A Service of the Oklahoma Wildlife Department 

A service of the Oklahoma Wildlife Department 

Southeast Area Lakes 

Arbuckle: May 15. Elevation normal, water 73-76 and clear. Largemouth bass good on soft plastic baits, some being caught early on topwater. Smallmouth bass slow on swim baits and crankbaits. Spotted bass good on shakey head worms along rocks. Crappie slow around brush piles in deep water. White bass good near flats. Report submitted by Jack Melton.

Blue River: May 14. Elevation normal, water 74 and clear. Channel catfish good on chicken liver, cut bait and stinkbait around brush structure, channels and below riffles and obstructions in current in deep water. Spotted, largemouth and smallmouth bass good on crankbaits, in-line spinnerbaits and spinnerbaits around brush structure, rocks and shorelines. Trout fair on caddis flies and in-line spinnerbaits along channels, and deeper pools just off current. Rainbow trout are still present in deeper water. Report submitted by Matt Gamble, biologist at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.

Broken Bow: May 11. Elevation normal, water 64. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass good on buzz baits, crankbaits, flukes and plastic baits around brush structure, flats, points, shallows and shorelines. Channel, blue and flathead catfish good on chicken liver, cut bait, punch bait and stinkbait along channels, points, river channel and river mouth. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around brush structure and standing timber. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Eufaula: May 11. Elevation normal, water murky. White bass excellent on jigs, live bait, spinnerbaits, spoons and tube jigs in coves, creek channels, dam, river channel and tailwater. Crappie excellent on hair jigs, jigs and tube jigs in coves, creek channels and sandbar. Report submitted by Cannon Harrison, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.

Hugo: May 11. Elevation normal, water 62 and murky. Blue, channel and flathead catfish good on cut bait, live bait and shad below the dam, along channels and river channel. Crappie good on minnows and jigs below the dam, around brush structure and shorelines. Report submitted by Andrew Potter, game warden stationed in Bryan County.

Konawa: May 11. Elevation normal, water 76 and clear. Largemouth bass excellent on crankbaits, lipless baits and plastic baits in the main lake, around points and weed beds. Striped bass hybrids and white bass good on Alabama rigs, crankbaits and live shad in coves, main lake and river channel. Channel catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait and stinkbait in coves, creek channels, discharge and riprap. Report submitted by Garret Harley, game warden stationed in Seminole County.

Lower Mountain Fork: May 11. Elevation normal, water clear. Trout good on small lures and rooster tails along creek channels. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Lower Mountain Fork: May 10. Stocked approximately 3,100 rainbow trout on May 10. Report submitted by April Drake, secretary at the southeast region office.

McGee Creek: May 11. Elevation above normal, water 67. Largemouth and spotted bass good on flukes, jerk baits and spinnerbaits around brush structure, points and shorelines. Crappie and white bass good on minnows around brush structure, rocks and shorelines. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Atoka County.

Pine Creek: May 11. Elevation below normal, water 66 and clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits in coves and shallows. Crappie excellent on minnows along shallows. Channel catfish good on chicken liver along channels and in coves. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Robert S. Kerr: May 11. Elevation normal, water murky. Largemouth and spotted bass good on Alabama rigs, bill baits, crankbaits, lipless baits, spinnerbaits and tube jigs along channels, in coves, creek channels, points, riprap and shorelines. Crappie good on hair jigs, jigs, minnows and tube jigs along channels, creek channels, river mouth, shallows, standing timber and weed beds. Blue, channel and flathead catfish fair on cut bait, dough bait, live bait, live shad and shad along creek channels, flats, inlet, river channel and river mouth. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Sardis: May 11. Elevation normal, water 69. Largemouth and spotted bass good on crankbaits, jerk baits, plastic baits, spinnerbaits and tube jigs around brush structure, points, riprap, rocks, shorelines, standing timber and weed beds. Blue, channel and flathead catfish good on chicken liver, cut bait, live bait, live shad, shad and sunfish along flats, main lake, rocks and shorelines. Crappie good on hair jigs, minnows and tube jigs around brush structure, points, rocks, shorelines, standing timber and weed beds. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.

Texoma: May 12. Elevation normal, water 63 and muddy. Striped and white bass good on Alabama rigs, flukes, live shad and sassy shad along channels, creek channels, main lake, points and river channel. Striper fishing has picked up greatly, while the larger fish seem to be not as present, the numbers of fish are great, most being under 20" mark. Crappie good on hair jigs, jigs, minnows and tube jigs around brush structure, in coves, creek channels, docks, riprap, rocks, shorelines and standing timber. Crappie spawn is beginning to slow down but fish are still being caught on the shorelines near rocks and brush structure. Jigs and minnows paired with a cork is the most effective way to catch crappie from the bank (Hint: Muddy water = Dark colored jigs). Blue and channel catfish good on chicken liver, live bait, live shad and shad below the dam, along channels, in coves, creek channels, main lake and river channel. Catfishing the main lake is good on cut shad with rod and reel as well as jug lining. Below the Denison Dam fishing is good when water flow is present. The past week Below the Dam has produced multiple Blue Cats over the 30 lb. mark. (Cut Bait and Liver). Report submitted by Trey Hale, game warden stationed in Bryan County.

Wister: May 11. Elevation normal, water cloudy. Largemouth bass good on bill baits, plastic baits and spinnerbaits around points and shorelines. Blue catfish good on cut bait, shad and stinkbait along channels, main lake and standing timber. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around brush structure, shorelines and standing timber. Report submitted by Thomas Gillham, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.

Press release


The best thing you can do for young wildlife is to keep young wildlife wild.

Springtime is when people begin to see a variety of newborn and young animals. Newborn rabbits, squirrels, deer and birds easily appeal to most people’s sense of care and compassion. People often think these baby animals are “so cute” and imagine that they must be lost or abandoned.

Usually that is not the case.

“Chances are an adult animal is nearby and is simply waiting on you to move away so they can take care of their young,” said Mark Howery, natural resource biologist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

In most cases, people should not interfere with young wildlife.

In Oklahoma, most fawns are born in May and June. And that’s when people begin seeing the young animals.

Game Warden Brayden Hicks, based in Caddo County, said he has taken several calls from the public asking him to rescue a fawn found near a home. “I tell them don’t touch the fawn, and don’t try to feed it. Normally the momma is around, and she’s left her fawn on purpose so she can go feed.”

The doe leaves the fawn because it must maintain good nutrition to produce milk. Also, the doe will often leave a fawn in a safe place, such as near a house or where people can easily see them, because those are places where predators might be less likely to visit.

Also, the doe will stay away from its fawn so the doe’s scent will not attract predators. But the doe will normally return several times during the day to nurse its fawn.

Howery said springtime storms can easily blow young birds and squirrels out of their nests. Even though they may appear to be alone and distressed or in need of help, a mature animal will often find and care for them.
It can actually be more stressful on young wildlife when people try to help. People who take in wildlife and attempt to raise and release those animals are actually doing them no favors. The animals will lose their instinctual fear of people and begin to bond with and depend on people to survive. If returned to nature later, these animals will have no idea how to feed or what dangers to avoid. And the young animal could even die from the stress of being handled.

"It's admirable when well-meaning sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts want to help, but sometimes the best help we can offer young wildlife is to leave them alone and let nature run its course," Howery said.
In rare cases, an animal might actually need help, such as when it is injured or seriously ill. That is when the public might choose to call a wildlife rehabilitator.

A list of rehabilitators by county is at www.wildlifedepartment.com/law/rehabilitator-list

A Service of the Oklahoma Wildlife Department 

Arbuckle: April 30. Elevation normal, water 61 and stained. Largemouth bass good on worms, flukes and bass jigs around brush. Smallmouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and jerk baits off rocks. Crappie good on minnows and jigs in coves and good around docks. White bass slow up creeks on flats. Report submitted by Jack Melton.

Broken Bow: April 27. Elevation normal, water 63. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass good on buzz baits, flukes, plastic baits and spinnerbaits along flats, points, shallows, shorelines and standing timber. Crappie good on grubs, jigs and minnows around brush structure, rocks, shallows, shorelines and weed beds. Channel, blue and flathead catfish good on cut bait, punch bait, stinkbait and worms along channels, creek channels, river channel and river mouth. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Eufaula: April 27. Elevation above normal, water murky. White bass excellent on crickets, jigs and minnows around brush structure, in coves and shorelines. Crappie good on minnows, jigs and shrimp around brush structure, creek channels and standing timber. Blue catfish fair on cut bait, dough bait, live bait, live shad, shad and stinkbait below the dam, along the dam and main lake. Report submitted by Cannon Harrison, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.

Hugo: April 27. Elevation normal, water 61 and murky. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around brush structure and below the dam. Blue and channel catfish good on cut bait and shad below the dam, along flats and river channel. Largemouth bass fair on jerk baits and plastic baits around brush structure and points. Report submitted by Andrew Potter, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.

Konawa: April 29. Elevation normal, water 68 and clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits, lipless baits and plastic baits in the main lake, around points and weed beds. Striped bass hybrids and white bass fair on Alabama rigs, crankbaits, lipless baits and live bait in coves, main lake and river channel. Channel catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait and stinkbait in coves, creek channels and riprap. Report submitted by Garret Harley, game warden stationed in Seminole County.

Lower Mountain Fork: April 27. Elevation normal, water clear. Trout good on PowerBait, small lures and tube jigs along the river channel and rocks. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Lower Mountain Fork: April 26. Stocked approximately 2,500 rainbow trout on April 26. Report submitted by  April Drake, secretary at the southeast region office.

McGee Creek: April 27. Elevation normal, water 62. Largemouth and spotted bass good on buzz baits, flukes, plastic baits and spinnerbaits along creek channels, points and shallows. Crappie, spotted bass and white bass fair on minnows and jigs along creek channels, rocks, shorelines and standing timber. Channel and flathead catfish fair on dough bait, sunfish and worms along river channel and river mouth. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Atoka County.

Pine Creek: April 27. Elevation below normal, water 65 and clear. Largemouth bass excellent on plastic baits, spinnerbaits and worms along shallows. Crappie excellent on minnows and jigs along shallows. Channel catfish good on chicken liver and worms along channels, creek channels and shallows. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Robert S. Kerr: April 27. Elevation normal, water murky. Largemouth and spotted bass good on Alabama rigs, bill baits, flukes, jerk baits, jigs, lipless baits, spinnerbaits and tube jigs along channels, in coves, creek channels, points, riprap, rocks and shorelines. Blue and channel catfish fair on cut bait, dough bait, shad and stinkbait along channels, creek channels and inlet. Crappie good on hair jigs, jigs, live bait and minnows around brush structure, channels, in coves, creek channels, inlet, shallows, shorelines and weed beds. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Sardis: April 26. Elevation normal, water 68. Largemouth and spotted bass good on bill baits, grubs, jigs, plastic baits, spinnerbaits and tube jigs around brush structure, points, riprap, rocks, shorelines, standing timber and weed beds. Blue, channel and flathead catfish fair on cut bait, shad and sunfish along channels, flats, main lake and shorelines. Crappie good on hair jigs, minnows and tube jigs around brush structure, shorelines and weed beds. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.

Texoma: April 27. Elevation below normal, water 60 and lightly stained. Crappie excellent on hair jigs, jigs, minnows and tube jigs around brush structure, docks, rocks, shallows and shorelines. Crappie have moved to the shallows for spawn, the bite is aggressive, Using a cork with a jig 12" beneath while flipping along the bank is the best method for locating spawning crappie. Jig colors include dark-colored jig bodies with pink or green tails. Striped and white bass good on Alabama rigs, flukes, live shad and sassy shad below the dam, along channels, dam, main lake, river channel and river mouth. Striped Bass are biting well on live bait, most of the large striper are spawning in Washita and Red rivers. To catch striper in the rivers use sassy shad and flukes to produce bites. Blue catfish good on cut bait and shad along creek channels, river channel and river mouth. Blue catfish are biting well below the dam on cut bait while water flow is present; river fishing for blue cats on cut bait is doing well right now as well. Target slack water for finding blues in the river. Report submitted by Trey Hale, game warden stationed in Bryan County.

Wister: April 27. Elevation above normal, water cloudy. Largemouth bass good on bill baits and plastic baits around brush structure, channels and shorelines. Blue catfish good on cut bait and shad along channels and the main lake. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around brush structure, shallows and below the dam. Report submitted by Thomas Gillham, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.

A service of the Oklahoma Wildlife Department

Arbuckle: April 7. Elevation normal, water 58-62 and stained to muddy up creeks. Largemouth bass being caught on crankbaits, tubes, worms and bass jigs along banks. Smallmouth bass being caught on jerk baits, spinnerbaits and swim baits. Crappie good  off docks and on minnows and jigs in back of coves. White bass being caught on rattletraps and grubs at 15 ft. up on flats during the heat of the day. Report submitted by Jack Melton.

Broken Bow: April 6. Elevation below normal, water 54. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass good on crankbaits, flukes, jerk baits and spinnerbaits around points, shorelines and standing timber. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush structure, points, shorelines and standing timber. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Eufaula: April 6. Elevation above normal, water turbid. Blue and channel catfish good on crawfish, cut bait and worms along creek channels, main lake and river mouth. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs along creek channels, rocks, shallows and shorelines. Striped bass good on live bait, live shad, small lures, topwater lures and tube jigs below the dam. Report submitted by Cannon Harrison, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.

Hugo: April 6. Elevation above normal, water 55 and murky. Largemouth and spotted bass fair on bill baits, crankbaits and plastic baits along creek channels, main lake and points. Blue and channel catfish good on cut bait and shad below the dam, along channels and flats. Crappie good on minnows and jigs below the dam, around brush structure and standing timber. Report submitted by Jim Gillham, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.

Konawa: April 5. Elevation normal, water 60 and clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits, jigs, rattletraps and plastic baits in the main lake, around points and weed beds. Striped bass hybrids and white bass slow on Alabama rigs, crankbaits, live shad and spoons in coves, discharge, main lake and river channel. Channel catfish slow on chicken liver, cut bait, dough bait and stinkbait in coves, creek channels, discharge and riprap. Report submitted by Garret Harley, game warden stationed in Seminole County.

Lower Mountain Fork: April 6. Elevation above normal, water clear. Brown trout excellent on jigs and PowerBait along creek channels. Rainbow trout good on caddis flies, jigs, white roadrunners and small lures along channels. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

McGee Creek: April 6. Elevation above normal, water 55 and clear. Largemouth and spotted bass fair on buzz baits, flukes and lipless baits in coves, around points and standing timber. Channel catfish fair on chicken liver and dough bait along creek channels and river mouth. Crappie, spotted bass and white bass good on minnows around brush structure, docks and standing timber. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Atoka County.

Pine Creek: April 6. Elevation above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass excellent on crankbaits, jerk baits and plastic baits around points. Crappie good on minnows and jigs along creek channels, points and standing timber. Channel catfish fair on chicken liver along creek channels. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Robert S. Kerr: April 6. Elevation normal, water murky. Largemouth and spotted bass good on Alabama rigs, bill baits, plastic baits and small lures around brush structure, channels, in coves, around points and shorelines. Crappie fair on minnows, hair jigs and jigs along channels, creek channels, river channel and river mouth. White bass good on Alabama rigs, crankbaits and grubs along creek channels and river channel. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Sardis: April 7. Elevation rising, water 60. Largemouth and striped bass fair on crankbaits, in-line spinnerbaits, plastic baits, spinnerbaits and tube jigs around brush structure, points, riprap, rocks, shorelines, standing timber and weed beds. Blue, channel and flathead catfish fair on cut bait, minnows, shad and sunfish along channels, flats, main lake and shorelines. Crappie fair on minnows, jigs and tube jigs around points, rocks and shorelines. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.

Texoma: April 6. Elevation normal, water 58 and stained. Striped bass good on live shad along creek channels, points, river channel and river mouth. Crappie fair on grubs, hair jigs, jigs, minnows and tube jigs around brush structure, creek channels and standing timber. White bass good on Alabama rigs, flukes, grubs, hair jigs, jigs, sassy shad, small lures and tube jigs along channels, in coves, creek channels, dam, discharge, river channel and river mouth. Recent weather changes has made fishing inconsistent, crappie are beginning to move into shallow water for spawn. Striper are steady on live bait near the Washita Point area. White bass are moving into creeks and rivers for the spring run. Report submitted by Trey Hale, game warden stationed in Bryan County.

Wister: April 6. Elevation rising, water cloudy. Largemouth bass good on bill baits and plastic baits around brush structure, channels and shorelines. Blue catfish good below the dam, along channels and main lake. Crappie good on minnows and jigs below the dam, around brush structure and standing timber. Report submitted by Thomas Gillham, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.