Oklahoma fishing report

Record sunfish at Lake Texoma on August 6, 2013. It weighed in at 1.6 lbs. and was 11 inches long.

Fishing reports from Oklahoma lakes follow by region.

NORTHEAST Bell Cow: August 11. Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 85 and muddy. Bass slow. Crappie fair on minnows at night. Catfish good on cut bait and chicken liver at night. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.

Birch: August 12. Elevation above normal, water upper 70s and murky. Channel catfish good on chicken liver and worms. Blue catfish good on cut shad. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by David Clay, game warden stationed in Osage County. Carl Blackwell: August 12. Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water 78-81 and cloudy to murky. Crappie excellent on jigs and live bait at 16 ft. Channel catfish good to excellent on nightcrawlers, cut bait, chicken livers and frozen shad and stinkbait. Flathead catfish are in their post spawn activities and are feeding heavily to get back into shape after a rigorous spawn, target large flatheads with large goldfish, large native sunfishes any large live baits are key to catching any flathead of any size. Largemouth bass are hard to pinpoint with summer winding down and people hitting the lake hard for one more boating/tubing/fun weekend. Striped bass hybrids are schooled along deep drop-offs targeting schools of shad from the dam all the way to the middle of the lake where the shallow flats are located, that are primary areas to target for saugeye. Striped bass hybrids and saugeye are being caught on large live shiners, slab spoons and crankbaits. Report submitted by Chris Pulchny, The H2O Lakeside store.

Chandler: August 11. Elevation normal, water 85 and muddy. All fishing slow. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.

Copan: August 12. Elevation 5 ft. above normal, water murky. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 7-10 ft. Blue and channel catfish fair on cut bait, chicken liver and worms below the dam and fair on juglines baited with sunfish. Channel catfish fair on worms in flooded areas. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.

Eucha: August 13. Elevation 1/4 ft. above normal, water 80 and dingy. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 14-16 ft. around brush and structure. Largemouth bass fair on jerk baits. Bluegill fair on crickets and worms around grass beds. Catfish good on worms. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.

Ft. Gibson: August 12. Elevation 5 ft. above normal and rising. Catfish excellent on whole shad and cut bait. White bass fair on white spinnerbaits around windy points while wading. Largemouth bass fair on plastic worms and crankbaits. Report submitted by Rick Stafford in Wagoner.

Greenleaf: August 13. Elevation above normal. Bass good on plastic worms in green pumpkin, black and blue and on deep diving crankbaits off deeper structure. Crappie good on jigs at 12-15 ft. around brush piles off shorelines. Report submitted by Mike's Outdoors.

Hudson: August 12. Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water dingy with lots of debris. All fishing slow. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Rogers and Mayes counties.

Hulah: August 12. Elevation 13 ft. above normal, water murky. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs at 10-12 ft. around brush piles near Skull Creek. Blue and flathead catfish good on cut bait and worms below the dam. Channel catfish fair on worms in flooded areas. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.

Kaw: August 13. Elevation 12 ft. above normal. Channel and blue catfish excellent in flooded willows up the Arkansas River channel. Fishing below the dam is slow due to extremely swift moving water but should improve as conditions below the dam improve. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Spencer Grace, game warden stationed in Kay County. Report submitted by Emily Long, game warden stationed in Kay and Grant counties.

Keystone: August 11. Elevation 7 ft. above normal, water 83-84 and murky. Largemouth bass fair to good on plastic baits and crankbaits in rocky areas along shorelines and boat dock areas. White bass fair on jigs and crankbaits around windy points, in the Whispering Hills area, Salt Creek area and around points off the Hwy 412 Bridge. Striped bass fair trolling crankbaits at 20-27 ft. along the Hwy 412 Bridge. Catfish good on juglines and rod-and-reel baited with cut bait and cut shad at 20-28 ft. Crappie slow. Report submitted by Dwight Luther, game warden stationed in Creek and Okfuskee counties.

Lower Illinois: August 11. Elevation above normal with water releases, water upper 60s and murky. Fishing is good all along the river from the dam to the mouth. Striped bass being caught on shad and trout in deep holes. Sauger being caught on minnows and jigs in deep holes. Trout good on Power Bait and rooster tails at the dam and Watts area in deeper holes and on Rapalas as the river begins to flow. Fly fishing good on wooly buggers being stripped and dry flies early in the morning, especially in the Watts Area. Nymph fishing in deeper holes is doing well when the sun gets up. Fly fishing becomes difficult as the water swiftness increases, with some fish being caught in eddies. Report submitted by Jeremy Bersche, game warden stationed in Sequoyah County.

Oologah: August 14. Elevation 11 ft. above normal, water mid to upper 70s and muddy. Channel and blue catfish fair on shad and liver around flooded willows and fair on shad below the dam. White bass fair on jigs below the dam. Report submitted by Break Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.

Skiatook: August 13. Elevation 5 3/4 ft. below normal, water clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. around structure. All other fishing slow. Reported submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County.

Sooner:August 13. All fishing slow. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County.

Spavinaw: August 13. Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water 83 and dingy. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around the dam area. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits. Bluegill fair on crickets and worms around boat houses. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.

Tenkiller: August 12. Elevation 1 3/4 ft. above normal, water 85 and clear. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair on crankbaits, spinnerbaits and soft plastic baits. Catfish fair on flip-flops or juglines baited with cut bait at 40-50 ft. Sunfish good on worm-tipped jigs in or near docks. Report submitted by Monte Brooks of Cookson.

Webbers Falls: August 13. Elevation above normal; dangerous conditions. All fishing slow. Report submitted by Mike's Outdoors.

CENTRAL Arcadia: August 12. Elevation above normal and rising, water 83 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on topwater lures and crankbaits around vegetation. White, striped and striped bass hybrids fair on shad and shad like lures at 8-12 ft. along the dam. Channel and blue catfish good on stinkbait and cut shad along windy shorelines. Crappie slow on jigs, worms and minnows at 8-14 ft. around docks and structure. Sunfish fair on worms and jigs shallow along shorelines. Report submitted by Vince Mesis, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.

Arcadia: August 13. Elevation 4 ft. above normal and rising. White bass good on silver spoons. Striped bass and striped bass hybrids fair drifting shad, minnows and lures. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait and blood bait. Crappie good on silver spoons, red or green jigs, minnows and worms at 5-10 ft. at the enclosed and open docks early and late. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Sheila Hutton, gate attendant.

Draper: August 11. Elevation below normal, water murky. All fishing slow. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.

Hefner: August 13. Elevation above normal, water 77-80 and clear. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits and topwater lures at 1-6 ft. Smallmouth bass slow. White bass and striped bass hybrids good on grubs and lipless baits at 4-8 ft. around windy points and docks. Channel and blue catfish good on prepared baits at 10-15 ft. Flathead catfish good on live bait and crankbaits. Crappie slow. Walleye good on grubs and lipless baits at 4-8 ft. around windy points and docks. Report submitted by Lucky Lure Tackle.

Overholser: August 12. Elevation 3 ft. above normal, water muddy. Catfish slow on stinkbait and cut bait after dark. Striped bass hybrids fair on curly tail grubs behind the dam. Report submitted by David Rempe, game warden stationed in Oklahoma and Canadian counties.

Thunderbird: August 11. Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water clear. Channel catfish fair to good on stinkbait and cut bait at 4-8 ft. in coves and points. White bass fair to good on jigs and spoons early and late. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.

Wes Watkins: August 12. Elevation normal, water 85 and clear. Crappie fair on minnows in standing timber early. Report submitted by Mike France, game warden stationed in Pottawatomie County.

NORTHWEST Canton: August 10. Elevation 12.5 ft. below normal, water clear. Channel catfish good on grasshoppers. White bass and striped bass hybrids good on slabs and shad. Walleye fair drifting night crawlers and trolling crankbaits. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County.

Ft. Supply: August 12. All fishing slow. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Woodward County.

SOUTHEAST Arbuckle: August 10. Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water 85 and stained. Crappie, sunfish and catfish biting off docks. Crappie good on 1/8 oz. chartreuse jigs at 20-35 ft. in brush piles. White bass are surfacing and chasing shad atop water, mostly in the mid-lake areas. Bass being caught on crankbaits and topwater lures early morning hours and good on creature baits rigged Texas style or Carolina rigs at 20 ft. Sunfish good on bugs in shallow shaded water. Catfish good on cut baits, dough baits and grasshoppers near baited holes. Report submitted by Jack Melton.

Blue River: August 12. Elevation normal, water 85 and clear. Smallmouth and spotted bass good on topwater lures early and late and on small crankbaits around structure in larger pools. Channel catfish good on stinkbait, chicken liver and night crawlers around current in large pools. Sunfish excellent on grasshoppers, grubs and small plastic lures at 2-3 ft. in shallow slack water areas. Report Submitted by Matt Gamble, fisheries biologist, Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.

Broken Bow: August 11. Water upper 80s. Largemouth bass good on Zara Spooks and poppers around points and islands early and late, on white or shad colored crankbaits at 5-15 ft. around points and humps, on Carolina rigs, creature baits, finesse worms in water melon seed and green pumpkin colors and on peanut butter and jelly jigs at 5-20 ft. and around walls and points and in the Sand Springs bend and south lake near the spillway and the dam. Catfish good on juglines and trotlines baited with cut bait. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 15 ft. in creeks and brush piles. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Eufaula: August 11. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. normal and rising, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on plastic worms, salt crawls and deep running baits around points and rocky areas. White bass good under bridges surfacing early and late. Blue catfish good on cut bait along flats on windy days and in creek channels. Crappie fair under bridges, around standing timber and structure in deep water. Report submitted by David Robertson, game warden stationed in McIntosh and Okmulgee counties.

Hugo: August 11. Elevation normal, water 84. Crappie fair on minnows along the river channel. Catfish fair on juglines and trotlines baited with goldfish and sunfish and fair on cut bait below the dam. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw and Bryan counties.

Konawa: August 12. Elevation normal, water 86 and clear. Largemouth bass good on topwater lures at 4-8 ft. in weed beds early and late. Channel catfish good on cut shad at 5-10 ft. around points and in the south cove. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.

Lower Mountain Fork: August 11. Fly fishing patterns would include olive and brown hoppers size 10 and 12, stimulators, light cahills or PMD's also in size 12-14. Pheasant tail with flashback, size 18-20. Small midges size 20-22 in red, brown, copper. Also try crayfish patterns, streamers and ants. The hexagenias should be working in early evening in the Evening Hole area. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

McGee Creek: August 11. Elevation normal, water 85 and clear. Largemouth bass fair to good on soft plastic lures and rattling crankbaits at 2-10 ft. and fair to good on shad colored topwater baits and buzz baits on schooling fish in open water and around rock ledges early and late. Crappie fair to good on minnows over cedar trees off creek channels. White bass is fair to good on crankbaits at 28-35 ft. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County.

Pine Creek: August 11. Elevation normal, water clear. Bass fair on spinnerbaits. Crappie good on jigs around tops. Catfish fair on punch bait. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Robert S. Kerr: August 12. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic baits around brush, grass and riprap around the river and good in cutoff of the river. Spotted bass and white bass excellent up Canadian River, white bass are congregated in deeper pools. Crappie fair in deeper submerged brush locations. Channel and blue catfish excellent on trotlines and juglines baited with cut bait at 12-20 ft. close to creek and river channels. Flathead catfish good on trotlines baited with live bait up river or in coves. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Sardis: August 8. Channel catfish fair to good on cut bait and dead minnows at 12-14 ft. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 12-16 ft. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.

Texoma: August 11. Elevation normal, water 83 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass good on plastic lures, crankbaits and surface lures at 5-15 ft. Striped and white bass good on surface lures, live bait and sassy shad at 10-25 ft. from Burns Run to the islands. Channel and blue catfish good on live bait, stinkbait and worms at 10-20 ft. from the Washita River to Platter Flats and Sanders Island View on Red River. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 5-15 ft. around fish attractors. Sunfish good on shrimp, worms and small tube jigs at 5-10 ft. around the fishing docks. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.

Wister: August 11. Elevation 1 1/2 ft. above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair to good on black 12-inch worms, white tips, watermelon spinnerbaits and crankbaits on the surface early and late. Crappie good on minnows and fair on white/blue, pink jigs at 10-15 ft. around brushy cover. Catfish fair to good on rod-and-reel baited with live shad and best with night crawlers, sunfish and goldfish and on juglines and trotlines baited with cut bait and dead minnows. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.

SOUTHWEST Ellsworth: August 11. Elevation normal, water muddy. Catfish fair on cut bait and punch bait. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.

Ft. Cobb: August 12. Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water 92 and murky. All fishing slow. Report submitted by Tyler Howser, game warden stationed in Caddo County.

Lawtonka: August 11. Elevation normal, water murky. All fishing slow. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.

Tom Steed: August 6. Elevation 14 ft. below normal, water 80 and murky. Channel and blue catfish fair on stinkbait and on juglines baited with shad. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County.

Waurika: August 12. Elevation 12 ft. below normal, water murky. Striped bass hybrids fair on rattletraps and topwater lures early morning and at night. Channel and blue catfish fair on juglines baited with crawfish and grasshoppers; bank fishermen having good success with surf rods targeting deep coves. Report submitted by Ted Hasty, game warden assigned to Jefferson County.

To check lake conditions online visit Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department's website at http://www.travelok.com/checkmyoklake/. This website provides information on blue-green algae, lake updates, water safety tips, etc. For additional information from the Oklahoma Wildlife Department, click here.