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Fishing Reports

Howdy:

If you don’t know about it yet there are to be several meeting across the state about future fishing and hunting regulations. One that I will be watching is …” the proposal of special trout fishing regulations at the new Evening Hole/Lost Creek areas in the Lower Mountain Fork River trout stream.”

Also being discussed is a possible Special Regulations Area on a portion of the Lower Illinois River. The newly acquired Public Fishing and Hunting Area now being called the “Watts” area is a part of this discussion. From the USGS gauging station downstream to

T&S Gravel. “ The proposed regulations would include placing the area under a one-fish-per-day bag limit and a 20-inch minimum size limit restriction on rainbow trout. Discussion will also include a proposal to restrict the areas to the use of artificial flies and lures and barbless hooks only.”

The closest meeting I have found will be at Muskogee - Northeastern State University Campus Auditorium, 2400 West Shawnee Date: January 9, 2007 Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. If you are unable to attend the hearings I would encourage you to send comments

By mail to: Attn: Proposed hunting and fishing regulation changes - Wildlife

Department, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. All comments are weighted equally whether received in writing or delivered at the public hearings.

In years past, I have had numerous discussions about if a Catch and Release Area would be of any benefit on the Lower Illinois. I think it is worth a try, sveltely if the Wildlife Department is backing it.

FYI. If you go to fish the Mountain Fork All of these regulations are currently effective in emergency status at the Evening Hole and Lost Creek areas.

Fishing Report:

Tenkiller: Dec. 26. Elevation 1 1/3 ft. above normal, water 50. Crappie fair around brush at 10-20 ft. on tube jigs and fair around docks at 15-20 ft. on minnows or tube jigs. Sunfish good in docks on worms or small jigs. Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort

Ft. Gibson: Dec. 24. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 46 and clear. All fishing slow. Report submitted Marvin Stanley, game warden stationed in Wagoner and Muskogee counties.

Grand: Dec. 11. Elevation below normal and clear. Crappie biting fair using minnows and jigs at 12-15 ft. around brush piles. All other fishing slow at this time. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: Dec. 26. Elevation normal and clear. Largemouth bass slow on salt craws. Catfish slow on bottom with cut bait. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around the fishing dock. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

REGIONAL TROUT REPORT:

Lower Illinois River: The conditions of the lower river have been good. Rain, Snow and regular activity from the releases have been good for the river. There have been some reports of nice sized brown trout and the Rainbows seem to be getting bigger. Power bait and roostertails are working well directly below the dam. Midges, Woolly Buggers and most any bead head nymph in the flyfishing areas. On The Fly, Larry Clark

Lower Mountain Fork River: Dec. 18. Trout good. The powerhouse has released water on two days during the last week. The water could rise at any time. The insects that have been observed have been small mayflies, small caddis, and midges. Choose a fly that matches the insects you see buzzing around. Otherwise use a minnow type fly (streamer). Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Blue River: Dec. 26. Elevation normal, water 44 and clear. Trout good on power bait, super dupers, rooster tails, mill worms. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.

The Little Red Fly Shop in Heber Springs said more releases have made finding a place to wade or safely boat the river problematic. The power house has been blowing both barrels every morning from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Evening releases have been at dusk. The best wade fishing is at JFK Park after the morning water releases recede. Midges, Blue Wings and Caddis continue to hatch sporadically every day. Red butts (sizes 14-16) and red zebra midges (size 16) have been the hot flies. Any fly with red, gold or tan has been productive. Copper Johns (size 16) and olive woolly buggers (size 12) are also working quite well.

White River: Gaston's White River Resort said there has be an increase in water generation this week. Two to three generators are running in the morning. The water may only run for a few hours, but it gives a great opportunity to catch some trophy brown trout on white 1/8^th-oz. jigs, silver Rattlin’ Rogues and gold or silver Countdown Rapalas

Beaver Tailwater: McLellan’s Fly Shop said there has been very little generation the last few days, providing plenty of wade-fishing opportunities. Scuds and sow bugs as well as midge pupa patterns have been very productive. Fall and winter are also great times to fish egg patterns as the brown trout make their annual spawning run. For the health of the fishery, avoid actively spawning fish and their spawning redds (clean oval depressions in the gravel).

Smallmouth 2

Howdy.

The bass known as the Smallmouth may have been described in writing as early as the mid 1600s. Although it was Dr. James Alexander Henshall's Book of the Black Bass in 1881 that defined a separation between the Largemouth and the Smallmouth Basses. The first time I remember reading about Smallmouth was in a LL Bean how to flyfish handbook written by neighbor Dave Whitlock. In the back of the book he describes the smallmouth bass fondly. If you do a little research you will see that there have been a many books about the Smallmouth Bass as any species of fish.

I seem to have known them (Smallmouth) from the days of fishing LeFlore County with my Dad and Grandparents. I do remember as if it was only last week my first Smallmouth Bass on a flyrod. It was on the Black Fork near Heavner Oklahoma. It took my fly and pulled and darted until I was sure it was a monster, only it was barely 10 inches long.

According to a web site called Books of the Black Bass "…in May 1902, the first story that Zane Grey ever sold, A Day on the Delaware, was published by Recreation magazine. This was not a western story but one about Smallmouth fishing . A 1909 Grey story, The Lord of Lackawaxen Creek, concerns the repeated efforts of Grey to land a "wolf-jawed, red eyed, bronzebacked black bass" who reigned over the Lackawaxen Creek that empties into the Delaware River at the tiny village of Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania.

There is much much more, and I really didn't mean for this article to be about books. I am lucky in that I own several Smallmouth Bass books and have even been in a couple. I hope that I can someday write one on flyfishing for the Smallmouth, but for now you'll have to read all those others. Don’t worry I sure you'll have time. Go Fish!

The Upper Illinois River is at about 2.48 Friday night 10/27 Tahlequah had a little rain this week but the "stormy" October weather gave the Smallmouth a case of "lockjaw". You should plan to be there when the sun comes back. On The Fly LC

Lake Report Oklahoma Wildlife Department:

Tenkiller: Oct. 23. Elevation 5 1/3 ft. below normal, water 70. Crappie fair around docks on minnows at 15-20 ft. mid-day. Sunfish good around docks on worms at 10-20 ft. Catfish fair in coves on night crawlers at 5-15 ft. Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort.

Ft. Gibson: Oct. 23. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal, water 78. Catfish good off drop-offs and in channels. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 15 ft. . Report submitted Marvin Stanley, game warden stationed in Wagoner and Muskogee counties.

Greenleaf: Oct. 23. Elevation 1 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits, jig and worm and crankbaits along the shoreline and in creek channels. Crappie fair around the fishing docks and brush structure on minnows and jigs. Catfish being caught on bottom with stinkbait and cut bait. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Robert S. Kerr: Oct. 23. Elevation normal, water 64 and clear. Largemouth bass fair from the surface to 5 ft. using topwater baits or plastic baits fished along the weed and rock cover. Crappie good at 10 ft. using minnows fishing in the old creek channels. White bass good at 10 ft. using jigs fishing below the dams. Blue catfish fair at 3-10 ft. using fresh cut bait, large minnows and worms fishing in the timbered areas used by the cormorants. Flathead catfish fair at 20 ft. using live bait used on trotlines or juglines. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: Oct. 24. The powerhouse has been erratic with its generation schedule. It has been difficult to predict. Seems that the best flies have been various streamers during the dark hours and wooly buggers around daylight, then shifting to mostly midge patterns and soft hackled flies during the day and sporadic success using a "spent spinner" fly too. Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Lower Mountain Fork River: Oct. 26. Zone 1 is good on assorted egg patterns, soft hackles and caddis flies. Zone 2 is good on pheasant tail nymphs, light cahills and griffiths gnats. Zone 3 fishing is fair at the dam on wooly buggers. Report submitted by Three Rivers Fly Shop.

White River: Gaston's White River Resort said there have been mostly low-water conditions again this week. On some late afternoons there have been three generators running. The bait fishing is still excellent with yellow or chartreuse Power Eggs, wax worms and red worms. The best artificial have been Cleo spoons, Mepps Spinners, Rooster Tails and floating Rapalas. Early morning fly-fishing is still strong. Olive green woolly buggers, rocky nymphs, soft hackles and sow bugs are still good.

Visit On The Fly Flyfishing at www.onthefly-ok.com

CLASS DATES AND FISHING REPORT

Howdy Still time to sign up for

Flyfishing for Smallmouth Bass with Larry Clark

October 13^th & 14^th Friday evening & Saturday 9:am - ?

This class will take place at Arrowhead Resort Friday night and Saturday on the Upper Illinois River. A special slide show and flytying presentation will take place Friday night. Saturday will be on the water studying techniques for productive fishing of Smallmouth Bass. This time we will use Arrowhead Resort on Hwy 10 as a base. You call them at 918 456-1140 if you what to check on staying overnight . Be sure to mention the Bass Class. You can also make arrangements to float the river Sunday after the class . Fee for the Class: $75. With a limit of 12 . Call Larry Clark @ 918 931-1052 or use the "contact" link on my web site. www.tah-usa.net/onthefly

I have had good response from readers on the Striped Bass articles. With the short study on Stripers pretty much complete I would like to look at another game fish in the area. What fish could be a better fit than the Smallmouth Bass.

Smallmouth Bass 1

In this area we are blessed with Smallmouth Bass throughout the Illinois River and it's tributaries. There are several other streams and small rivers around us that have Smallmouth Bass. Baron Fork, Spring Creek, 14 Mile Creek and others offer tremendous fishing. There are even a few that will go un-named (if you don't mind) a little farther out.

There are also Smallmouth Bass in Tenkiller Lake and it has become somewhat famous for them.

There are really a couple of different species around and they habitat different kinds of water. Although it is rumored that at some point they have intermingled. We'll look at the different types and maybe some of the rumors.

Go Fish!

The Upper Illinois River is at about 3.48 Friday night after peaking at almost 9.00 last week. Tahlequah had rain and Arkansas had lots of rain. It's calmer now and dropping. It's great for floating and you can do some good fishing now and next week. LC

The Lower Illinois River: Lower Illinois River: 09/22 The trout fishing has been good. Most of the generating has been at night leaving the day for good fishing. Wooley buggers still working well, midge dries and nymphs for flies. Report submitted by Larry Clark, On the Fly.

Lake Report Oklahoma Wildlife Department:

Tenkiller: September 25. Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water 74 and clear. Largemouth bass slow some action shallow on buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Crappie fair around docks on minnows at 15-20 ft. White bass fair on the flats or shallow points on spoons, spinners or small jigs. Sunfish good on worms around docks or along the bluffs. Report by Monte Brooks,

Ft. Gibson: September 26. Elevation below normal, water 84. White bass good trolling points and flats. Channel catfish good on cut bait and shad, Crappie good at 10-15 ft. around structure suspended. Report submitted Marvin Stanley, game warden stationed in Wagoner and Muskogee counties.

Grand: September 25. Elevation below normal and clear. Channel catfish fair on juglines at 15 ft. on cut or whole shad and in main river channel using shad. White bass starting to pick up around gravel points using spinnerbaits. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: September 25. Elevation normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits and topwater lures, Channel catfish fair on bottom with cut bait and worms. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around fishing docks and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Robert S. Kerr: September 25. Elevation normal, water 72 and clear. Largemouth bass fair at 4-6 ft. using spinnerbaits and plastic baits fishing the weed, rock and woody cover next to deeper water. Crappie fair at 10ft. on minnows fishing the old creek channels of Big Sans Bois, Sallisaw and Dirty creeks. White bass fair at 10 ft. using jigs fishing below Webbers Falls and Kerr dams. Flathead catfish fair at 20 ft. using live bait on trotlines and juglines fishing in the old river and creek channels. Blue catfish good 10-15 ft. using fresh cut shad drift fishing the old channels. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: September 26. Trout fair on copper john, various soft hackles, wooly buggers, colorful streamers, grasshoppers and ants. The power house could release water at any time, no matter what the published schedule happens to be. Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Visit On The Fly Flyfishing at www.tah-usa.net/onthefly

09/17/06

Howdy.

Just the latest of the fishing reports and some class dates and class date changes. Let me know if you want to attend. Go to the web site if you have not seen Striped Bass 1 & 2.

FLY-FISHING FOR THE NOVICE

Starts Tuesday Sept. 19^th. A common sense course on the basic principles of flyfishing. No equipment needed for class. Time: 7 p.m. Fee: $60 Instructor: Larry Clark Call NSU Continuing Education Tahlequah Campus. 918-456-5511 ex 4610 www.tah-usa.net/onthefly

FLY-FISHING PRIMER

( DATE CHANGE September 29 & 30th Friday & Saturday )

A crash course on flyfishing. This class is designed to learn to fish for Trout and Bass. Knot tying and fly selection and a slide presentation will make up the Friday evening session. Saturday will be spent on the upper Illinois river learning or improving casting and various fishing techniques. This class is designed for beginners. No equipment needed for class.

Date: Fri., Sept. 29 Time: 6 – 9 p.m. Location: NSU Tahlequah & Sat., 30th 8:a.m.– 5 p.m. Location: Upper Illinois River Fee: $75 Limit: 10 Instructor Sept.: Larry Clark

Flyfishing for Smallmouth Bass with Larry Clark

October 13^th & 14^th Friday evening & Saturday ?

This class will take place at Arrowhead Resort Friday night and Saturday on the Upper Illinois River. A special slide show and flytying presentation will take place Friday night. Saturday will be on the water studying techniques for productive fishing of Smallmouth Bass. This should be fun we will use Arrowhead as a base and you call them at 918 456-1140 if you what to check on staying overnight . Mention the Bass Class. You can also make arrangements to float the river Sunday after the class . Fee for the Class: $75. Limit:12 . Call Larry Clark @ 918 931-1052 or use the "contact" link on my web site.