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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

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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.

Striped Bass 3

In continuing our short articles about Striped Bass I think it is important to look at what is on the end of your line. Just being a bass puts the striper in a category as a predator of the highest degree. So smaller fish are going to be the obvious answer to what to use as bait.

Live bait fishers use Trout and live shad. The shad is usually caught in the same or nearby waters as where your going to fish for the stripers. Trout being a "game fish" cannot be sold as bait therefore you have to go and catch them as well, in a legal manner. 

Spin fishers seem to have an endless assortment of lures. Hair jigs, stick baits, Sassy Shad, Zara Spooks, Chug Bugs, soft baits and rattle baits. The list goes on and on. I found myself caught by just looking at the pictures of all the lures. Most of the hard baits are pretty and show a lot of detail. 

Fly fishers can buy or make their own big shad patterns. Mostly in the Clouser Minnow and Lefty Deceiver type of flies. There are others including Whitlock's Scorpion, Sluggo and Larry's super poppers. (Just ask me I'll show you one) 

So what ever style you use, you're sure to have to do some shopping for what looks good.If you have been successful, with striper fishing, drop me a line and let me interview you for a future article.

Go Fish!

The Upper Illinois River is at about 2.54 this week and moving up and down a little because of showers and some rain. Two and a half is low for floating. You have to get out of the boat sometimes. So if you want to stay in the boat go to the lake instead . Some may think it's to low, but I like it. You can see the curves, drop-offs and riffles. And at this level it's still healthy and moving. Smallmouth and spotted have been mixed in with the perch. Streamer flies and shad patterns are working well So take some time to go and enjoy this amazing September weather. LC

The Lower Illinois River: The trout stream looks good. Plenty of fish and plenty of water. They have been generating some and the river looks good.. Wooley buggers for flies and rooster tails for spinners should work well this week. LC

Lake Report Oklahoma Wildlife Department:

Tenkiller: September 11. Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water 78 and clear. Crappie fair in docks on minnows at 10-15 ft. White bass fair on the flats and the islands on spoons or spinners. Catfish fair on juglines or flip flops on cut baits at 30-40 ft. Sunfish good in docks on worms or small minnows at 10-20 ft. Report by Monte Brooks,  Cookson Village Resort

Webbers Falls:  September 11. Elevation 1 ft. below normal and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and plastic worms along shoreline and riprap. Catfish being caught on cut bait and stinkbait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 7-12 ft.  Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Ft. Gibson: September 11. Water 83 and clear. Largemouth bass good on spinners in flooded areas and brush. White bass good on spinners trolling off points. Crappie good on jigs and minnows at 10-15 ft.  Report submitted Marvin Stanley, game warden stationed in Wagoner and Muskogee counties.

Grand: September 11. Elevation below normal. Channel catfish fair at 15 ft. on juglines baited with cut and whole shad. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around fishing dock.  Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: September 11. Elevation 1 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bas fair on spinnerbaits and salt craws along shoreline. Catfish fair on shad and stinkbait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around fishing docks and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: September 7.  Trout fair to excellent. Good flies to use included, Wooly Buggers, Colorful Streamers, Caddis imitations, and many others. There are at least three species of mayfly hatching now. The powerhouse has been releasing water daily, beginning in the afternoon and continuing for about 4 hours.  Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Howdy.

Striped Bass

One of the fish that I have always been interested in is the Striped Bass. Originally a saltwater fish. They have been naturally reproducing here in Oklahoma as well as other states for many years.  

They are big fish and can be huge! The state record for Striped Bass is 47 pounds 8 oz at 48 inches long. It was caught on the Lower Illinois River by a Louis Parker in 1996.

Think about it…that's a 4 foot bass caught about 45 minutes from here. 

I have been to the Lower Illinois River a handful of times to try to catch one but without success. But I have had several friends that have caught them, several with flyrods and others with bait.  

So just for fun the next few articles, I'm going to try to bring you information about where to fish for them around here. I will also try to bring you some techniques and "how tos" incase you want to try to catch one too. If you have been successful drop me a line and let me interview you. Go Fish!

The Upper Illinois River remains at about 2.08 this week. Same report as last time, the water is very warm and low. The fishing is still good but I have been having a great time fishing with poppers and catching lots of big perch. Some bass smallmouth and spotted have been in with the perch as well. It's a good time to get out the topwater bugs. LC

The Lower Illinois River: The trout stream looks great! Plenty of fish and plenty of water. They have been generating daily and the river shows it. Striped Bass were slow this week from what reports I could get. LC

Lake Report Oklahoma Wildlife Department:

Tenkiller: August 8. Elevation 3 1/2 ft. below normal, water 87. Crappie fair around docks on minnows at 10-20 ft. Catfish good on juglines with cut baits and on stinkbaits at 17-21 ft. off points. Sunfish good around docks and bluffs on jigs tipped with worms.  Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort.  For more information about  Lake Tenkiller.

Ft. Gibson: August 7. Elevation 2 ft. below normal, water 92 and clear. All fishing slow. Reported submitted Marvin Stanley, game warden stationed in Muskogee and Wagoner counties.

Grand: August 7. Elevation normal and clear. White bass good on spinnerbaits or spoons, following schools of shad. Channel catfish fair at 30-40 ft. in river channels on cut shad. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: August 7. Elevation 1 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits in creeks and along shoreline.  Channel catfish fair on cut bait and stinkbait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 12-14 ft. around fishing docks and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: August 8.   Fishing has slowed considerably. Folks who normally catch/release lots of fish are doing well. The air temperature has been high for several weeks and the water temperature is rising as well. Seems that the best flies mimic some stage of caddis, caddis larva, pupa, emerger, and adult. Small flies seem to be working well, especially in zone 2, try midge patterns, caddis patterns, and occasionally a colorful streamer. In zone 1 grasshoppers and ants are a good choice. We are observing more and more of the large Hexagenia mayflies. Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

07/30/06

Howdy.

An Excellent Fishing Trip

What makes the difference between a good fishing trip and an excellent trip? You may think its conditions: the right time, the right water or the right tackle. Although those things help, I think I can put it in one word: Experience.  

You have to know how the put the bait in front of the fish. (It's rare that they will chase anything that's five or six feet away.) You need to know what kind of fly(bait) to use. (It may be possible but I have yet to see a trout hit a popping bug.) It's imperative that you know what a "strike" is and what it feels like. The fish sometimes hook themselves but not often. You have to know how to "set" the fish. (When a fish "refuses" a fly it takes a fraction of a second for it to make that decision.) There are only so many things that your buddy, teacher, guide, friend; can show you. You have to spend time on the water and let the fish teach you. Experience will make for an excellent trip. 

The Upper Illinois River was at 2.08 Friday night. It is Low slow and warm be careful not to stress the fish if you plan to release them. Top water and poppers should work all day. If you look for the shade

Lake Report Oklahoma Wildlife Department:

Tenkiller: July 24. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal, water 83.  Largemouth bass slow with some action in brush on bass jigs. Crappie slow some action in brush on tube jigs and around docks on minnows or jigs. Catfish good at 25-35 ft. on cut baits. Sunfish good on worms around at 10-20 ft.  Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort.

Ft. Gibson: July 24. Elevation 2 ft. below normal, water 85 and clear. Largemouth bass good on salt craws and worms. White bass good on rattletraps, slabs and spinners off drop offs, bridges and rock points. Channel catfish good on cut bait, shad, punch bait around drop offs, submerged roads and creek beds. Reported submitted Marvin Stanley, game warden stationed in Muskogee and Wagoner counties.

Grand: July 24. Elevation normal and murky.  White bass fair in mouth of streams and tributaries using spinnerbaits and spoons.  Blue catfish fair in deeper water at 30 ft. using cut and whole shad.  All other fishing is slow at this time.  Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: July 24. Elevation normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs and worms. Channel catfish fair on bottom with cut bait. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around fishing dock and brush structure.  Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: July 25. Trout fishing has slowed. Fishermen Zone 2 are catching/releasing lots of fish on WD-40, Zebra Midge, small light mayfly patterns, various caddis adult patterns and some brightly colored streamers. The power house has been releasing water daily, so be prepared to vacate the river when the water starts to rise.  Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Lower Mountain Fork River: July 17. Dry fly fishing is good in all zones on stimulators, caddis, light cahills, wooly buggers, pheasant tails and egg patterns. Zone 1 good midges, dry flies, bead head pheasant tails, #6 wooly buggers and y2k. Zone 2 good in the evening on big dry flies.  Zone 3 slow on size 14-6 wooly buggers and streamers. Report submitted by Jesse King, Three Rivers Fly Shop.

Tim's Fly Shop: Cassville,MO The cooler weather sure made for some good fishing. We also caught a lot  of fish on beetles, ants, hoppers, adams, lt. cahills and on cracklebacks, dry fly fishing was very good. We caught a lot of fish on small brassies, copper johns, pheasant tail nymphs, burlaps and zebra midges all caught a bunch of fish this weekend, small woolybuggers in olive, brown, tan, and black were pretty good also. Glo-balls, thread jigs, chenille grubs and roaring river specials all caught fish this weekend.

The water is very very low, so the use of 2lb line is important right now, you can use 4lb line but you won't catch very many fish.

Beaver Tailwaters: McLellan’s Fly Shop said generators have been running an hour or two in the middle of the afternoon, leaving most of the day and late evening for wading.  Scuds and sow bugs as well as midge pupa patterns have been very productive; however, small cream midge adult patterns have hooked several trout, too.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK

07/16/06

Howdy 

Flyfishing Primer: at Cherokee Capital Technical Center in Stilwell is about to begin. Thursday evening July 20th we will have a slide show and hands on session. (Knots and flies.) Saturday July 22nd, we will be studying flyfishing techniques on the water. Fishing will take place at Camp Eagan on the Baron Fork. Lunch will be provided. Don't miss! For more information on the class  call Cherokee Capital Technical Center at 918 696 3111 or visit www.icavts.tec.ok.us/stilwell.

Fishing Tip: While teaching a bass class recently a couple of the students started asking questions about the fish they were seeing. The water was so clear that you could see lots of fish moving around in broad daylight. But what kind are they? We were fishing for bass. See that 2ft long dark thing on the bottom .Was that a smallmouth bass?

One good way to learn fish ID is to look at some of the material around. Books at the library are a good source. So is the Internet. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife has a good site at www.wildlifedepartment.com/sportfish.htm. It shows most of the fish you need to know along with information about each species. Arkansas Fish and Game also has a good site at www.agfc.state.ar.us/ . look under "fishing" and go to "Fish Identification".

Both the Arkansas Fish and Game and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife have small books you can order. These have good color pictures for most of the game fish. Plus being small you can carry them around.

So next time you see that that 2ft long dark thing on the bottom you won't use time casting to it, thinking it's a world record "goggleye". Unless your trying to catch it, like me.

Illinois River was at 2.83 Friday night and the Baron Fork was at 4.34 both were rising slightly from the recent rains. The fishing has been good but has been slowing some during mid-day. Best times are early and late. Larry

Lake Report Oklahoma Wildlife Department:

Tenkiller: July 10. Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water 83 and clear.  Largemouth bass with slow some action over brush on spinnerbaits. Crappie fair in brush on tube jigs, or minnows. Catfish good on stinkbaits at 17-20 ft. and good on juglines at  25-35 ft. with cut shad. Sunfish good near docks on night crawlers. Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort. 

Ft. Gibson: July 10. Elevation normal, water 83. Largemouth bass good on spinners and worms. White bass good on slabs and rattletraps. Catfish good on cu baits and worms. Reported submitted Marvin Stanley, game warden stationed in Muskogee and Wagoner counties.

Grand: July 10. Elevation normal and murky. Crappie fair to good at 10-15 ft. on minnows or jigs. White bass biting fair to good in mouth of lake streams and tributaries using spinnerbaits and spoons. Channel catfish fair to good in mud flat areas and lake river channel using cut shad or worms. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: July 10. Elevation normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits along shoreline and in cheek channels. Catfish fair on bottom with cut bait. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around fishing dock and brush structure.  Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: July 10. Zone 1 fair to good, but that will improve with the stocking that is scheduled for later this week. Zone 2 good on parachute adams, small light mayfly imitations, elk hair caddis, zebra midge, Griffiths gnat, brightly colored streamers, and  wooly buggers. Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Lower Mountain Fork River: July 7. Zone 1 is catching trout on bead head pheasant tails and Y2K. Zone 2 good on size 14-6 wooly buggers and various colored soft hackles in sizes 18-14, midges and muddler minnows. Zone 3 is good on size 14-6 wooly buggers and various colored soft hackles in sizes 18-14.  Report submitted by Jesse King, Three Rivers Fly Shop.

Howdy 

A couple of weeks ago it was my privilege to make a presentation to the gals of the Native Women Flyfishers. It was a lot of fun and they fed me and my wife, Maria, a great meal during the meeting. I worked with them on flyfishing knots and hopefully my "System of Circles" will make it easier for them to remember. 

These ladies are working on being better fishers with monthly workshops and going places with each other to different flyfishing fishing designations. Their mission statement says they intend to promote the "welfare, fellowship and physical well being" of it's members. They appear to be well on their way! 

If you thing you might be interested in being a member, or helping them in any way, just visit their web site at www.nativewomenflyfishers.org

Flyfishing for Smallmouth Bass with Larry Clark  

Friday evening July 7th & Saturday July 8^th

This class will take place at NSU Friday night and Saturday on the Baron Fork 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  our native  Smallmouth. 

Call NSU Tahlequah for more information 918-456-5511 ext. 4610 or Larry at 918-931- 1052

Lake Report Oklahoma Wildlife Department:

Tenkiller: June 26. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 80 and clear. Largemouth bass fair in weed beds on topwaters or spinnerbaits early and late. Crappie fair in docks on minnows or jigs. Catfish good drifting cut baits or on stinkbaits at 15-20 ft. Sunfish good around spawning beds and  docks on night crawlers.  Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort.  For more information about  Lake Tenkiller.

Ft. Gibson: June 26. Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water 83 and clear. Largemouth bass good on salt craws and worms in flooded grass and brush. White bass fair on spinners, rooster tails, rattle traps shallow and off rocky points. Channel catfish good on shrimp and shad, drifting or off the bank on rod and reel. Reported submitted Marvin Stanley, game warden stationed in Muskogee and Wagoner counties.

Grand: June 26. Elevation normal and murky. Crappie biting fair to good at 10-15 ft. around brush piles or baited areas using minnows and jigs. Commercial fishing docks reporting some good sized crappie being caught. Channel catfish biting fair in Grand Lake river channel with some good sized blues being taken on cut and whole shad. White bass can still be caught around rocky gravel points and near mouth of lake tributaries. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: June 26. Elevation normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits in creek beds and along shoreline. Catfish good on cut bait and ;liver on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around fishing docks and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: June 22. Zone 1 good on bead head pheasant tails. Zone 2 trout are being caught on size 14-6 wooly buggers and various colors of soft hackle in sizes 18-14 and midges and muddler minnows. Zone 3 trout is good on size 14-6 wooly buggers and various colors of soft hackle in sizes 18-14.  Report submitted by Jesse King, Three Rivers Fly Shop.

June 26. Zone 1 fair. Zone 2 great. Zone 3 trout slow, warm water species fair. Any fly will do, other days, you may only be able to catch them on a couple of specific flies. Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Visit On The Fly Flyfishing at www.tah-usa.net/onthefly or call Larry at 918- 931-1052 

Published 6/10/06

" JOY OF POPPERS"

Howdy:

One of the things I love to do is fish with poppers. It really can be exciting and when guiding I have shown many people the " joy of poppers". Some of it is the wiggle and squiggle that a good rubber legged popper has. Smallmouth Bass, Kentucky Spotted Bass and all kinds of perch can be caught on poppers. Over the years I have told you several ways to fish with a popper but there may be one more I have not mentioned. 

So often, once the popper seems to be in the right place (after casting it) we let it set until the first little perch or bass bumps it. Somewhere in your brain you think you are required to cast again or move your popper to another place. Don't do that! Have some patience. Let the popper stay there awhile and something bigger will come by and take it away from the little ones. 

I learned this because I'm a little slow sometimes or was half awake from sunstroke one day. But often the activity of the little fish will excite the bigger fish. (You've seen that happen at work!) You can also switch to bigger poppers just so the little ones can't take them and often that will produce even bigger fish. Try what you want but at least try to leave it there longer. Have some patience when fishing poppers.

Friday evening the Gauge was down but the Illinois River should be about 2.50. Which is normal. Poppers are working very well this week on smallmouth along with deep water patterns. After last week end the fish should be use to the aluminum hatch by now. Larry 

Flyfishing for the Novice starting June 29^th - Aug 3rd Six Thursdays $60.00 Call NSU Tahlequah for more information 918-456-5511 ext. 4610 

Fly Tying for Bass starting June 13^th five Thursdays $75.00

Indian Capital Technology Center Stilwell Campus 1-866-696-3111

Lake Report Oklahoma Wildlife Department:

Tenkiller: May 30. Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water 74 and clear. Largemouth bass slow some action on gravel points drop offs. Crappie fair around brush piles on tube jigs or roadrunner jigs midday.  Catfish fair 15-18 ft. on points with stinkbaits and  drifting the flats with cut baits. Sunfish good around docks on worms. Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort. 

Ft. Gibson:  May 29. Elevation 3 1/2 ft. above normal, water 78 and clear. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits, dough baits and soft baits in. flooded grass and timber. White bass good on spoons and white, silver, gray and chartreuse twister tails. Channel catfish good on cut bait, shad, worms and liver.  Reported submitted Marvin Stanley, game warden stationed in Muskogee and Wagoner Counties.

Grand: May 26. Elevation normal and murky. Crappie fair to good at 10-15 ft around brush piles and fishing docks on minnows and jigs. Channel and blue catfish fair in the river channel on cut or whole shad. White bass being caught around rocky gravel points and near mouth of lake tributaries. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: May 29. Water clear. Largemouth bass good on spinners and crankbaits along shore line. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs. fishing dock and brush structure. all catfish fair on shad and worms at 5-10 ft. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Robert S. Kerr: May 29.  Elevation normal, water 78 and murky. Largemouth bass fair at 6-8 ft. using plastic baits and crankbaits fishing the riprap areas around the lake.    Crappie fair at 10 ft. using minnows fishing the edge of  the old creek channels of Dirty, Sallisaw and Big San Bois creeks.     White bass good at 10 ft. using jigs and crankbaits in the Applegate Cove area.   Blue and flathead catfish good at 3-6 ft. using fresh cut bait and live bait fishing the rocky areas around the lake. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: May 30. Water is clear and cool, the powerhouse has been active during most afternoons. The predominant insects have been midges, ants, grasshoppers, and a few caddis and mayflies. There have been some really massive midge hatches lately, and flies imitating these insects have been producing well, if you are capable of fishing tiny flies on fine leaders. Zone 2 continues to be a challenge, but there were some anglers who did quite well in that area of the river. Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

May 31. Zone 1 fishing good on egg patterns and pheasant tail nymphs. For surface action try size 16 parachute adams and 14-16 caddis and midges. Zone 2 fishing fair early and late on midges and cahills on top with pheasant or prince nymphs and some streamer patterns. Zone 3 fair near the dam in the early morning when water temperature is low on egg patterns, wooly buggers and black caddis. Report submitted by Jesse King, Three Rivers Fly Shop. 

Visit On The Fly Flyfishing at www.tah-usa.net/onthefly or call Larry at 918- 931-1052

Fishing Report 05/11/06

Howdy:

The Annual Smallmouth Rendezvous & Flytying Extravaganza went very well this time. Thanks to everyone who helped and attended! Special thanks to Terry and Roxanne Wilson and Dave and Emily Whitlock for making the event; even if just for a little while.

I've been praying for a flood all spring and it looks like I did a good job. The river and the creeks all got plenty and some too much. The Illinois River peaked this week at almost 7.00. It was needed very badly to help wash away the "slime" from the low water of this winter. After the water settles down it will be time to go fish for those smallmouth.

I'm changing lines and getting the boats ready. Have a good week!

Fishing Tip:

So many people (including myself) practice casting for distance when we should be practicing for accuracy. Few fish are caught from more than 30 feet from the boat or the bank. If it takes you several casts to put your lure where you want it; by then the fish are spooked or even gone. Practice hitting that spot the first time. Be sure to fish that first cast good or bad. LC

www.tah-usa.net/onthefly

Water Report:

Upper Illinois River Water level Friday was 5.39 and dropping. Baron Fork was at 6.60.

Tenkiller: May 9. Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water 70 and clear. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass slow with some action on soft plastic baits at 10-15 ft. off points. Crappie fair trolling the main channel with deep runners and around docks or brush at 10-15 ft. on minnows or jigs. White bass fair trolling the main channel on deep runners and good at night under lights on minnows at 10-15 ft. Catfish slow with some action on minnows in coves at 5-10 ft. near bottom. Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around fishing dock. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Greenleaf: May 7. Elevation normal and clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits along shoreline. Catfish good on  cut bait and sunfish on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around fishing dock and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Ft. Gibson:  May 1. Elevation 1 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass good on spinners. White bass good on minnows and jigs in  creek channels. Catfish excellent on prepared baits and worms. Reported submitted Don Cole, game warden stationed in Wagoner County.

Robert S. Kerr: May 8. Elevation normal, water 72 and stained. Largemouth bass good at 2-4 ft. using plastic baits and spinnerbaits fishing the rock, weed and woody shorelines. Crappie good at 8-10 ft. using minnows fishing the edge of the old creek channels.  White bass good at 8-10 ft. using jigs fishing below Webbers Falls and Kerr dams.  Blue catfish good at 3-10 ft. using fresh cut bait and goldfish fishing the edges of the current in the upper part of the lake.  Flathead catfish good at 10-20 ft. using live bait on trotlines and juglines.  Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Visit WWW.TAH-USA..NET / ONTHEFLY for more information or flyfishing products.

 Fishing Report 04/26/06

Fifth Year for Flytying Extravaganza

Howdy: 

The Annual Smallmouth Rendezvous & Flytying Extravaganza is in it's fifth year this year and it looks like it will be the best yet! More tiers, more vendors and more presentations.

Friday May 5^th beginning at 9:am until Saturday May 6^th at 4:pm at the Tahlequah Community Building.

There will be competitions, education programs casting instructions, door prizes, auctions and prizes.

Featured speakers and demonstrators will include known guest such as Fox Statler, Tony Spezio,  Ward Bean,  Del Ray, Charles Barton Jr. Terry and Roxanne Wilson to name just a few. 50 tiers from over 8 states are expected including several local folks that you should see. .

This event is the premier flyfishing event in Oklahoma and is hosted by the Northeastern Oklahoma Flyfishing Club of Tahlequah and Green Country Flyfishers of Bartlesville.

Don't miss it! For more information go to www.okieflyfishers.org or www.tah-usa.net/onthefly
Water Report:

Upper Illinois River Water level Friday was 3.00 and it's raining. This would be water from the rains in Arkansas. Baron Fork was 4.46.  

If you go smallmouth fishing on the river, please be careful with the fish. With the water being so low for so long they are under a lot of stress. Fish like it's August, long tippets, small flies and lures. Watch out for bedding fish and don't disturb them if you can. LC

Tenkiller: April 25. Elevation 9 ft. below normal, water 66 and clear.  Smallmouth bass and spotted bass fair at 3-10 ft. on bass jigs, spinnerbaits, or crankbaits off points. Crappie good trolling deep runners in main channel on jigs or minnows at 3-8 ft. and night fishing under lights at 25-40 ft.  White bass good trolling main lake with deep runners and  night fishing at 25-40 ft. on minnows. Sunfish good shallow using worms on gravel banks. Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort. 

Grand:  April 18. Elevation below normal and clear. White bass good on spinnerbaits and around rocky points. Channel catfish fair to good on cut shad at 15-20 ft. in river channels. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. around brush piles. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: April 24. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below and clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits along shoreline. Catfish good on catfish cut bait on bottom. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around fishing dock. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: April 19. Zone 1 in the spillway creek area good with lots of fish being caught and even a few have been released unharmed. Work has begun on the improvements in the area called the "Evening-hole". Good flies have been various soft-hackle flies, (tan or gray) very small flies such as zebra midge,wd40, etc. And as always a small woolly bugger is a good bet. Report submitted by Sid and Peggy, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Visit WWW.TAH-USA..NET / ONTHEFLY for more information or flyfishing products.

Fishing Report 04/14/06

All My "Bling Bling" Have Hooks 

Howdy: 

The eldest of my fish catching daughters (Sara) was setting at the supper table complaining about not having jewelry to match her new dress. Then the other one (Mia) says she needs some more: I quote: "bling bling" too. Trying to understand what just took place, I was informed that "bling bling" was jewelry. Pretty, shiny, flashy, silver and gold. Girls like "bling" and now (I'm told) boys do too. (there has to be a Brokeback Mountain joke here somewhere). I was also informed that Dad could use some "bling bling" 

Well I here to tell you that "Dad" has plenty of "Bling", just look in my tackle box. Spoons of gold and silver. Colorado's and Boyant's. Rooster Tails of all colors: red / white / orange and green. Spinner baits with little silver props and hard plastic baits in all the latest holographic designs. Even in my fly box, (it is Sandbass season after all) Crystal Flash Clouser's, all sorts of Maribo Jigs. Mylar Bunnies and Tin Foil poppers. "Bling Bling" 

If I'm looking for jewelry "Bling" for the wife, I'm no dummy, I always take along the girls to help me. They seem to have a good eye for pretty and shiny stuff. Maybe they should help me pick out my lures!  

Water Report: 

Upper Illinois River Water level Friday was 2.70 after peaking at over 3.00 this week. This would be water from the rains in Arkansas. Baron Fork was 4.35.  

Right now everything is biting. Sandbass at Horseshoe Bend, Crappie on Tenkiller Lake ( and others) Smallmouth Bass on the Illinois and Trout on the Lower. Go Fish !!!!!

Lower Illinois River: April 3. Trout good. Striped bass being caught in the  lower end of the Illinois River.  Small striped bass good at the mouth of the river.  White bass are good from mouth of the Illinois River all the way to Lock & Dam 16, both trolling and bank fishing.  Crappie good at the dam when the water is off. Also good near the lock channel on the Gore side in the evenings. Crappie in Dirty Creek (Sequoyah Wildlife, Webbers Falls) have been fair. Report submitted by Ryan Callison, Gore.

Tenkiller: April 11. Elevation 9 1/2 ft. below normal, water 58. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair in coves on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Crappie fair mid-lake to upper end trolling the channel and on minnows or jigs shallow in the upper end. White bass fair mid-lake trolling and  good in the upper end on jigs or spinners.  Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort. For more information about  Lake Tenkiller.

Grand:  April 11. Elevation below normal and clear. Channel catfish fair on cut shad at 15 ft. around brush piles. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 15 ft. around brush piles.  Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: April 11. Water clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfish fair on bottom on cut bait. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around fishing dock and around brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Robert S. Kerr: April 10.  Elevation normal, water 67 and stained. Largemouth bass good at 2-6 ft. using plastic baits and spinnerbaits fishing the weed, rock and woody cover along the banks. Crappie good at 2-3 ft. using minnows fishing the spawning areas around the lake. White bass good at 6-8 ft. using shad imitation lures fishing the mouth of the Illinois River and below Webbers Falls and Kerr dams. Blue catfish fair at 5-8 ft. using fresh cut shad fishing from the bank on the windy points. Flathead catfish fair at 20 ft. using live bait on jug lines and trotlines.  Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: April 11. Trout in zone 2 is sporadic. Zone 1 has been relatively good. The Powerhouse has been generating for a few hours each day in the late afternoon.  Report submitted by Sid and Peggy, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Visit WWW.TAH-USA..NET / ONTHEFLY for more information or flyfishing products.

Fishing Report 04/02/06  

Howdy:  

Heard rumors that the Sand Bass might be moving in: Gone Fishing!

From Oklahoma Wildlife Department:

DNA analysis to determine state record fish identity

Dru Kinslow, of Oklahoma City, caught a state record fish Monday, March 27, but he doesn’t know quite where his name will go in the record book – under smallmouth bass or black bass hybrid. Either way it will be a new state record.

Kinslow caught an 8-pound, 5.6-ounce bass from Veteran’s Lake near Sulphur. When he took the fish to fisheries biologists with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, they immediately recognized it was bigger than either the current smallmouth or the black bass hybrid records. However, the brute had characteristics of both a smallmouth bass, spotted bass and largemouth bass.

            “I don’t really care whether it is a smallmouth or a hybrid, I am just happy to catch a fish that big. Never in my life did I think I would catch a state record,” Kinslow said.

            Fisheries biologists sent a small fin sample to a DNA lab. The lab report will reveal if the fish is a smallmouth or a black bass hybrid. Black bass hybrids occur rarely in nature when the spawning areas of black bass species overlap.

            “It’s certainly unusual. I am very curious to see the lab results,” said Kim Erickson, fisheries chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “Unfortunately, this isn’t an episode of ‘CSI’ and it will likely take several weeks for the technicians to perform the DNA analysis.”

            DNA results from the lab will be posted on wildlifedepartment.com as soon as they are available.

Kinslow was using a jig and salt craw combo when he hooked the big fish in the clear waters of 67-acre Veteran’s Lake.

            “I was just trying out different lures to see what might be biting when I hooked the fish,” Kinslow said. “It fought pretty hard and went all the way under the boat. I didn’t realize how big it was until I got it in the boat.”

            The fish measured 22.75-inches long and was 16.5 inches in girth.

            Steve McLarty holds the current record smallmouth bass with an 8-pound, 3-ounce fish he caught just weeks ago at Lake Eufaula in east central Oklahoma.

            The state record black bass hybrid was just established this February when Sean McAllister pulled a 6-pound, 14-ounce fish from Lake Texoma.

            For a complete list of record fish and the procedures regarding certifying state record fish, consult the “2006 Oklahoma Fishing Guide.” If you think you may have hooked a record fish it is important that you weigh the fish on an Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture certified scale and a Wildlife Department employee verifies the weight. See photos at http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/newsrelease/03306/recordhigh.jpg

Regional Trout Report:

Upper Illinois River Water level Friday was 2.58 and Baron Fork was 4.35

Lower Illinois River: March 27. Trout fair. Stripers are becoming active in lower portion of the stream.  Arkansas River at Webbers Falls (Below Lock & Dam 16)--White bass are excellent from mouth of the Illinois River all the way to Lock & Dam 16. Report submitted by Ryan Callison, Gore.

Water Report:

Tenkiller: March 28. Elevation 10 1/2 ft. below normal, water 53 and clear. Smallmouth bass and spotted bas fair off points at 15 ft. on rogues or bass jigs.  Crappie slow with some action around brush upper end on jigs also some action trolling deep running lures. White bass fair mid to upper-end on points on spinners or spoons and fair trolling deep running lures mid-lake.  Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort.

Greenleaf: March 27. Elevation 1 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits along shoreline and riprap. Catfish fair on cut bait on bottom. Crappie good on jigs and minnows around fishing docks and brush structure.  Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Robert S. Kerr: March 28. Elevation normal, water 58 and clear. Largemouth bass fair at 5-6 ft. using plastic baits or spinner baits fishing the weed, rock or woody structure. Crappie good at 3-5 ft. using minnows and jigs fishing the spawning areas around the lake. White bass good at 6-8ft. using shad imitation lures fishing up the major creeks or below Webbers Falls or Kerr dams. Blue catfish fair at 8-10ft. using fresh cut bait fishing the old river channel and bank fishing the windy points. Flathead catfish fair at 20-25ft. using live bait on jug lines and trotlines.  Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Grand:  March 27. Elevation below normal and clear. White bass good lake tributaries. Channel catfish fair to good in lake tributaries.   Crappie good around brush piles and docks.  Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: March 28. Trout very active on tan/light brown mayfly imitations, soft hackled flies/emerges and wooly buggers. Report submitted by Sid and Peggy, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

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Visit WWW.TAH-USA..NET / ONTHEFLY for more information or flyfishing products.

Fishing Report 03/16/06

Howdy:

On The Fly is Sponsoring European Techniques for Flyfishing featuring Davy Wotton April 7^th & 8^th Friday and Saturday, Friday night at Tenkiller State Park Community Room. Saturday on the water, Lower Illinois River.

This is Davy's description:

Join me to learn many of my ( how to ways of fly fishing.) The first trout l caught on a fly was in the year of 1958, and l have not looked back since.

My country has its roots many 100s of years ago in fly fishing tradition and history. I learned many of the now forgotten skills that are the true art of fly fishing . Many of those l have introduced here to the USA.

And they are very deadly for the rivers here in the south, as well as any place else you may wish to cast a fly.

You will have the opportunity to learn much about the history of fly fishing back in the UK.

How  l  make up my special leader systems for nymph, wet and soft hackle fishing techniques, which will differ from that you probably know.  My systems are simple, easy, and uncomplicated to use.

And why l do it the way that l do.

Demonstrations of some of my tying techniques for wet fly and soft hackle. Understanding of the materials and for why.

Then we will go to the river and learn new skills, techniques that l have developed for the rivers we fish here in the USA.

How to rig up, why we do this and that, presentation skills, line control and correct means of line hang for good drifts.

Learn the techniques for rolled nymph, lift techniques, multy fly  rigs.

How to read takes without the use of an indicator.

And much more, l guarantee you that you will come away with a great deal of knowledge that you did not have before. 

For more information call Larry Clark @ 918 931 1052 or visit www.tah-usa.net.onthefly

$100.00 a person / limit of 12 Must pre-enroll Special cabin rates at Tenkiller State Park for this event. Call 918 489 5641

Regional Trout Report:

Upper Illinois River Water level Friday was 3.00 and Baron Fork was 4.35

For some reason the river is green and full for algae. I will try to make a report to everyone soon.

Lower Illinois River: March 13. Trout good to excellent in most parts of the stream. Saugeye and stripers fair in the deeper water. Report submitted by Ryan Callison, Gore.

Lower Mountain Fork River: March 15.  Trout fair on caddis and mayflies and midges. Report submitted by Sid and Peggy, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Water Report:

Tenkiller: March 14.  Elevation 11 1/2 ft. below normal, water 53 and steady. Smallmouth bass and spotted bass fair off points at 15 ft. hitting bass type jigs. White bass fair upper end off points on spoons or inline spinners. Catfish fair on flip flops in the main channel using shad.  Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort

Greenleaf: March 13. Elevation 1 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits along shoreline. Catfish fair on cut bait on bottom. Crappie good on jigs and minnows around fishing docks and brush structure.  Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Robert S. Kerr: March 13. Elevation normal, water 58 and clear. Largemouth bass fair at 5-8 ft. using spinnerbaits and crankbaits fishing the weed, rock and woody structure. Crappie good at 10 ft. using minnows fishing the old creek channels. White bass good musing shad imitation lures fishing up in the major creeks and below Webbers Falls and Kerr dams. Blue catfish fair at 10-15 ft. fishing the windy points and river channels.  Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

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MISSOURI: Tim's Fly Shop

The water is still low and mostly clear, the last few storms thru the area didn't hurt the river, it came up a few inches and looks better.

Fishing was great this past week, small woolybuggers in olive and ginger worked well all week, the chamois san juan worm has been working very well also, small pheasant tails nymphs were very good also. Sow bugs, hares ears and brassies have also been very good. White thread jigs fished under an indicator have been working well.

Marabou jigs were good this week, black/yellow, olive, white, and ginger jigs have been good also, 1/32nd and smaller are working best. Micro jigs in olive, white, off white and gray have been working well.

Black roostertails and skunk roostertails were very good all week.

A lot of fish were caught on the little crankbait crawdads this week.

If you are fishing powerbait, then the cheese power worms and the orange powerworms have been the best colors, using the eggs, then the hatch brown, and the white have been the best, but in the mornings the fl. yellow has been good. Good luck.

Visit WWW.TAH-USA..NET / ONTHEFLY for more information or flyfishing products.

Fishing Report 02/26/06 

Oklahoma Licenses Online

Howdy:

If you're like me it's easy to get busy and forget to renew that fishing license. Now there is a way to get legal quick and it sure beats looking behind your back for green pickups. You can buy your new licenses online even if it is 11 p.m. Just go to www.wildlifedepartment.com There you can purchase all your licenses and permits and even print them from your computer. Just have your information ready and a credit card. There is a $3.00 fee. 

If you don't want to do the Internet thing you can call 1-800-223-3333 during regular business hours and they can do it over the phone.

It's that easy. Now I don't want you to forget your local outdoor store that is there for you during waking hours but next time you wake up at 3 a.m., before that big "first of the year fishing trip" and you have one of those "oh shoot" moments, this will help. Now when you see Officer May or Officer Clark in one of those green pickups, you don't have to hide in the bushes. 

Water Report:

Tenkiller: February 22. All fishing slow. Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort. For more information about  Lake Tenkiller.

Greenleaf: February 21. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass slow. Catfish fair on cut bait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush stricture and fishing docks.  Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Robert S. Kerr: February 22. Elevation normal, water 42 and clear. Crappie fair at 12 ft. using minnows fishing in the old creek channels around the lake. Blue catfish good using fresh cut bait fishing from the windy banks. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Regional Trout Report: 

Upper Illinois River Water level Friday was 2.57 and Baron Fork was 4.30 

Lower Illinois River: Didn't get to go myself this week but Boyd and others told me the river is fishing well. Us midges dry when the sun comes out and small nymphs when overcast. Larry

Lower Mountain Fork River: Trout good on flies and insects such as black caddis, March browns, blue winged olives, and a vast assortment of midges. Report submitted by Sid and Peggy, Beavers Bend Fly Shop. 

ARKANSAS: 

Don't miss February and March "Big Brown Season" on the White River.

McLellan's Fly Shop said there has been very little generation below Bull Shoals Dam

lately, providing plenty of wading on the upper river from late morning on through

the rest of the day.  Wade fishing the upper river has been very productive with tan

and olive McLellan's Hunchback Scuds and Woven Sow Bugs. Fishing high water out of a

boat has also been very productive using large scuds, eggs, and San Juan worms.

Remember, the catch-and-release area below Bull Shoals Dam is now open, providing

some great fishing for large trout that have been unmolested for the last three

months. 

North Fork River: McLellan's Fly Shop said generation has been a little sporadic

lately, but when they turn on the generators, they haven't stayed on for very long. 

The wade fishing has been very good lately, and fishing high water from a boat has

been productive as well.  Scuds, sow bugs, midges, and eggs in low water, and eggs,

San Juan worms, and big streamers like the Articulated Zoo Cougar in high water have

been producing plenty of hook-ups.

MISSOURI: 

If you start with a fly rod, use a good leader of about 5X first thing in the

morning and a cone or bead head woolybugger is a good choice in the mornings, black,

olive and white seem to be the best colors for me. After the woolybugger I would put

on a 6 or 7 X tippet and fish a glo-ball, pheasant tail nymph, hares ear, thread

jig, brassie or maybe a copper john, these will catch fish for you all day long, and

watch for the dry fly fishig, in the late morning and the afternoons there should be

lots of midge activity all day long, caddis in the afternoons and maybe some blue

wing olives. I suggest the use of small adams, #18's and smaller all day, caddis

#14's and smaller, lt. cahills, #16's and smaller and griffiths gnats #16's and

smaller, these are dry flies that almost always catch trout at Roaring River.

Fishing Report 02/06/06 

Go Slow and learn to talk to the fish

Howdy:

There are several ways to fish for trout; dry flies, nymphs, streamers… But I always had problems with the simplest of them, the woolly bugger.

Now you should know that the Woolly Bugger is one of the most fish catching flies in the world. Developed in the U.S. and pronounced like it came out of your nose. Being mostly a bass fisherman when I fish with one I look like "Jimmy" pounding the banks with a spinnerbait. Hard and fast. Never did do that good with one on trout until I went fishing with a friend who talks too much.

At least "I" think he talks too much! He talks to the fish when no one is there to listen! But he is the fish catching-est guy you ever saw. So we're standing there, on our favorite trout stream, casting a wooly bugger, talking to the fish and going real SLOW and "boom" a fish. And he does this several times. I have my line in the water, with a woolly bugger on watching this take place (not fishing) and " boom" I have one on the end on the line. Well I'm not the brightest candle on the cake but I can take a hint. So I cast let the water take it down and stand there a while, move it SLOW and "boom" a fish.

That day I learned a good lesson. Sometimes you need to GO SLOW. Next I think I'll try talking to the fish more!

Water Report:

Tenkiller: January 30. Elevation 11 1/2 ft. below normal, water 47. Largemouth bass slow with some action on spoons around docks on b ass jigs at 12-15 ft. off points. Crappie slow with some action around docks on minnows or jigs. Sunfish fair around docks on small jigs or worms at 15-20 ft.  Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort.

Greenleaf: January 30. Elevation 1 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits along shoreline and creek channels. Catfish fair on cut bait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around fishing dock and brush structure.  Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Robert S. Kerr January 31.  Elevation normal, water 50 and clear. Largemouth bass slow to fair at 6-8ft. using plastic baits fishing the structure next to deeper water. Crappie good at 10 ft. using minnows fishing in the old creek channels around the lake. White bass slow at 12ft. using jigs fishing below Webbers Falls and Kerr dams. Blue catfish good at 8-10 ft. using fresh cut bait fishing along the old river channel and bank fishing the windy points. Flathead catfish fair at 20-30ft. using live bait on trotlines and juglines. Sauger slow to fair using small jigs, minnows and night crawlers bounced off the bottom fishing below Webbers Falls dam. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Regional Trout Report: 

Upper Illinois River Friday was 2.64 and Baron Fork was 4.33 

Lower Illinois River: The river was looking good this week Friday they generated a while and it made things better. Fishing was good on dry midges, traditional nymphs and small streamers. Reports are the there are lots of little browns in the river. Fun to catch but don't keep them. Larry

Lower Mountain Fork River: January 24.  Trout good on various soft hackled flies, woolly buggers, Clouser, RS-2's, Prismatic emergers, pheasant tails. Zone 2 good on flies ranging from size 8 Clouser to size 22 midges.   Report submitted by Sid and Peggy, Beavers Bend Fly Shop. 

ARKANSAS:

White River: McLellan’s Fly Shop said there has been very little generation below Bull Shoals Dam lately, providing plenty of wade fishing on the upper river from late morning on through the rest of the day.  Wade fishing the upper river has been very productive with tan and olive McLellan’s Hunchback Scuds and Woven Sow Bugs.  Fishing high water out of a boat has also been very productive using large scuds, eggs, and San Juan worms. 

Beaver Tailwaters: McLellan’s Fly Shop said there has been very little generation over the last few days, providing plenty of wading opportunities. Scuds, sow bugs and midge pupa patterns have been very productive. Egg patterns are still hooking several fish as well.  Some of the best egg patterns have been the Flash tail Mini Egg, the Unreal Egg, and the Micro Egg.

MISSOURI:

Water is still very cloudy, it was nasty Monday as the crew at the hatchery kept

working, it is looking good, should have it done in plenty of time for march 1st

opening. With the water being a little off color(murky) you can use 6X for the nymphs and

woolybuggers, but if you are using dry flies you'll do better fishing with 7X, and

on you spinning reels 2 or 3 lb line is best right now.

Marabou jigs in black/yellow, white and olive worked the best, and the ginger and

the olive roaring river specials worked great all weekend. Black Roostertails and skunk

Roostertails all worked well this weekend, fished in the deeper holes real slow they produced some nice fish.

Tim's Fly Shop Tim Homesley

Fishing Report 01/12/06 

Provide your input on proposed hunting and fishing regulation changes

Howdy: 

Monday night the Wildlife Department held a meeting about proposed changes to the Hunting and Fishing Regulations. I have attended these before and thought I might get some groundwork done on my personal project for this year. As it turned out there were almost 200 guys there by starting time and more coming. I was impressed! There were regulations about Bow hunting, Black powder, turkey regulations and more. There were lots of good questions and everyone handled themselves well. And the staff was treated with respect. I would have been disappointed otherwise. I've seen these meetings get loud and rude. You made Tahlequah look good.  

Those who would like to provide input about the proposed changes, but are unable to attend one of the scheduled hearings, may: E-mail their comments by going to http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/publichearing.htm or Mail comments to: Attn: Proposed hunting and fishing regulation changes-ODWC P.O. Box 53465 Oklahoma City, OK 73152. 

New Spring Classes: 

Looks like I'll be busy this month. Fishing in Stilwell and tying in Tahlequah.

Call me for about any questions Larry 918-931-1052

INTRODUCTION TO FLYFISHING.

Indian Capital Technology Center / Stilwell 

This is the entry level - no equipment necessary class / learn everything!

Starting Jan. 19^th @ 7 pm for five weeks

Call: Jimmy Gilstrap Stilwell, OK (918) 696-3111

BEGINNING FLY TYING FOR BASS.

NSU Continuing Education Tahlequah

I like teaching this class because it's almost an "arts & crafts" type class. You will learn the basic fly tying skills you need.  We will also learn poppers, streamers, and deer hair bugs. We will be painting carving and working with foam, among other skills. See   www.tah-usa.net/onthefly.

Date: 6 Tuesdays / Jan. 17-Feb. 28 Time: 7 – 9 p.m. Seminary Hall Fee: $60 Limit: 10

Water Report:

Tenkiller: January 10. Elevation 12 ft. below normal, water 50 and clear. Crappie slow some action around docks at 20-25 ft. on jigs or minnows.  Catfish slow with some action around docks near bottom on worms or chicken liver. Sunfish fair around docks at 15-20 ft. on worm-tipped jigs.   Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort.

Greenleaf: January 9. Elevation 1 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits along shoreline and in creek channels. Channel catfish fair on cut bait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around fishing dock. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Robert S. Kerr Robert S. Kerr: January 9. Elevation normal, water 48 and clear. Largemouth bass slow at 6-8 ft. using plastic baits fishing the deeper water next to any structure. Crappie good at 8-10 ft. using minnows fishing in the old creek channels around the lake. White bass fair 10 ft. using jigs fishing below Webbers Falls and Kerr dams. Blue catfish good 10 ft. using fresh cut bait fishing the old river channel in the Applegate cove area and bank fishing the windy points. Flathead catfish fair at 20-30 ft. using live bait on trotlines and juglines. Walleye and sauger slow fair fishing minnows or jigs off the bottom below Webbers Falls dam. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Regional Trout Report:

Upper Illinois River Friday was 2.48 and Baron Fork was 4.27

Lower Illinois River: No report this week.

Lower Mountain Fork River January 10.  Zone 2  trout have been slow. Zone 1 continues to be a good area on  the same insects that are present, small insects or medium streamers.  Report submitted by Sid and Peggy, Beavers Bend Fly Shop..

Blue River Blue River: January 9. Elevation below normal, water 50 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on minnows.  Channel catfish fair on liver. Trout good on rooster tails, super dupers and power baits. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.  

ARKANSAS:

Beaver Tailwaters: McLellan’s Fly Shop said there has been very little generation during the last few days, providing plenty of wading opportunities.  Of course, scuds and sow bugs as well as midge pupa patterns have been very productive; however, egg patterns are still hooking several fish as many trout continue their spawning activities. For the health of the fishery, remember to leave actively spawning fish alone, and avoid wading through their spawning areas. 

White River: McLellan’s Fly Shop said Generation has slacked off some this week, with one or two generators usually coming online in the early morning but only running for a couple hours..  Wade fishing the upper river has been very productive with tan and olive McLellan’s Hunchback Scuds and Woven Sow Bugs.  Fishing high water out of a boat has also been very productive using large scuds, eggs, and San Juan Worms. 

MISSOURI:

Cassville, Tim's Fly Shop The fishing was great this week at the park, still lots of big fish to catch and there has been some good dry fly fishing the past couple of weeks, caddis, adams, black parachute dries, lt. cahills, and blue wing olives have been working well. Pheasant tail nymphs, burlaps, chamois worms, San Juan worms, brassies, copper johns and small hares ears all worked well this weekend. Glo-balls in white, orange/red dot, chartreuse and apricot supreme all worked this weekend. Olive, black, brown and lt tan woolybuggers were good choices this weekend, bigger ones in the morning and the smaller #14's in the later part of the day. Roostertails, black, skunk, brown, white, and olive worked this weekend, roostertails work best fished slow and deep right now, just fast enough to make the blade turn. The water is still cloudy on Fridays after the crew at the hatchery starts working, but it is getting better now that they are not digging as much, it is looking good at the hatchery the new walkway should be nice, they are supposed to be done by Feb. 15th.

Fishing Report 11/12/05

Howdy:

Not too many days ago I needed a little R&R from honey do's and the lumber yard. So I went down to the lower Illinois to the trout stream. I've been fishing and guiding for smallmouth all summer so I thought the trout fishing would be a good tune-up. The lower river is suffering the same low water issues as everywhere else so the riffles were very shallow. But the deep pools are still in fair shape although slimy.

I watched some guys doing well with the standard "nymph under an indicator dead drifted" style but it looked boring. So I got out my Steve Crosby super goat hair cone head rubber legged olive Monster bugger and went to work on the big deep pools.

I caught some good fish and hooked one that I would have given my best fly just to see. It took the fly ( I felt it and lifted the rod) It moved to the right as I put it "on the reel" and just about the time I thought I was going to get a look it moved to the left. You could feel the strength and the weight. It wasn't trying very hard (didn't have to) and when it moved to the left it took out line and "bing" it was gone.

Like the one good golf shot on an otherwise plain day. The one that got away can sometimes make your whole week.

Fishing tip: For fishing ideas in your area go to fishing reports in surrounding areas and gather ideas from around you. For us Arkansas is a good place to look and I like the Arkansas Fish and Game web site.

Lower Illinois River: Water is low and has not been up for sometime. Still plenty of fish to catch. Traditional methods "nymph under an indicator dead drifted" are working well in the bigger pools. UFO's, pheasant tails, hares ears are always a good choice. LC

Tenkiller: November 8. Elevation 11 ft. below normal, water 68 and clear. Largemouth bass slow with some action in the back of coves on shad type lures. Crappie fair around docks at 15 ft. on minnows or jigs. White bass good on windy shorelines with spoons or inline spinners. Catfish fair on windy points on cut baits. Sunfish fair around docks on worms at 10-15 ft. Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort. For more information about  Lake Tenkiller.

Greenleaf: November 8. Elevation 1 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits along the shoreline. Channel catfish fair on bottom with cut bait. Crappie fair on minnows around fishing docks. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, state game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Robert S. Kerr: November 8. Elevation normal, water 68 and murky. Largemouth bass good at 3-5 ft. on plastic baits and shad imitation crankbaits fishing the weed and rock cover. Crappie good at 10 ft. using minnows fishing the old creek channels. White bass fair at 10 ft. using jigs fishing below Webbers Falls and Kerr dams. Blue catfish good at 3-10 ft. using fresh cut bait, worms and minnows fishing the timbered areas used by the cormorants. Flathead catfish-fair-20-30ft. using live bait on juglines and trotlines. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: November 8.  Trout good on flies were various soft hackles, sparkle leech, minnows and a multitude of others. Report submitted by Sid and Peggy, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

ARKANSAS:

Wilderness Trail said Fishing for trout on the White River has been good on Berkley Power Eggs in yellow-and-white and Sunrise. With generation, Buoyant Spoons, Little Cleo’s and Rooster Tails are the baits of choice. Fly-fishermen did well on olive woolly buggers, olive scuds, zebra midges and serendipity flies. Brown trout are being caught on Flat Fish, nightcrawlers and Rogues.   

Beaver Tailwaters: McLellan’s Fly Shop said generation has been sporadic.  If generators come online at all, it’s usually been between 3 and 5 a.m., providing plenty of wade-fishing opportunities. Of course, scuds and sow bugs as well as midge pupa patterns have been very productive; however, egg patterns are starting to hook several fish as more and more trout start their pre-spawn activities. Some of our favorite egg patterns are the flashtail mini egg, the unreal egg, and the micro egg. For the health of the fishery, remember to leave actively spawning fish alone. Best flies have been:  McLellan’s hunchback scud gray and olive (14-16), McLellan’s woven sow bug (14-16), lightning bug (16), flashtail mini egg (14-16), unreal egg and Micro Egg.

Tim's Fly Shop: The water is still very low and it is very murky from the work the  hatchery is doing. Opening day, the 11th (Friday) the water will likely still be this way, but the good news is there are some really big fish in the river, I saw several today that would go an easy 10 lbs, with the murky water woolybuggers and nymphs will be working well, as will bright colored glo-balls, san juan worms and white thread jigs, good nymphs will be pheasant tails, hares ears, brassies, and sow bugs. Roostertails in green, yellow, white, red, and black will be working, and marabou jigs in white, black/yellow, olive, chartreuse, and yellow will be good colors in the murky water.

Fishing Report 11/05/05

Gone Fishing. Here is something I thought you might find interesting.

Low lake level and warm water suspend trout stocking

               Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) have announced that trout stocking on the lower Mountain Fork River designated trout area below Broken Bow Lake has been temporarily suspended.  ODWC fisheries personnel determined that water being released into the trout stream from Broken Bow Lake exceeds the temperature tolerances of rainbow trout. According to Paul Balkenbush, ODWC southeast region fisheries supervisor, the problem is highly unusual, and should correct itself in the near future.

               “We have a very unusual situation right now. Due to low rainfall in the watershed, Broken Bow Lake is well below normal elevation,” said Balkenbush. “Because of the low lake level, the temperature of the water column where we obtain the cool water that sustains the trout fishery has gotten too warm for trout,” Balkenbush added.

               Until colder water is available, the ODWC will cease their bi-weekly trout stockings of the 12-mile designated trout steam that flows through Beavers Bend State Park. However, the area is still open for fishing. According to Balkenbush, the depth at which water flows from the lake into the trout stream is usually sufficiently deep and cool enough to sustain trout even in the dog days of August. However, due to the unusual combination of low lake levels and mild daytime temperatures, the water temperature has gotten too warm to continue stocking trout until the problem corrects itself.

               One of only two year-round trout areas in the state, the lower Mountain Fork trout area has sustained both rainbow and brown trout year-round since its inception. This is made possible, in part, by the cooperation of the Southwestern Power Authority which generates hydropower through water releases from Broken Bow Lake.

               “We’ve had excellent cooperation from Southwest Power to release the coolest lake water available. However, due to the unusual circumstances, there isn’t anything anyone can do right now until Mother Nature gives us a hand,” said Balkenbush.

Balkenbush said that the problem is only temporary and should be resolved in the next few weeks, or possibly sooner.

               “All we need right now is either some cooler days and nights, or, a really good rain to bring the lake level back up.

               “If we were lucky and got both, this situation could potentially be resolved in just a matter of days,” said Balkenbush. 

                        ODWC officials say once water temperatures improve and trout stocking can resume, anglers will still get opportunities to catch the trout that would have been stocked during whatever period of time stocking is postponed.

                        “Everyone who fishes in the lower Mountain Fork trout area must purchase a $10 ($5 for youth 17 and under) Oklahoma Trout License, and we want those anglers to know that we will be honoring their license purchase by stocking those fish that were not stocked due to the temperature problem,” said Balkenbush.”

                        “So trout anglers need to stay tuned on this situation, because once things improve, we’ll be playing catch up and putting even more fish in the stream than we normally do,” Balkenbush added.

                        According to ODWC officials, a sufficient quantity of cool water exists deep within Broken Bow Lake that would satisfy the needs of trout even during times of low lake elevation.  However, the current configuration of outlet facilities doesn’t allow access to the deeper, cooler water. With the cooperation of Southwest Power Authority and other agencies, the ODWC is investigating several solutions to develop and implement new techniques to tap into the deeper, cooler lake water. 

                        “The results from ongoing studies look promising and we are optimistic that if we can reconfigure some of our current flow systems, it will alleviate the problems we are currently having,” Balkenbush said.

                        Anglers who want to monitor the status of trout stocking on the lower Mountain Fork trout area should check periodically on the current news portion on the Department’s Web site: www.wildlifedepartment.com, and/or, the trout stocking schedule at the following web page: http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/trtstok.htm.

10/22/05

Howdy:

No story this week just needed to tell you about a few things coming up.

The Okie Flyfishers Club meeting is coming up Monday night 10/24 and Tony Bulera of Fly by Night Flyfishing is expected to be the quest speaker. Tony said he may do a presentation on Alaska Flyfishing. It will be at The Kettle at 6:30. Everyone is always invited to the clubs meeting.

A couple of classes are coming up and if you want more information call me or NSU Continuing Education at 918 456 5511 ex 4610.

Good Fishing LC

BEGINNING LADIES FLY-FISHING PRIMER
This class is designed to learn to fish for various species.  A slide presentation will make up the Friday session, along with knot tying and fly selection.  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.  Call for special resort rates.  Date:  Fri., Nov. 4 Time: 6 – 9 p.m. Location: Business & Technology Room 119 AND Sat., Nov. 5 Time: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Location: Upper Illinois River Fee: $75 Limit: 10

BEGINNING FLY TYING
In this class you will learn basic fly tying skills necessary to construct your own flies.  Materials needed to make the flies will be included in the class cost.  The necessary tools used to make these flies will be available to purchase or rent during class. There will be demonstrations on how to make poppers, streamers, and deer hair bugs Date: 5 Tues., Nov. 1-29 Time: 7 – 9 p.m. Location: Seminary Hall Room 121 Fee: $60 Limit: 10 Instructor: Larry Clark

Upper Illinois River: Upper Illinois River has been staying at about 2.38 The showers did not do much to the river as far as the fishing goes. This week the river fished good on streamers and some top water flies. Chartreuse jigs worked well too. Still plenty of good bass fishing to do this month. LC 

Tenkiller: Ray at Elk Creek Marine says Tenkiller has slowed down except for the Crappie. Be careful if you get on the water.

From ODWC www.wildlifedepartment.com :

Grand:  October 17. Elevation below normal and clear. Channel catfish fair to good on cut shad at 15 ft. Crappie fair to good around brush at 10 ft.   Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, state game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: October 17. Elevation 1 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits along the shoreline. Channel catfish fair on bottom with cut bait. Crappie fair on minnows around fishing docks. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, state game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Tenkiller: October 18. Elevation 11 ft. below normal, water 73. Largemouth bass fair, hitting topwater evenings.
Crappie fair in docks on minnows or jigs. White bass fair on windy points or shorelines on spinners, spoons, or topwater evenings. Sunfish good in docks or along bluffs on night crawlers. Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort.

Trout Report:

Lower Mountain Fork River: October 18.  Trout poor due to low water levels Report submitted by Sid and Peggy, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Lower Illinois River: Tony Bulera says the water has been mostly down as generation has slowed because of low water levels on the lake. He says the water has had a green bottom and sometimes is cloudy. It helps when you use larger flies during these conditions. Pheasant tails, Pine Cones, beadhead scuds have been working well.

Roaring River Mo, Tim's Fly Shop: Water is still very low, and is now very murky, the work being done in the spring pool at the hatchery, has been causing the water to be very murky, as they continue to work, you can expect dirty water to continue. Still catching a lot of fish on beetles, hoppers, Adams, royal wulffs, and Griffith's gnats. Thread jigs and globalls did very well this week. Black Roostertails were very good this week. In zone 3 minnows and corn have still been working, and powerbait paste is working

10/15/05  

FISHING REPORT

Howdy:

Just got back from the flyfishing seminar in Mt. Home Arkansas and I had received an e-mail from friend Tim Hogue who was there also. Everyone was pretty shook up when we found out that a fisherman from the Oklahoma City area drowned while fishing on the White River at Friday. I don't think I knew him personally, but I have met so many over the years you never know.

What is important is that the rest of you ( that I do know) should have no excuse not to be wading safely. In the NSU classes we learn several things about safety, but some are more important than others. Some examples: Always let someone know where you are going. If you're wearing waders always wear a wader belt. Something to keep the water out incase you fall in. ( If you wade fish you will fall-in, someday!) If you fish at the dam always be listening for the high water horn. If you're not near the dam put a stick in the water to mark the water level. If it starts to get up, you get out! Always wear felt bottom boots. If you don't have good balance, get a wading staff. ( 50 now, I'm getting there) If you still slip a lot get an inflatable co2 vest. Don't wade into high or swift water. That's why your rod is so long dummy!

Take some simple precaution when you go fishing. Even if it is shallow water. Don't make your fishing partner come home without you. LC

Upper Illinois River: Upper Illinois River was at 2.38 Friday morning. Barren Fork was at 4.31 . The river come up a little after resent showers and is looking good. Everything is working including crawdads, streamers and poppers. Couldn't wait for October.

Tenkiller: Ray at Elk Creek Marine says Tenkiller has been fishing well. Everything is biting but the dropping water has prevented it from being excellent. Crappie are deep and shallow but no regular pattern. Catfish and small sandies in evening too. Lake level is extremely low! 

From ODWC www.wildlifedepartment.com :

Tenkiller: October 11. Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 79 and clear. Largemouth bass slow with some action early and late on topwaters and crankbaits mid-day.  Crappie fair in docks on minnows or jigs. White bass fair evenings on spoons or spinners off windy points or shorelines. Catfish fair on stinkbaits at 20 ft. and drifting with cut baits at 15-20 ft. Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort

Grand:  October 10. Elevation below normal and clear. White bass fair off rocky points in shallow water. Channel catfish fair to good on cut shad at 20 ft. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10 ft.   Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, state game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: October 10. Elevation 1 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Channel catfish fair on cut bait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around fishing dock.  Report submitted by Lark Wilson, state game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Robert S. Kerr: October 11. Elevation normal, water 71 and murky. Largemouth bass fair at 3-6 ft. on plastic baits and topwater baits in weed rock and woody banks early and late. Crappie good at 10 ft. on minnows around structure in old creek channels. White bass fair at 4-8 ft. using shad imitation crankbaits in the upper channel areas from Tamaha to Webbers Falls dam. Catfish (blue and flathead) good at 20-25 ft. using fresh cut bait and live bait fishing the old Arkansas River channel. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, state game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Trout Report:

Lower Mountain Fork River: October 11.  Trout poor-fair on a variety of baits. Baits to try are streamers, small mayflies, caddis, various midges and emergers. Report submitted by Sid and Peggy, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Lower Illinois River: The water has been mostly down according to the ODWC. The next stocking will be around the 20^th so be ready. The trout fishing has been good. Wooley buggers, midges and Roostertails are all working. Billy Fillman of ODWC says around 2500 trout will be in the next batch and more to come this Fall. LC

Roaring River Mo. Tim's Flyshop: No rain this week, the river is still very low and very clear, (use 7X tippet for the best results, you can get away with 6X early but switch out to 7X as soon as the sun is up), but hey the dry fly fishing has never been better, good trico hatches in the morning, caddis and pale evening duns in the evening, and midge activity nearly all day long, good choices are small Adams, Griffith's gnats, black midges, blue duns and blue wing olives in #20's and smaller all worked well the past few days, beetles, ants, and yes still catching them on hoppers, and we probably will until we get a good killing frost. 

For more information call On The Fly Flyfishing and Guide Service 918 931 1052.

Published 7/24/05 

Howdy:

One of the things I love to do is fish with poppers. It really can be exciting and when guiding I have shown many people the " joy of poppers". Some of it is the wiggle and squiggle that a good rubber legged popper has. Smallmouth Bass, Kentucky Spotted Bass and all kinds of perch can be caught on poppers. Over the years I have told you several ways to fish with a popper but there may be one more I have not mentioned. 

So often, once the popper seems to be in the right place (after casting it) we let it set until the first little perch or bass bumps it. Somewhere in your brain you are required to cast again or move your popper to another place. Don't do that! Have some patience. Let the popper stay there awhile and something bigger will come by and take it away from the little ones. 

I learned this because I'm a little slow sometimes or was half awake one day. But often the activity of the little fish will excite the bigger fish. (You've seen that happen at work!)

You can also switch to bigger poppers just so the little ones can't take them and often that will produce bigger fish. Try what you want but try to leave it there. Have some patience when fishing poppers.

Friday evening the Illinois River was 2.54 and Barren Fork was at 4.35. The water is low. If you practice catch and release be careful not to stress the fish too much. This is a good time to go early and late in the day. Popper are working very well this week. Larry 

Ray at Elk Creek says that the lake is about 5 ft. below normal and that you need to be careful of the heat when boating. Find some shade now a then.  

Lake Report Oklahoma Wildlife Department: 

Tenkiller: July 19. Elevation  3 1/2 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass slow with some action in deep brush on bass jigs. Catfish good drifting with cut baits at 10-20 ft. and hitting on stinkbaits at 15-20 ft. in mudflats.
Sunfish good on worms along bluffs or in docks at 10-15 ft. Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort 

Robert S. Kerr: July 18. Elevation normal, water 87 and murky. Largemouth bass slow at 6-8 ft. on plastic baits fishing the weed, wood and rock cover next to deeper water. Crappie fair at 10 ft. on minnows fishing the old creek channels. White bass fair to good when they are surfacing in the Applegate Cove and Short mountain areas using crankbaits and slab spoons. Catfish, blue and flathead fair at 15-30 ft. using fresh cut shad and live bait on trotlines and juglines fishing in the old river channel. Striped bass fair on live bait near the mouth of the Illinois river. Walleye and sauger good on minnows and jigs fishing at the mouth of the Illinois river.  Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, state game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Ft. Gibson:  July 6. Elevation 4 ft. above normal, water 80 and rising. Catfish good on shad, cut bait and earthworms in flooded grass areas. Largemouth bass good on worms at night in flooded areas. All other fishing is slow. Report submitted by Marvin Stanley, state game warden stationed in Wagoner and Muskogee counties.

Grand:  July 5. Elevation above normal and murky. Channel catfish fair to good on cut shad at 8-10ft. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs around brush piles and docks. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, state game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: July 18. Elevation normal and clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits, spinnerbaits and topwater lures. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows off fishing docks and brush piles. Channel catfish good on bottom using cut bait. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, state game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Get the new addition of Flyfish America "FREE" at Elk Creek Marine. And visit www.tah-usa.net/onthefly or call 918-931-1052

Published 06/24/05  

Howdy:

One of the givens in fishing is that in order to move the lure you have to have a tight slack-less line. An advantage of fishing with conventional tackle over flyfishing tackle is that the reel does this for you as soon as you start cranking in line.

When flyfishing with bass type flies and regular streamers it is important to keep the slack out of the line in order to feel the strike. 

An easy way to help yourself to do this is to practice keeping your rod tip down. Unless you are fishing a dryfly or an indicator "rig", as soon as your fly touches the water you should bee removing slack and lowering your rod tip. Think about it. If your rod tip is high then you have less contact with your fly. Measure and if your rod tip is up then you have 4 to 6 feet of slack between the end of your rod and where it line contacts the water. Get in the habit to cast, drop and keep your rod tip down. 

I will be conducting a Flyfishing for Smallmouth Bass Clinic as a part of the summer schedule. On Friday night July 8^th we will have an evening session with a slide show and fly tying on how to successfully fish for smallmouth. Saturday July 9^th we will spend the day using several techniques to use with your flyrod. For more information and fees call NSU Continuing Education at 918-456-5511 ext. 4610. or myself at 918-931-1052. www.tah-usa.net/onthefly

Friday evening the Illinois River was 2.92 and Barren Fork was at 4.39. The water is great for fishing. Everything is biting, everywhere. Fish the riffles or the pools what ever way you like. Top-water, crawdads, and jigs anything works. Larry 

Ray at Elk Creek says that even the wife's and kids are catching fish. Go during the week to avoid the traffic. 

Lake Report Oklahoma Wildlife Department:

Ft. Gibson:  June 15. Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water 83 and murky. Largemouth bass good on spinners in flooded grass. White bass good when trolling points and around bridges. Channel catfish good on worms and cut bait in flooded flats. Paddle fish good snagging at Choteau Bend, around 412 bridge and Mayes. Report submitted by Marvin Stanley, state game warden stationed in Wagoner and Muskogee counties.

Grand:  June 20. Elevation normal and murky. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush. White bass fair while trolling using spinnerbaits. Channel catfish fair on juglines using cut shad. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, state game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: June 20. Elevation normal and clear. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits off shorelines. Channel catfish good using cut bait on bottom. Crappie fair using minnows and jigs off fishing docks. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, state game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Tenkiller: June 21. Elevation normal, water 82 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits, spinnerbaits and bass jigs. Crappie fair on jigs around brush piles or on minnows in docks. Catfish good on flip-flops or limb lines with shrimp or cut baits. White bass fair night fishing with minnows. Sunfish good on worms on gravel banks or near docks.

Lower Mountain Fork River: June 22. Trout fair early and late in the day. Best flies have been grasshoppers, ants, midges, mayflies and caddis. Report submitted by Sid and Peggy, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Published 6/10/05 

Howdy:

One of the things you can do to improve your fishing is to become more "touchy-feely". Cast, close your eyes and "feel" the force. Well, maybe just your fishing line.  

Sometimes the fish take the lure so softly you can easily miss it. It's more so with long single hook flies where the material extends a good ways past the hook. Lots of the smallmouth streamers that I like to use are made that way and I have learned to "feel" for the take. With a fly rod there is an advantage in that I have contact with the line in my fingers all the time.  

In fact it's easier to teach this technique to someone who fishes wiggle tail / single hook grubs a lot, than to a trout fisherman who is use to "seeing" the take. 

Work on it. Close your eyes, keep your line tight and learn to feel the take. Is it a fish or just a rock? You can now tell your wife you've been working on your sensitive side.  

Beginning Flyfishing starts for the summer session on Tuesday night June 21^st at 7:pm. We will meet each Tuesday evening for at least 6 weeks. The class will include: selection of equipment, flies and how to use them, knots and wading safety. Fee will be $55.00. For more information call NSU Continuing Education at 918-456-5511 ext. 4610. or myself at 918-931-1052.

Friday evening the Illinois River was 3.11 and Barren Fork was at 4.50. The water is just about perfect. Right now popper fishing on the river is really great. If you like Smallmouth on top water let's go 

Elk Creek Marine and Outdoor: Ray says that right now crappie are good trolling deep and catfish are good on flip-flops. Bass seem to be at about 10 to 12 ft. Ray say go early and late to avoid the tourist traffic. 

MarVals Family Resort: Pamela says the water has been up about 3 days. But went down this morning. The trout stocking has been continuing and expect a good week-end.

Stripper fishing has been good with a 22lb this week and a 32lb last week.  

Lake Report Oklahoma Wildlife Department: 

Tenkiller: June 7. Elevation normal, water 78 and clear. Largemouth bass slow smaller fish hitting on spinnerbaits or soft plastics in 10-15 ft.  Crappie fair on jigs in deep brush or under lights at night on minnows. Catfish good 3-15 ft. on cut baits on bluffs. Sunfish good in spawning beds or docks on worms. Report by Monte Brooks Cookson Village Resort.

Ft. Gibson: June 8. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 76 and ,murky. Catfish good on cut shad. Crappie good at 15 ft. over brush. White bass good trolling off points and around sunken structure. Largemouth bass good on salt crawls in flooded grass. Snagging for paddlefish slow. Report submitted by Marvin Stanley Cole, state game warden stationed in Wagoner and Muskogee counties.

Robert S. Kerr: June 7. Elevation normal, water 74 and murky. Largemouth bass fair at 3-6 ft. on plastic baits and spinnerbaits fishing the weed and rock structure around the lake. Crappie fair at 8-10 ft. using minnows fishing the edges and bends in the old submerged creek channels. White bass fair at 8-10ft. using jigs fishing below Webbers Falls and Kerr dams. Blue catfish fair at 3-8 ft. using fresh cut shad fishing around the spawning areas. Flathead catfish fair at 3-8 ft. using live bait fishing the rocky areas around the lake. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, state game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: June 7. Trout good in Zone 2 on various dry flies and light-colored soft-hackled flies. In the spillway use small light colored mayflies with a white streamer. Report submitted by Sid and Peggy, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Visit On The Fly Flyfishing at Elk Creek Marine and www.tah-usa.net/onthefly or call 918-931-1052

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