouth bass good on plastic baits. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around brush pile areas. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Rogers and Mayes counties.
Kaw: February 25. Elevation normal, water 46. 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: February 26. Elevation 2 ft. below normal, water 45. Crappie good on minnows and jigs. Catfish good on cut bait. White bass fair. Report submitted by Karlin Bailey, game warden stationed in Creek County.
Lower Illinois: February 25. 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 1-2 ft. Channel catfish good on cut bait on bottom. Crappie slow on jigs and spinnerbaits at 1-3 ft. Trout excellent on flies on the surface, on rooster tails at 1-2 ft. and on Power Bait on bottom from the dam to Gore Landing. Report submitted by D. Tracy, Town of Gore.
Oologah: February 24. Elevation 4 1/4 ft. below normal, water mid to 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.
Spavinaw: February 26.Elevation slightly above normal, water 42. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around the dam. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around the dam area. Largemouth bass fair on jerk baits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.
Tenkiller: February 25. Elevation 7 ft. below normal, water 48 and clear. Largemouth bass slow on soft plastics, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Report submitted by Monte Brooks of Cookson.
Webbers Falls: February 26. Bass fair to good on jigs with trailers and crankbaits along the riprap. Catfish good on cut shad on the river. Report submitted by Mike’s Outdoors.
NORTHWEST
Canton: February 25. Elevation 16.5 ft. below normal, water clear. There are no useable boat ramps on the lake at this time. Channel catfish good on shad in the river channel near Canadian Campground. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed Blaine County.
SOUTHEAST
Arbuckle: February 23.Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water 50 and clear to stained in the upper creek arms. Crappie good around docks in early morning and being caught on chartreuse/brown jigs and CC Spoons while moving from deep water; use of locators important in locating movement. White bass are also on the move; they can be in 30-40 ft. along creek channel bends or at 5 ft. chasing shad; gulls are a clue they are in the shallows. Bass being caught on crankbaits, jerk baits, Alabama rigs and jigs at 5-20 ft. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Blue River: February 26. Elevation normal, water 49 and clear. Trout good on green and rainbow Power Bait below the falls in slack water and good on inline spinnerbaits and jigs in current below falls and around structure. Fly fishing good on caddis flies, zebra nymphs, woolly buggers and egg patterns near slow current or riffles. Channel catfish good on chicken liver, minnows and night crawlers around structure in deeper pools. Smallmouth and spotted bass fair on soft plastics and jerk baits fished slowly in deeper pools around structure in current. Approximately 2,000 rainbow trout were stocked on 2/25/2013. Report submitted by Matt Gamble, biologist at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.
Broken Bow: February 24. Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water low 50s. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair on jigs, plastic baits and sinking jerk baits in deeper water. Catfish fair on juglines baited with cut bait in deeper water. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs in schools in open water. Walleye are in full spawn and excellent on jerk baits, shallow diving crankbaits, rogues, Long A lures and grubs with 1/4 ounce jig heads in shallower water in the upper end of the lake, along points with rocky outcroppings, mouths of creeks and the head of the lake. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Eufaula: February 24. Elevation 4 1/2 ft. below normal, water clear. Largemouth bass fair on jerk baits and plastic baits around rocky deeper areas. Blue catfish fair on shad along the flats. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs below docks with brush and riprap areas. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: February 24. 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: February 24. Elevation normal, water 56 and clear. Largemouth bass good on plastic worms at 4-8 ft. along the edge of 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.
Lower Mountain Fork: February 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.
Lower Mountain Fork: February 26. Stocked 1,577 lbs., approximately 2,540 rainbow trout. Report submitted by April Drake, secretary at the southeast regional office.
McGee Creek: February 24. Elevation 10 2/3 ft. below normal, water 51 and clear. Largemouth bass fair to good on soft plastic baits and jig-and-pig combinations at 15-30 ft. Crappie fair on minnows at 12-28 ft. over cedar brush piles in creek channels. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County.
Pine Creek: February 24. 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: February 26. Stocked 385 lbs., approximately 618 rainbow trout. Report submitted by April Drake, secretary at the southeast regional office.
Robert S. Kerr: February 26. 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: February 22. Largemouth bass fair to good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Channel and blue catfish good on shad and dead minnows at 8-14 ft. White bass fair on jigs and live minnows at 10-14 ft. Walleye fair trolling and on jigs at 8-9 ft. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
Texoma: February 24. Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water 50 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair to good on plastic worms, crankbaits and spinnerbaits at 15-20 ft. in creeks. Striped and white bass fair to good on live bait, slabs and sassy shad at 20-40 ft. from Platter Flats to Caney Creek. Channel and blue catfish fair to good on live bait and stinkbait at 15-30 ft. from Johnson Creek to Burns Run. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 10-20 ft. around underwater brush piles. Sunfish fair to good on worms and tiny tube jigs at 5-10 ft. around fish attractors. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: February 24. Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on silver deep diving 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 liver. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
SOUTHWEST
Altus-Lugert: February 24. Elevation 27 ft. below normal and steady. Quartz Mountain Nature Park and Lake Altus-Lugert have had another fish kill as a result of a Golden Algae bloom. Golden Algae blooms are not a public health threat; healthy fish are safe to eat. Overall, fishing is slow. Walleye, striped bass hybrids, crappie and catfish all slow. Report submitted by Sue Hokanson, Quartz Mountain Nature Park.
Medicine Creek: February 26.Water 45. Trout slow on salmon eggs in the Bath Lake area to Gondola Dam and fair on minnows, salmon eggs, orange and yellow floating Power Baits, Super Dupers and small white inline spinnerbaits on the south end towards the Hwy 49 Bridge. There will a trout festival with more trout stocked this weekend, March 1-3. Report submitted by Jimmy Miller with Gone Fishin’.
Waurika: February 25. Elevation 11 ft. below normal. Water murky. Channel catfish fair on punch bait and chicken liver in flooded timber. Report submitted by Ted Hasty, game warden stationed in Jefferson County.

H&H Shooting Sports Complex Chat with Ed Godfrey

Trout festival at Medicine Park

The inaugural Medicine Park Trout Festival will be held Friday through Sunday (March 1-3) at Oklahoma’s newest winter trout fishery on Medicine Creek.
Prizes will be awarded for the five heaviest fish weighed in during the three-day festival with a separate division for youth anglers.
Fifty trout will be tagged for prizes. There also will be a prize for the most unusual fish.
The weigh-in will be at the Gone Fishin’ Bait Shop in Medicine Park. The awards ceremony is 5 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information on the festival, call the bait shop at (580) 704-6469 or visit www.medicinepark.com

Backwoods Hunting and Fishing Expo opens Friday

The 26^th annual Backwoods Hunting and Fishing Expo opens Friday in the Travel and TransportationBuilding at StateFairPark.

The three-day show opens Friday at noon and Saturday at 9 a.m. It closes at 8:30 p.m. each day. On Sunday, show hours are 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Admission is $10 for adults. Children ages 10 and younger receive free admission.

In addition to numerous hunting and fishing vendors, the show will feature Muzzy’s 200-inch whitetail deer exhibit, a National Wild Turkey Federation sanctioned turkey calling contest, the Bass Tank with Brad Campbell, the Texas Snake Handlers with Joe Martin and more.

For more information, visit www.backwoodsshow.com.

Rashaun Woods’ world is football and fishing

Everyone knows that Rashaun Woods could catch touchdown passes, but he can also catch bass.
The former Oklahoma State University wide receiver, who was introduced Tuesday as John Marshall’s new football coach, is an avid bass tournament angler.
In 2004, I interviewed Woods after he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers. He told me then, “If I go out in a tournament and stick five good bass, I feel the same adrenaline rush as when I catch three touchdown passes.”
My colleague at The Oklahoman, Ryan Aber, attended the press conference Tuesday where Woods was officially introduced as the Bears’ new head football coach.
Ryan asked Woods is he was still bass fishing and quizzed him about the upcoming Bassmaster Classic in Tulsa.
“I’ll definitely be there (Bassmaster Classic),” Woods said. “I’ve got to do some things for Quantum and Gene Larew. I’ll be in a booth shaking hands and signing autographs.
“They’ve given me things and sponsored me the last couple years with me just really going out and really enjoying myself and I appreciate that. This is an opportunity to give back and do some things for them.”
Woods said having the Bassmaser Classic in Oklahoma on Grand Lake is huge for the state.
“There are a lot of fishermen in Oklahoma. It’s a deal where everybody’s excited. A lot of guys are going to be there and that’s not mentioning everybody from out of state. It’s a great deal, it should be great for growth and I will be there for sure to see my favorite guys.”
Woods plans to still fish in bass tournaments even with his new job.
“I’m fishing as much as I can. Obviously that’ll go down a little bit. The biggest trails in Oklahoma I’ve had a chance to fish, the Triton and Extreme Fishing League are big, big tournaments. I won’t get to do much during football season but that’s fine. I’m going to take advantage during this time right now.”

Stillwater teen wins world archery shoot

 

Brogan Williams, 17, of Stillwater won the young adult female freestyle compound class of the World Archery Shoot held Feb. 9 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Williams was one of 21 girls competing in her division. The junior at Stillwater High School has been competing in compound archery since age 13.
She has won numerous state contests and was one of four 4H members of a compound archery team from Oklahoma that competed at the national championships.
Williams was the top female shooter in the compound archery division at 4H Nationals where the Oklahoma team finished fourth.

Oklahoma Fishing Report

Here is this week’s fishing report as compiled by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

CENTRAL
Hefner: February 19. Elevation below normal and rising, water 45-47 and murky. White bass good on grubs and gay blades at 2-5 ft. at the water intake. Striped bass hybrids good on jigs and grubs at 2-5 ft. along the dam. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait and punch bait at the dam and the water intake. Crappie fair on minnows, jigs and grubs at 15-25 ft. along the dam. Walleye good on grubs and gay blades at 2-5 ft. at the water intake. Report submitted by Lucky Lure Tackle.

NORTHEAST

Ft. Gibson: February 16. Elevation normal, water 43 and clear. Paddlefish good in the Mission Bend and Mazie Landing areas in deep holes in the main river. Catfish good on whole shad drifting the flats and on juglines at 15-25 ft. on the flats. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 15-25 ft. around the docks in the Paradise Cove. Largemouth bass good on Biffle Bugs and crankbaits in all depths around structure. Report submitted by Rick Stafford of Wagoner.

Kaw: February 17. 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: February 19. Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water 46. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish good on cut bait. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits and jigs. Report submitted by Karlin Bailey, game warden stationed in Creek County.

Lower Illinois: February 18. Elevation normal, water 43 and clear. Largemouth bass slow on stinkbait at 3 ft. in coves and at the mouth of the river. White bass slow on jigs and spinnerbaits at 2-3 ft. around jetties and coves. Striped bass slow on shad at 1-4 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. in the 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: February 19. Stocked 2,329 rainbow trout on February 19. 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: February 17. Elevation 4 1/4 ft. below normal, water mid to upper 40s and clear. Crappie fair at 10-15 ft. around brush piles. Blue catfish fair on worms and shad at 10-15 ft. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.

Pawhuska: February 16. Trout good on Power Bait. Report submitted by David Clay, game warden stationed in Osage County.

Skiatook: February 20. Elevation 12 3/4 ft. below normal, water murky. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10-20 ft. around standing timber. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County.

Tenkiller: February 18. Elevation 7 3/4 ft. below normal, water 48 and clear. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass slow on soft plastics and spinnerbaits. Report submitted by Monte Brooks of Cookson.

NORTHWEST

Canton: February 16. Elevation 14 ft. below normal. There are no useable boat ramps on the lake at this time. Channel catfish good on shad in the river channel near the spillway. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed Blaine County.

Ft. Supply: February 18. Elevation 2 1/2 ft. below normal, water clear. White bass fair on spinnerbaits at the dam. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Woodward County.

Watonga: February 15. Stocked 710 lbs. of rainbow trout on February 14. Report submitted by Jody Laubhan, secretary at Byron State Fish Hatchery.

SOUTHEAST

Arbuckle: February 16. Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water 51 and clear to stained in the upper arms of the lake. Crappie good on brown/chartreuse jigs and CC Spoons at 35 ft. off ledges and brush piles and fair around docks early morning. White bass being caught on CC Spoons under the gulls and on long Johns in the upper creek arms. Bas being caught on crankbaits, jerk baits, jigs and Alabama rigs at 12-20 ft. on cooler days and in shallows on sunny days. Report submitted by Jack Melton.

Blue River: February 20. Elevation normal, water 45 and clear. Trout good on yellow and peach Power Bait, in-line spinnerbaits and Super Dupers with hook dressing when fishing around waterfalls and structure in current. Fly fishing good on zebra midge, soft hackles, caddis flies and woolly buggers. Channel catfish fair on stinkbait, chicken livers and shrimp fished in deeper pools around current and structure. Approximately 2,000 rainbow trout were stocked February 19. Report submitted by Matt Gamble, biologist at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.

Broken Bow: February 17. 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: February 17. Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water clear. Largemouth fair on jerk baits and plastic baits in rocky areas. Blue catfish good on shad in the flats. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs in riprap and around boat docks. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.

Hugo: February 17. 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: February 16. Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal, water 53 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on plastic bait in the cattails and along moss beds at 5-8 ft. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair on minnows and jigs at 15 ft. early and late at the discharge. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.

Lower Mountain Fork: February 17. 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: February 17. Elevation 11 2/3 ft. below normal, water 48 and clear. Largemouth bass fair to good on soft plastic baits and jig-and-pig combinations at 15-30 ft. Crappie fair on minnows at 12-28 ft. over cedar brush piles in creek channels. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County.

Pine Creek: February 17. 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: February 19. 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: February 15. Largemouth bass fair to good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Channel and blue catfish good on shad and dead minnows at 8-14 ft. White bass fair on jigs and live minnows at 10-14 ft. Walleye fair trolling and on jigs at 8-9 ft. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.

Texoma: February 17. Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water 50 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair to good on crankbaits, jigs and plastic baits at 10-20 ft. around the points. Striped and white bass fair to good on live bait and sassy shad at 10-30 ft. from Johnson Creek to Platter Flats. Channel and blue catfish fair to good on live bait, cut shad and stinkbait at 10-30 ft. from Johnson Creek to Burns Run. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. in the creek channels. Sunfish fair on worms and small tube jigs at 5-10 ft. around fish attractors. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.

Wister: February 17. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on black plastic worms with white tail tips and fair on silver crankbaits. Crappie fair to good on minnows and fair on white/pink tail grubs at 15-20 ft. Catfish fair on juglines and trotlines baited with cut bait and liver. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.

SOUTHWEST

Altus-Lugert: February 17. Elevation 27 ft. below normal and rising. Quartz Mountain Nature Park and Lake Altus-Lugert have had another fish kill as a result of a Golden Algae bloom. Golden Algae blooms are not a public health threat; healthy fish are safe to eat. Overall, fishing is slow. Walleye, striped bass hybrids, crappie and catfish all slow. Report submitted by Sue Hokanson, Quartz Mountain Nature Park.

Ellsworth: February 17. Elevation 12 ft. below normal, water murky. Blue catfish fair on cut bait off rocky points. Crappie slow to fair on minnows around boat houses at Ralph’s Resort. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.

Lawtonka: February 17. Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water clear. Crappie fair on jigs at the dam. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.

Medicine Creek: February 18. Water 40. Trout good on floating Power Baits and salmon eggs on light tackle and fair on Super Dupers, small in-line spinnerbaits and minnows. Fly fishing good on black flies and Maribou jigs. Trout were stocked last week. Report submitted by Jimmy Miller with Gone Fishin’.

A Bassmaster Q&A

Kenyon Hill of Norman has fished in four Bassmaster Classics and won more than $1 million in his career as a pro bass angler.
He missed making this year’s Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake and was teaching a Bassmaster University course Tuesday night at Rose State College in Midwest City.
Before the event, we shared a meal and he shared some opinions about this year’s Super Bowl of fishing.

What is your predictions on the Bassmaser Classic? Grand Lake, this time of year, will produce huge stringers if you use the Alabama Rig, but they can’t, and that is a whole ‘nother kettle of fish
I suspect it will still be a pretty deadly Classic. If the water temperatures are still in the ‘40s, I think the jerk-baiters will probably do very well. There may be some guys figure out how to catch them suspended on a swim bait.
I kind of look for Aaron Martens to have a very good Classic. The bigger ones seem to be a little tougher to catch when they are deeper and suspended and he is about good as it gets watching them on a depth finder and catching them.
What about catching bass on jigs? Jigs will be OK, but with the water temperature it would surprise me if that is a winning technique. Normally it takes 50 degrees or better for the jigs to come in. It’s a generic kind of a mark but normally 50 degrees or warmer they (bass) will start getting structure and bottom-related. Fifty degrees and lower they suspend more so with the water temperature in the upper ‘40s, I don’t look for a jig to be a huge player. It could be but I think it’s going to be that other stuff.
So you would bet on Martens to win? Martens will be tough. No one knows anymore about it (the lake) than (Jason) Christie, between him and his family. It just depends on what he can put together. There is not a slouch out there.

Does the Bassmaster Classic feel like a different tournament than any other B.A.S.S. Elite Series event? It did my first one, because I let it bother me. But after that, no, because I just ignore all the pomp and circumstance. There are a lot of people who cannot and it will wear on them.
What does having the Bassmaster Classic in Oklahoma mean for the state? It will bring more recognition to the state obviously. Grand Lake is a very good fishery. It’s introducing the world to Oklahoma, basically. It all depends on whether the Department of Tourism will try to capitalize on it. Oklahoma, as a state, has a tremendous amount to offer the outdoorsmen of all kinds. It has an incredible amount of diversity. It’s truly amazing.

If anglers had not had success catching fish in the two previous Elite Series events on Grand Lake (2007 and 2008), would the Bassmaster Classic have been held on Grand Lake? That has no bearing on it at all. On the Classic, it has to have special things. They would like to have a reasonable fishery but that’s not always the case. You have to have an arena, the facilities, a place to hold the show and the money to pay them (B.A.S.S) to come. I look for it to be very good event and hopefully it showcases Oklahoma and Tulsa very well.”

What is your favorite bass fishing lake in Oklahoma? I grew up fishing Texoma and have such great childhool memories there with my dad and my buddies, so I would have to say Texoma going away is my favorite place.
Have you been to Arbuckle Lake this year? I haven’t, although I have heard it’s really kicked on. The deal was the water temperatures got down and the (the bass) suspend, and they started bashing ‘em with that Alabama rig.
What do you think about using the Alabama rig in bass tournaments? I think it’s just another way to catch fish. I have absolutely no problem with it whatsoever. It absolutely has no bearing on being hard on the fishery. At one time in the state of Alabama a legislator proposed outlawing the plastic worm because it was so deadly. If you want to do anything to protect the fishery, get rid of mapping GPS. It’s made heroes out of zeros. It takes a lot of time and effort to find stuff off the shore without that and then find it again. But now with mapping GPS, there is no place for them to hide in the whole lake.
If you really want to level the playing ground, get rid of that, and you will see a whole new batch of people start shining a whole lot more.

You have any tips for fishing with an Alabama rig? You rig it with swim baits. I use Zoom Swimmin Fluke. It doesn’t have to look real realistic. It  just has to look like a minnow swimming. I use relatively light jig heads. And then it is about depth control and learning how to keep it down and whatever depth you are seeing on the depth finder. It takes awhile to learn to cast it. It’s like throwing a shoe out there. So you throw it sidearm and if you feather the whole cast, and really feather it good before it comes down, you will keep it all lined out. And you just got to be conscious about counting it down, letting it go to the bottom and keeping it at a certain depth. It’s primarily for a suspended fish situation and when that is is when the water is below 50 degrees and in the post-spawn in the summertime. And in the fall they will get to schooling and chase some baits back in pockets and stuff. They are in shallow water but you can still catch them on Alabama rigs in those situations. You will also catch stripers and white bass and whatever is swimming in the lake.  It doesn’t do well in brush piles. I’ve snagged everyone I have come close to. I don’t use a heavy grade hook. I use kind of a medium, wire hook. It allows you to get it (the rig) back. With 66-pound braid, just pull on it and you can straighten that hook out and bring it back in and rig your stuff. That’s the way to get it back. Use lots of heavy stuff and baby hooks.

Your passion outside of bass tournament fishing is duck hunting? Duck hunting and fishing. I enjoy fishing outside of tournament fishing. We are planning trips to El Salto (Mexico) this year and at least a couple of trips to Venice, La. Hopefully, I will get to do some crappie fishing this spring at Thunderbird. It’s a great crappie lake. You can catch ‘em by the bucketfuls.

House committee approves aerial hog hunting

Legislation that would allow aerial hunting of feral hogs has been approved unanimously by a House committee, a state lawmaker said Wednesday.
HB 1904, as amended by state Rep. Dustin Roberts, would allow a permit for any landowner or any person who has contracted with a landowner to engage in the management of depredating animals by use of aircraft on the land of the landowner.
“Feral hogs are a huge problem in southeastern Oklahoma and lawmakers have been working to create opportunities for individuals hunting them,” said Roberts, R-Durant.
“I amended House Bill 1904 to allow aerial hunting of feral hogs, which is a efficient and effective way to manage the feral hog population.”
HB 1094 was approved by a 13-0 vote by the Oklahoma House of Representatives Agriculture and Wildlife Committee.
If approved by the House Calendar Committee, the measure will be available for a hearing on the House floor.

Berkley Experience Trailer to visit Bass Pro

The Berkley Experience Trailer will be at Bass Pro Shops in Bricktown Friday through Sunday before heading to Tulsa for the Bassmaster Classic next week.
Visitor to the 60-foot Experience trailer can watch videos, interactive demos, knot tying seminars and product demonstrations under the tent.
“This is the eighth year for the Berkley Experience Trailer and we have many new locations across the country,” said Andrew Marks, Berkley Marketing Director. “The Berkley Experience Trailer team is ready to help anglers of all ages and skill levels learn about our broad spectrum of products and how best to use them to catch more fish.”
Special retail promotions – including rod and reels, fishing line and bait – will be offered at the trailer.