Whatzup Outdoors (193)
Written by Donna Deaton
2019 hunter education classes kick off March 9 at Arcadia
Press Release
2019 hunter education classes kick off March 9 at Arcadia
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's hunter education course is one of the first steps to learning about safe and legal hunting in Oklahoma.
While the course is free online and always available, classroom courses are also taught in communities throughout the year, including one scheduled for Saturday, March 9 at the Arcadia Conservation Education Area in Edmond.
"If you live in the Metro area, this will be a convenient way to get your hunter education taken care of before turkey season," said Lance Meek, hunter education coordinator for the Wildlife Department.
Attending the class requires registration through the Wildlife Department's Go Outdoors Oklahoma online system. Users must create or log in to their account, then select the "Events" tab to find the course and register.
Course topics include firearms safety, wildlife conservation and identification, safe archery and more. The class helps people become safe, legal and ethical hunters and is required for most hunters ages 10-30 who wish to hunt without a mentor present.
Meek said the in-class courses such as the one March 9 at Arcadia are great opportunities to learn about hunting from a certified instructor in a structured setting. On the other hand, the online course is convenient and allows for self-paced study. In either case, parents and mentors are encouraged to participate.
"Parents or mentors are a critical part of the process of becoming a hunter," Meek said.
Any Oklahoma resident 10 or older may complete the online course and print a hunter education certification card upon completion of the online final exam. Youths 9 and younger may take the course for knowledge but are not eligible for certification; instead, these youths may buy an apprentice-designated hunting license. Apprentice-designated licenses also may be used by anyone 30 or younger. Hunter education certification is not required for anyone 31 or older in Oklahoma.
NEWS CONTACTS:
Don P. Brown ()
or Micah Holmes ()
Telephone: (405) 521-4632
Written by David Deaton
Southeast Area Lakes Report - Feb 22
A service of the Oklahoma Wildlife Dept
Arbuckle: February 16. Elevation normal, water 47 and very stained. Largemouth and smallmouth Bass fair on Alabama rigs, jerk baits and shakey head worms. Crappie all small in 44-55 ft water near dam hitting spoons & jigs. White bass slow. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Broken Bow: February 15. Elevation above average, water 49. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass good on Bill Baits, Crankbaits, Jigs, Rogues, and Spoons around brush structure, points, and standing timber. Blue, channel, and flathead catfish fair on cut bait, live bait, and sunfish around channels, mian lake, and points. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Eufaula: February 15. Elevation above average, water murky. Blue, channel, and flathead catfish fair on shad around the main lake. Black and white crappie good on tube jigs around brush structure and standing timber. Report submitted by Jake Bersche, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: February 15. Elevation above average, water 48 and murky. Blue and channel catfish fair on cut bait, dough bait, live bait, and Shad below the dam, around the main lake and river channel. Black and white crappie fair on jigs and minnows below the dam, Brush structure, main lake, river channel, and standing timber. Report submitted by Andrew Potter, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.
Lower Mountain Fork: February 20. Elevation normal. Rainbow trout fair on powerbait along river channel. Stocked approximately 1,480 rainbow trout on February 19. Report submitted by April Drake, secretary at the Southeast Region Office.
McGee Creek: February 17. Elevation normal, water 48. Largemouth and spotted bass fair on Jigs, Plastics, and Drop shot rigs around main lake, points, and standing timber. Channel catfish fair on chicken liver and stink bait along creek channels and river mouth. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Atoka County.
Pine Creek: February 16. Elevation normal, water clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits, jigs, and spoons around coves and creek channels. Black crappie excellent on jigs and spoons around brush structure, channel, and coves. Channel catfish fair on cutbait around the main lake. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Robber’s Cave: February 20. Elevation normal. Rainbow trout fair on powerbait along river channel. Stocked approximately 390 rainbow trout on February 19. Report submitted by April Drake, secretary at the Southeast Region Office.
Robert S. Kerr: February 15. Elevation normal, water murky. White bass and white crappie good on jigs and minnows along inlet, standing timber, and mouth of Big San Bios Creek. Blue catfish good on cutbait, dough bait, shad, and stink bait around channels, river mouth, and drift fishing Canadian river and mouth. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Haskell County.
Sardis: February 20. Elevation above average, water 52. Largemouth and spotted bass slow on crankbaits, jigs, plastics, and spinnerbaits around brush structure, points, rocks, shorelines, and standing timber. White crappie slow on jigs and minnows around brush structure, channels, points, and standing timber. Blue and channel catfish slow on cutbait and shad around channels and main lake. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
Texoma: February 15. Elevation normal, water 46 and stained. Blue catfish good on cutbait around main lake and river mouth. Striped bass good on flukes and live shad below the dam, main lake, and river mouth. Black crappie fair on hair jigs, jigs, live bait, minnows, and tube jigs around brush structure and docks. Lake levels are beginning to stabilize which is good news for anglers. Fish are becoming more predictable and normal in their patterns. Striped Bass are in early stages of staging at the mouths of Red and Washita river. Striped bass are good with both deadsticking flukes and live bait, anglers should have both on their boat if they want to effectively harvest striper. Crappie are still holding close to bottom in 25ft-35ft of water, slow or no moment of jig will be the best method. Small and largemouth bass are in shallow water and are hitting slow moving crankbaits. Bluecats are being caught in 10ft-20ft of water near river mouths by drifting whole or cut shad. Report submitted by Trey Hale, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: February 15. Elevation above average, water cloudy. Largemouth and spotted bass fair on bill baits, plastics, and spinnerbaits around brush structure, channels, and points. Blue and channel catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait, power bait, and stink bait below the dam, and around channels and the main lake. White and black crappie good on jigs and minnows below the dam, and around brush structure and standing timber. Report submitted by Thomas Gillham, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
Written by David Deaton
Applications for Private Land Youth Turkey Hunt Due Feb. 24
Press release from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Youth turkey hunters have a special opportunity to apply for one turkey hunt that will take place on private land:
Love and Carter Counties: Sunday, March 31, 2019 (mandatory orientation Saturday, March 30, 2019).
This year, 20 hunters will be selected to participate in this private lands youth turkey hunt. To be eligible, youths must have completed their hunter education requirements prior to applying and must be 12-17 years old at the time of the scheduled hunt. Food and lodging accommodations will be provided by the Noble Research Institute for the 20 participants and their accompanying adult. Co-sponsors of the youth hunt include the Oklahoma Wildlife Management Association and Walnut Bayou and Eastman Deer Management Associations.
"This hunt is on private property and should provide young hunters a great opportunity to see and hear turkeys as well as a chance to harvest a tom," said Bill Dinkines, Assistant Chief of Wildlife for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission has endorsed the youth hunt program, and we are thankful for the landowner's willingness to allow these kids the opportunity to hunt on their property."
Applications can be found at www.wildlifedepartment.com and require the following information:
• Hunter’s first and last name.
• Date of birth.
• Mailing address.
• Telephone number.
• Hunter education certification number.
• Lifetime License number, if applicable.
• Accompanying adult* first and last name.
• Accompanying adult’s email address.
*Each child participating in this hunt must have one adult (licensed or unlicensed) who is at least 21 years of age accompany them on the hunt.
Wild turkey taken by selected applicants will count toward the hunter’s statewide season limit.
Applicants who are successfully drawn will receive an email notification that includes specific information about their hunt. Youth participants will be required to purchase appropriate license(s) prior to the hunt as listed below:
• Resident Options (Ages 12-15): Exempt from a hunting license, but must possess a $10 Turkey License or proof of exemption.
• Resident Options (Age 16-17): Must possess a hunting license (Resident Lifetime Hunting OR Resident Lifetime Combination License OR Resident Youth Annual Hunting OR Resident Youth Combination License OR Resident Youth Fiscal-Year Hunting OR Resident Youth Fiscal-Year Combination License OR Resident 5-Year Hunting License OR Resident 5-Year Combination License) and a $10 Turkey License or proof of exemption.
• Nonresident Options (Ages 12-13): Exempt from a hunting license, but must possess a $10 Turkey License unless otherwise exempt.
• Nonresident Options (Ages 14-17): Must possess a $142 Nonresident Annual Hunting License OR a $176 Nonresident Fiscal-Year Hunting License and a $10 Turkey License unless otherwise exempt.
Apprentice-designated licenses are not valid for this private lands youth turkey hunt because of the requirement for hunter education certification prior to applying.
All Lifetime License holders and Annual License holders are urged to check their Go Oklahoma Online account information or create a new account online. Go to www.wildlifedepartment.com then click "Purchase a License" in the Quick Links box.
For more information, call Kyle Johnson at (405) 590-2584.
Written by David Deaton
Fishing Report for February 13, 2019
A service of the Oklahoma Wildlife Department
Southeast
Arbuckle: February 9. Elevation above normal, water 47 and stained. Largemouth and smallmouth bass slow on jerk baits and Alabama rigs. Crappie being caught on white spoons and crappie jigs at 44-50 ft. in mid-lake along drop-offs. White bass have left the deep water headed for the creeks. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Broken Bow: February 8. Elevation above normal, water 51. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass good on crankbaits, flukes, jigs and spoons around brush structure, points, river mouth and standing timber. Walleye fair on crankbaits and rogues along channels, points, river channel and river mouth. Blue catfish good on cut bait and live bait in the main lake and around points. Blue catfish being caught on juglines in 50-60 ft. of water along shelf. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Eufaula: February 8. Elevation above normal, water murky. Blue and channel catfish good on shad along channels and flats. Crappie fair on tube jigs around brush structure and standing timber. Report submitted by Jake Bersche, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: February 8. Elevation below normal, water 48 and murky. Blue and channel catfish fair on cut bait, dough bait, live bait and shad below the dam, in the main lake and river channel. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs below the dam, around brush structure, main lake, river channel and standing timber. Report submitted by Andrew Potter, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.
Konawa: February 7. Elevation normal, water 42 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on Alabama rigs, crankbaits, jigs and plastic baits in the main lake, around points, river channel and weed beds. Striped bass hybrids and white bass slow on Alabama rigs, crankbaits and live shad in coves and river channel. Channel catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait and stinkbait in coves, along riprap and weed beds. Report submitted by Garret Harley, game warden stationed in Seminole County.
Lower Mountain Fork: February 8. Elevation normal, water clear. Trout excellent on nymphs, PowerBait, tube jigs and salmon eggs along channels, creek channels and spillway. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Lower Mountain Fork: February 7. Stocked approximately 1,600 rainbow trout on February 7. Report submitted by April Drake, secretary at the southeast region office.
McGee Creek: February 8. Elevation normal, water 49. Largemouth and spotted bass fair on crankbaits, jigs and plastic baits along flats, main lake, points and standing timber. Crappie, white bass and spotted bass slow on minnows and jigs along creek channels and standing timber. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Atoka County.
Pine Creek: February 8. Elevation normal, water clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits, plastic baits and spoons in coves and creek channels. Crappie excellent on minnows and spoons around brush structure and channels. Channel catfish fair on cut bait in the main lake. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Robber’s Cave: February 7. Stocked approximately 300 rainbow trout on February 7. Report submitted by April Drake, secretary at the southeast region office.
Robert S. Kerr: February 8. Elevation normal, water murky. Crappie excellent on minnows and jigs along creek channels and mouth of Big Sanbios. Blue catfish fair on cut bait, shad and stinkbait along river channel and river mouth. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Haskell County.
Texoma: February 7. Elevation below normal, water 48 and murky. Gates are closed at Denison Dam so the lake should be clearing up depending on rainfall. Blue catfish good on cut bait and shad in the main lake and river mouth. For blue cat, fishing anglers should focus on the river mouths in 15-25 ft. of water drifting cut or whole shad. When rigging drifting setups use a float to hold bait slightly off the bottom for cats. Also, use drift socks to control drift speed. Striped bass good on Alabama rigs, flukes and live shad below the dam, along the dam, main lake and river mouth. Striper have been spotty dead-sticking due to the warmer temps, but with cooler weather coming back dead-sticking should pick back up. Live bait has been producing fish when dead-sticking is slow, bait has been holding in Catfish Bay. Large schools of striper have been in the West end of the lake. Crappie fair on hair jigs, jigs and tube jigs around brush structure and points. Crappie are holding tight to bottom in deeper water under docks and on points with bottom structure, drop jigs to bottom and reel up 1 ft. for good results. Report submitted by Trey Hale, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: February 8. Elevation above normal, water cloudy. Largemouth and spotted bass slow on bill baits, crankbaits, plastic baits and spinnerbaits around brush structure, channels and points. Blue and channel catfish slow on chicken liver, cut bait, hotdogs, punch bait and stinkbait below the dam, along channels, main lake, points and standing timber. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs below the dam, around brush structure, channels and standing timber. Report submitted by Thomas Gillham, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
Written by David Deaton
Southeast Area Lakes Report for Feb 6th
A service of the Oklahoma Wildlife Department
Arbuckle: February 2. Elevation normal, water 44 and clear. Bass fair on Alabama rigs and bass jigs. Crappie and white bass being caught on CC spoons and jigs at 35-55 ft. along drop-offs. Most of the crappie being caught are over the 10 inch length limit. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Blue River: February 5. Elevation normal, water 50 and clear. Trout excellent on caddis flies, in-line spinnerbaits, zebra midges, nymphs, yellow garlic scented PowerBait, woolly buggers and spoons around rocks and deeper water around current and below riffles. Channel catfish fair around brush structure, channels and deeper pools. Stocked approximately 2,000 rainbow trout on February 5. Report submitted by Matt Gamble, biologist at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.
Broken Bow: February 1. Elevation above normal, water 51. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass goo don bill baits, crankbaits and jigs around brush structure and points. Walleye fair on grubs and rogues along river channel and river mouth. Blue catfish good on juglines baited with cut bait, live bait and shad in the main lake and around points. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Eufaula: February 1. Elevation above normal, water murky. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair on crankbaits and plastic baits around brush structure and standing timber. Blue and channel catfish good on shad along channels, creek channels, main lake and tailwater. White bass fair on jigs, sassy shad, small lures and spinnerbaits along discharge, spillway and tailwater. Report submitted by Jake Bersche, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: February 1. Elevation above normal, water 48 and murky. Blue and channel catfish fair on cut bait, dough bait, live bait and shad below the dam, main lake and river channel. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs below the dam, around brush structure, creek channels, main lake, river channel and standing timber. Report submitted by Andrew Potter, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.
Konawa: January 31. Elevation normal, water 40 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on Alabama rigs, crankbaits, jerk baits and plastic baits in the main lake, around points and river channel. Striped bass hybrids and white bass slow on Alabama rigs, crankbaits and live shad in coves, main lake and river channel. Channel catfish fair on chicken liver and cut bait in coves, riprap and weed beds. Report submitted by Garret Harley, game warden stationed in Seminole County.
Lower Mountain Fork: February 1. Elevation normal, water clear. Trout excellent on caddis flies, tube jigs and salmon eggs below the dam, along channels and spillway. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
McGee Creek: February 1. Elevation normal, water 52. Largemouth and spotted bass fair on flukes, jerk baits and plastic baits along channels, points and rocks. Crappie and white bass slow on minnows along river channel and standing timber. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Atoka County.
Pine Creek: February 1. Elevation normal, water clear. Largemouth bass good on spoons along creek channels. Crappie excellent on jigs and spoons around brush structure, channels and points. Channel catfish fair on cut bait along the river channel. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Robert S. Kerr: February 1. Elevation normal, water murky. Crappie good on minnows and jigs along creek channels, inlet and mouth of Big Sanbios Creek. Blue and channel catfish good on cut bait, dough bait, shad and stinkbait along river channel and river mouth. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Haskell County.
Texoma: February 1. Elevation normal, water 43 and murky. The lake is getting back to normal levels which should make the striper fishing more predictable. Dead-sticking is still best method for striper colors include pink, white and glitter/white. Locate schools on electronics and suspend baits at appropriate depth. Striped bass good on Alabama rigs, flukes and sassy shad below the dam and main lake. Blue catfish fair on cut bait and shad below the dam, main lake and river mouth. Crappie fair on jigs and live bait around brush structure and docks. Crappie holding at 20-30 ft. off of bridge structures and docks best colors are orange and pink. Report submitted by Trey Hale, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: February 2. Elevation above normal, water cloudy. Largemouth and spotted bass slow on bill baits, plastic baits and spinnerbaits around brush structure, channels and points. Blue, channel and flathead catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait, punch bait, shad and stinkbait below the dam, along channels, main lake and points. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush structure, channels and standing timber. Report submitted by Thomas Gillham, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
Written by David Deaton
Southeast Fishing Report for January 30, 2019
A service of the Oklahoma Wildlife Department
Arbuckle: January 26. Elevation normal, water 46 and clear. Bass slow. Crappie fair on white spoons at 46 ft. off ledges and very slow off docks. White bass good on CC spoons and War Eagle spoons at 38-55 ft. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Broken Bow: January 25. Elevation above normal, water 52. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair on crankbaits, flukes, jigs and spoons around brush structure and points. Blue, channel and flathead catfish good on juglines baited with cut bait, live bait and shad in the main lake and around points. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Eufaula: January 25. Elevation above normal, water murky. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair on crankbaits, hair jigs and plastic baits around brush structure, inlet and standing timber. Crappie fair on minnows and tube jigs below the dam, around brush structure, docks and standing timber. Redear, bluegill and green sunfish fair on crickets, dough bait, grasshoppers, grubs, minnows, small lures, tube jigs and worms around brush structure, docks and shallows. Report submitted by Jake Bersche, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: January 25. Elevation above normal, water 46 and murky. Lake levels approaching normal. Fishing has remained fair below Hugo Dam. Gate openings decreased. Blue and channel catfish fair on cut bait, dough bait, live bait and shad below the dam, along channels, main lake and river channel. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs below the dam, around brush structure, main lake, river channel and standing timber. Report submitted by Andrew Potter, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.
Konawa: January 24. Elevation normal, water 42 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on Alabama rigs, crankbaits, jigs and plastic baits in the main lake, around points and river channel. Striped bass hybrids and white bass fair on Alabama rigs, crankbaits and live shad in coves, main lake and river channel. Channel catfish slow on chicken liver and cut bait in coves, creek channels and weed beds. Report submitted by Garret Harley, game warden stationed in Seminole County.
Lower Mountain Fork: January 25. Elevation normal, water clear. Trout excellent on salmon eggs, caddis flies and PowerBait along creek channels and rocks. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Lower Mountain Fork: January 29. Stocked approximately 1,400 rainbow trout on January 24. Report submitted by April Drake, secretary at the southeast region office.
McGee Creek: January 27. Elevation normal, water 51. Largemouth and spotted bass slow on crankbaits, lipless baits and plastic baits along creek channels, points and rocks. Crappie and white bass slow on minnows along creek channels and standing timber. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Atoka County.
Pine Creek: January 25. Elevation above normal, water clear. Largemouth bass good on spoons along channels. Crappie good on spoons around brush structure, channels and river channel. Channel catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait and punch bait in the main lake. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Robber’s Cave: January 29. Stocked approximately 340 rainbow trout on January 24. Report submitted by April Drake, secretary at the southeast region office.
Robert S. Kerr: January 25. Elevation normal, water murky. Blue and channel catfish good on cut bait, dough bait, shad and stinkbait along inlet, river channel and river mouth. Crappie good on minnows and jigs along creek channels, inlet and standing timber. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Haskell County.
Sardis: January 29. Elevation above normal, water 49. Largemouth and spotted bass slow on crankbaits, plastic baits, lipless baits and spinnerbaits around brush structure, creek channels, rocks, shorelines and standing timber. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
Texoma: January 25. Elevation above normal, water 48 and muddy. Striped bass good on flukes and live bait below the dam and main lake. Striper fishing is good around islands and soldier creek; try to find cleaner water for best results. Dead-sticking is still good on white and green flukes. Below Denison Dam striper fishing is good with swimming plastics in early mornings and late afternoon. White seems to be best color. Remember that limits differ from lake to below dam, consult regulations before fishing. Blue catfish fair on cut bait and live shad below the dam and main lake. Blue cats are still being caught on jug lines in main lake; blue cats below dam prefer fresh cut shad in slack water areas. Crappie fair on hair jigs, jigs, minnows and tube jigs around brush structure and docks. Crappie are beginning to pick up as lake levels become closer to normal. Use dark jigs in muddy water for crappie. Afternoons are producing more crappie than mornings. Report submitted by Trey Hale, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: January 25. Elevation above normal, water cloudy. Largemouth and spotted bass slow on bill baits, plastic baits and spinnerbaits around brush structure, channels and standing timber. Blue catfish fair on chicken liver, hotdogs, punch bait, shad and stinkbait below the dam, along channels, main lake and standing timber. Crappie fair on minnows, jigs and tube jigs around brush structure, channels and standing timber. Report submitted by Thomas Gillham, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
Written by David Deaton
Southeast Area Lakes Fishing Report for Jan 23
A Service of the Oklahoma Wildlife Department
Broken Bow: January 18. Elevation above normal, water 58. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass good on jigs and spoons around brush structure and points. Blue catfish fair on live bait and sunfish along channels, main lake and points. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Eufaula: January 18. Elevation above normal, water murky. Blue, channel and flathead catfish good on cut bait and shad along channels, flats and main lake. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair on hair jigs in coves and inlet. Crappie fair on tube jigs around brush structure and docks. Report submitted by Jake Bersche, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: January 18. Elevation above normal, water 48 and murky. Blue and channel catfish fair on cut bait, dough bait, live bait and shad below the dam, in the main lake and river channel. Crappie good on minnows and jigs below the dam, around brush structure, main lake, river channel and standing timber. Report submitted by Andrew Potter, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.
Konawa: January 18. Elevation normal, water 43 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on Alabama rigs, crankbaits and plastic baits in the main lake, around points, river channel and weed beds. Striped bass hybrids and white bass slow on Alabama rigs, crankbaits and live shad in coves, main lake and river channel. Channel catfish slow on chicken liver and cut bait in coves, creek channels, riprap and weed beds. Report submitted by Garret Harley, game warden stationed in Seminole County.
Lower Mountain Fork: January 18. Elevation normal, water clear. Trout excellent on tube jigs and salmon eggs below the dam, along creek channels and spillway. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
McGee Creek: January 18. Elevation normal, water 50. Largemouth and spotted bass slow on crankbaits, lipless baits and plastic baits around brush structure, flats and points. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Atoka County.
Pine Creek: January 18. Elevation above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass good on spoons around points and river channel. Crappie slow on spoons along channels. Channel catfish fair on chicken liver and cut bait in the main lake. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Robert S. Kerr: January 18. Elevation normal, water murky. Blue and channel catfish good on cut bait, dough bait, shad and stinkbait along channels, river channel and river mouth. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at inlet and river mouth. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Haskell County.
Wister: January 18. Elevation above normal, water cloudy. Largemouth and spotted bass slow on bill baits, plastic baits and spinnerbaits around brush structure and channels. Blue, channel and flathead catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait, punch bait and shad below the dam, along channels and points. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs below the dam, around brush structure, channels and standing timber. Report submitted by Thomas Gillham, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
Written by David Deaton
Southeast area lake report for Jan 16
A service of the Oklahoma Wildlife Department
Arbuckle: January 12. Elevation normal, water 47 and stained to muddy. Bass slow. Crappie fair on spoons in mid-lake area. White bass fair on white spoons at 34-56 ft. off drop-offs. Cold rainy weather has hampered fishing. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Broken Bow: January 11. Elevation above normal, water 56. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass good on crankbaits, jigs and spoons around points and standing timber. Blue and flathead catfish fair on cut bait, live bait and sunfish in the main lake, around points and shelfs. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Eufaula: January 11. Elevation above normal, water murky. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair on Alabama rigs, crankbaits, hair jigs and plastic baits around brush structure, main lake and standing timber. Crappie good on jigs, minnows, small lures and tube jigs around brush structure, dam, docks and standing timber. Blue, channel and flathead catfish good on cut bait, hot dogs, shad and sunfish below the dam, along channels, dam, flats, main lake and river channel. Report submitted by Jake Bersche, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: January 11. Elevation above normal, water 50 and murky. Lake elevation continues to be above normal with gate openings at Hugo Dam expected to continue. Blue and channel catfish fair on cut bait, dough bait, live bait and shad below the dam, main lake and river channel. Crappie good on minnows and jigs below the dam, around brush structure, channels, main lake, river channel and standing timber. Crappie fishing below the dam remains good. Report submitted by Andrew Potter, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.
Konawa: January 10. Elevation normal, water 45 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on Alabama rigs, crankbaits and plastic baits in the main lake, around points, river channel and weed beds. Striped bass hybrids and white bass slow on Alabama rigs, crankbaits and live shad in coves, main lake and river channel. Channel catfish slow on chicken liver and cut bait in coves, creek channels and weed beds. Report submitted by Garret Harley, game warden stationed in Seminole County.
Lower Mountain Fork: January 11. Elevation normal, water cloudy. Trout good on caddis flies, small lures and tube jigs along shallows and spillway. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Lower Mountain Fork: January 10. Stocked approximately 1,800 rainbow trout on January 10. Report submitted by April Drake, secretary at the southeast region office.
McGee Creek: January 11. Elevation 4 ft. above normal, water 51. Largemouth and spotted bass fair on flukes, jerk baits and plastic baits along flats, points and standing timber. Channel catfish slow on chicken liver, dough bait and stinkbait along creek channels and inlet. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Atoka County.
Pine Creek: January 11. Elevation above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass good on plastic baits and spoons in the main lake and around points. Crappie slow on jigs and spoons around brush structure. Channel catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait and stinkbait in the main lake. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Robbers Cave: January 10. Stocked approximately 340 rainbow trout on January 10. Report submitted by April Drake, secretary at the southeast region office.
Robert S. Kerr: January 11. Elevation above normal, water 45 and muddy. Blue catfish good on shad along flats and around points. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs along creek channels. Report submitted by Jeremy Bersche, game warden stationed in Sequoyah County.
Sardis: January 15. Elevation above normal, water 53. Largemouth and spotted bass slow on bill baits, jigs, plastic baits and spinnerbaits around brush structure, points, rocks, shorelines and tailwater. Blue and channel catfish fair on cut bait and shad along channels and main lake. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
Texoma: January 16. Elevation above normal, water 46 and muddy. Lake levels are high and water is muddy, striped bass are still biting via dead sticking method on flukes rigged as a single or Alabama rig. Use electronics to locate active schools of fish and suspend baits at appropriate depths. Striped bass good on Alabama rigs, flukes and live shad in the main lake. Blue catfish fair on cut bait and shad below the dam, along the dam, discharge, main lake and river mouth. Juglines are productive for blue cat on the main lake , below dam blue cats are biting shad/ cut bait. Crappie are slow below docks with the muddy water use dark colored jigs for best results. Crappie slow on jigs, live bait and tube jigs around brush structure and docks. Adding scent to crappie jigs seem to help. Report submitted by Trey Hale, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: January 11. Elevation above normal, water cloudy. Largemouth and spotted bass fair on bill baits, crankbaits, plastic baits and spinnerbaits around brush structure, channels and standing timber. Blue, channel and flathead catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait, shad and stinkbait along channels, main lake and standing timber. Crappie fair on minnows, jigs and tube jigs below the dam, around brush structure and standing timber. Report submitted by Thomas Gillham, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.
Written by David Deaton
Treating lice: A wintertime threat
By Meredyth Jones, DVM, MS, DACVIM (LA), Oklahoma State University, Veterinary Clinic Services
(STILLWATER, Oklahoma) — The cold of winter doesn’t stop all the external parasites that can torment livestock. While flies and ticks are mainly warm-weather pests, we still have lice to contend with in the winter.
Lice are wingless insects that live on the skin of various species, including horses, cattle, sheep, goats and, of course, humans. Lice are spread by direct contact between animals but are species specific. In other words, lice cannot be transmitted across species. Lice on cattle cannot affect a horse, sheep or goat and vice versa. And the best news: lice that affect livestock cannot infest humans.
There are two main families of lice — biting (or chewing) and sucking lice.
Biting lice feed on skin and skin secretions, while sucking lice have a long, piercing mouthpiece that allows them to draw and feed on blood.
Lice infestations cause intense itching. Livestock can spend a tremendous amount of time rubbing and licking in an effort to alleviate their discomfort. They can spend so much time doing this that it affects their feed intake, feed efficiency, weight gain and growth, which can result in a significant financial hit for the enterprise. Further, because of their ability to drain blood, sucking lice can cause severe anemia and devastate young calves.
Lice thrive in winter. Their survival and transmission is enhanced by long-hair coats and huddling behavior.
The first indications of lice infestations in livestock are excessive rubbing (on things such as fence posts and buildings) and licking. Remember that healthy cattle naturally groom daily, licking their sides and upsweeping the hair.
Lice, however, will induce rubbing and licking to the point of removing hair and damaging the skin beneath. The extreme grooming can produce hairballs, which can cause obstructions in the stomach and intestines of infested animals.
Patchy hair loss typically starts on the neck and back, extending down the sides of the body and legs. Animals should be examined along the topline to look for the lice or their eggs, which are most easily seen on black hair.
Veterinarians do the Scotch tape test, where they stick a piece of tape onto the animal to pick up any lice that are present. Examining the lice on that tape under a microscope shows the mouthpiece and identifies the offending lice as biting or sucking. Classifying the lice found helps guide treatment.
The animal itself serves as the only source of food for lice, and a louse cannot survive off the animal for more than a day or so. Therefore, the primary focus for control of these parasites is the animal rather than the environment.
Caveats to this include situations where cattle may be sharing tack or bedding, as happens with exhibition animals. Moving a halter from one animal to another or placing an animal in a stall just vacated by another animal are examples of how transmission occurs aside from animal-to-animal contact.
Products to control lice include dusts, sprays, pour-ons and charges for back rubbers. Consider the number of animals, the facilities they’re in, labor available to apply the solution and the cost when selecting the treatment.
No treatment kills the eggs, so a repeat treatment is necessary once the eggs have hatched. This second treatment, two to three weeks after the first, helps break the life cycle and stops future generations from coming. All animals in the group need to be treated, regardless of how many are showing signs of infestation. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for product use and follow all withdrawal times.
Some injectable and pour-on dewormers, like ivermecin and its cousins doramectin and moxidectin, also kill lice. In the wintertime, worm control is not a high priority because the conditions are not right for transmission. Treatment with dewormers when transmission is low encourages the development of drug-resistant worms.
In addition, injectable products only kill sucking lice — biting lice do not ingest blood, which contains the drug.
Several years ago, I was called to look at a group of stocker calves that were losing their hair and scratching constantly. (The accompanying photo is one of those calves.)
This group had been given an injectable dewormer with activity against sucking lice and yet they were showing clear signs of lice.
We ran a few through the chute and did the Scotch tape test. When we looked under the microscope, they were all biting lice. Because the anti-lice medication was in the blood, it wasn’t getting to the lice.
We recommended that all the calves be put through the chute and poured with an insecticide. The problem cleared. For all these reasons, I generally recommend wintertime lice control using pure insecticide products applied topically in some fashion, saving your dewormers (and their associated cost) for timely use in the spring and fall.
Veterinary Viewpoints is provided by the faculty of the OSU Veterinary Medical Hospital. Certified by the American Animal Hospital Association, the hospital is open to the public providing routine and specialized care for all species and 24-hour emergency care, 365 days a year. For more information, visit www.cvhs.okstate.edu or call (405) 744-7000.
OSU’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences is the only veterinary college in Oklahoma and one of only 30 veterinary colleges in the United States. The center’s Boren Veterinary Medical Hospital is open to the public and provides routine and specialized care for small and large animals. The Hospital offers 24-hour emergency care and is certified by the American Animal Hospital Association. For more information, visit www.cvhs.okstate.edu or call (405) 744-7000.
Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant university that prepares students for success. OSU has more than 36,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 25,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and around 120 nations. Established in 1890, Oklahoma State has graduated more than 260,000 students who have been serving Oklahoma and the world for 125 years.
Written by David Deaton
Southeast Area Lakes Fishing Report for Jan 9
A service of the Oklahoma Wildlife Department
Arbuckle: January 5. Elevation 3 1/2 ft. above normal, water 50 and stained. All fishing slow. White bass and crappie being caught on spoons at 35-45 ft. along mid-lake drop-offs. Channel catfish fair on juglines. Report submitted by Jack Melton.
Broken Bow: January 4. Elevation above normal, water 51 and cloudy. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass good on crankbaits, jigs and spoons around brush structure and points. Blue catfish fair on cut bait and live bait in the main lake. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Eufaula: January 4. Elevation above normal, water murky. Blue catfish good on cut bait, shad and river channels. Crappie fair on jigs and tube jigs around brush structure, docks and main lake. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair on crankbaits, jigs, plastic baits, sassy shad and slabs. Report submitted by Jake Bersche, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Hugo: January 4. Elevation above normal, water 50 and murky. Flooded conditions continue on the lake and Kiamichi River. Blue and channel catfish fair on cut bait, dough bait, live bait and shad below the dam, in the main lake and river channel. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs below the dam, in the main lake, river channel and standing timber. Crappie and cat fishing good-fair at certain times throughout the day below Hugo Dam. Report submitted by Andrew Potter, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.
Konawa: January 3. Elevation normal, water 44 and clear. Largemouth bass good on Alabama rigs, crankbaits and plastic baits in the main lake, around points, river channel and weed beds. Striped bass hybrids and white bass fair on Alabama rigs, crankbaits and live shad in coves, main lake and river channel. Channel catfish slow on chicken liver, cut bait and stinkbait in coves, along creek channels and riprap. Report submitted by Garret Harley, game warden stationed in Seminole County.
Lower Mountain Fork: January 4. Elevation above normal, water clear to cloudy. Trout good on caddis flies and tube jigs below the dam, along shallows and spillway. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
McGee Creek: January 5. Elevation above normal, water 51. Largemouth and spotted bass slow on crankbaits, jigs and lipless baits along creek channels, flats and points. Crappie slow on minnows along channels, river channel and standing timber. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Atoka County.
Pine Creek: January 4. Elevation above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass good on plastic baits and spoons in the main lake and around points. Crappie fair on jigs and spoons around brush structure and channels. Channel catfish good on chicken liver in the main lake. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Robert S. Kerr: January 4. Elevation normal, water murky. Blue and channel catfish fair on cut bait, shad and stinkbait along inlet, river channel and river mouth. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs along inlet, main lake and standing timber. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Haskell County.
Sardis: January 4. Elevation above normal, water 52. Largemouth and spotted bass slow on bill baits, crankbaits and spinnerbaits around brush structure, points, shorelines and standing timber. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
Texoma: January 4. Elevation above normal, water 46 and muddy. Striped bass good on flukes and live shad in the main lake. Lake levels have increased with recent rains, but striper fishing is still good across most of the lake. Larger fish seemed to be concentrated on the west end of the lake. Live Bait fishing is producing fish, but dead sticking is the easiest method. Chartreuse and pink are hot colors right now with watercolor. Use electronics to find concentrations of fish and drop bait to marked fish. Blue catfish good on cut bait, live bait and shad below the dam, main lake, river channel and river mouth. Jugline fishing for blues has good right now using gizzard shad and other cut baits. Crappie slow on hair jigs, jigs and live bait around docks. Crappie have slowed with muddy water, but bite is still happening in evenings after water has warmed. Report submitted by Trey Hale, game warden stationed in Bryan County.
Wister: January 4. Elevation above normal, water cloudy. Largemouth bass slow on crankbaits, plastic baits and spinnerbaits along channels, points and standing timber. Blue catfish slow along channels, main lake and standing timber. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs around brush structure, channels, points and standing timber. Report submitted by Thomas Gillham, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.