Fishing report for the week of April 17

by Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife Conservation

Fishing Report for April 17, 2019

Central

Arcadia: April 15. Elevation above normal, water 60 and stained. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around docks and riprap. Channel catfish fair on cut bait and punch bait in the main lake and around rocks. White bass fair on grubs, in-line spinnerbaits and sassy shad around points. Report submitted by Mark Murray, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.

Draper: April 16. Elevation above normal, water 62 and stained. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around docks and shorelines. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait in the main lake. Largemouth bass good on plastic baits and spinnerbaits in coves, flats and shorelines. Report submitted by Chad Strang, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.

Hefner: April 15. Elevation above normal, water 45. Walleye good on jerk baits and lipless baits along the dam and points early and late. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits, jigs, crankbaits, soft plastic baits and flukes along the shorelines. Channel and blue catfish slow on worms, liver and cut bait. Crappie good on minnows and jigs along shorelines. Report submitted by Tim Campbell, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County and Lucky Lure Tackle.

Overholser: April 15. Elevation normal, water 60 and stained. Striped bass hybrids and white bass good on grubs, sassy shad and blade baits in the main lake. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait in the main lake. Report submitted by Mark Murray, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.

Thunderbird: April 14. Elevation normal, water 59 and murky. Flathead catfish good on cut bat along channels, creek channels, dam and riprap. Report submitted by Zach Paulk, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.

Wes Watkins: April 15. Elevation above normal, water murky in the west end. Largemouth bass fair on sassy shad around points and shorelines. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs around brush structure, along shorelines and standing timber. Report submitted by Mike France, game warden stationed in Pottawatomie County.

Northeast

Bell Cow: April 12. Elevation normal, water 62. White bass slow on minnows and jigs along riprap and boat ramps. Crappie slow on minnows around docks. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.

Birch: April 12. Elevation above normal, water 50 and murky. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair on in-line spinnerbaits, jigs, small lures, spinnerbaits and spoons along dam, docks, main lake, points and shorelines. Crappie slow on minnows, jigs and small lures below the dam, around brush structure, in coves, along dam, docks and shorelines. Twin Coves is open but the fishing dock and campground for Birch Cove is closed due to some electrical issues. The Birch Cove boat dock and ramp is still open to access the lake. Most of the crappie have been caught from a boat along the dam at the tower. Report submitted by Ryan Walker, game warden stationed in Osage County.

Carl Blackwell: April 14. Elevation normal, water 57 and murky. Crappie fair on jigs, minnows and tube jigs along the crappie dock. Channel catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait and stinkbait along riprap. Report submitted by Emily Long, game warden stationed in Payne County.

Chandler: April 12. Elevation normal, water 64 and murky. Largemouth bass slow on crankbaits and spinnerbaits along shorelines. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs around docks, shorelines and boat ramp. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.

Copan: April 16. Elevation normal, water clearing. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around docks and shorelines. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.

Eucha: April 13. Elevation above normal, water high 50s and clear. Fishing was really good early in the week but took a bit of a hit after the cold front moved through. Fish are still in the same spots but are being finicky. Once the warmer weather arrives these tips should be spot on. Crappie good on hair jigs, minnows, spoons and tube jigs around brush structure, in coves, along dam and riprap. Fish for crappie along the dam and the nearby bluffs. They've been caught in water as shallow as 8-10 ft. before cold front. Largemouth bass fair on Alabama rigs, crankbaits, jigs and spinnerbaits in coves, around points, riprap and shorelines. Largemouth bass being caught with cranks and finesse baits along rocks and the shoreline. White bass slow on Alabama rigs, crankbaits and plastic baits along creek channels, discharge and flats. White bass are being caught below dam and at the gigging flats. Report submitted by Cody Morris, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Grand: April 15. Elevation above normal, water 55 and slightly stained. Crappie excellent on minnows and jigs at 4-14 ft. around docks. White bass fair on jigs, plastic baits, sassy shad and spoons below the dam and main lake. White bass fishing has slowed in the upper rivers but has been excellent below the dam. Blue catfish good on fresh cut shad at 5-10 ft. in the main lake. Paddlefish snagging good south of Twin Bridges from the railroad bridge and south. Report submitted by Marni Loftis, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: April 12. Elevation normal, water 56 and clear. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass good on bill baits, buzz baits, crankbaits, in-line spinnerbaits, jerk baits, plastic baits and spinnerbaits below the dam, around brush structure, channels, in coves, creek channels, flats, standing timber and weed beds. Crappie good on hair jigs, jigs, minnows and tube jigs around brush structure, creek channels, docks, shorelines and standing timber. Blue, channel and flathead catfish good on cut bait, live shad and shad along channels, in coves, creek channels, flats and shallows. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Hudson: April 12. Elevation normal, water 50s and stained. White bass good on crankbaits, jigs and plastic baits below the dam and along creek channels. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush structure and docks. Paddlefish snagging fair below the dam and river channel. Report submitted by Kody Moore, game warden stationed in Mayes County.

Hulah: April 16. Elevation normal, water clearing. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around docks and shorelines. Blue, channel and flathead catfish good on cut bait, shad and worms along river channel and rocks. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.

Kaw: April 16. Elevation normal, water 50s and stained. Striped bass hybrids good on grubs, minnows and sassy shad below the dam and along creek channels. Blue and channel catfish good on cut bait, punch bait, sassy shad, stinkbait and worms along creek channels and flats. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush structure and standing timber at 2-6 ft. in creeks and 10-16 ft. in the main lake. Report submitted by Spencer Grace, game warden stationed in Kay County.

Keystone: April 11. Elevation above normal, water muddy. Blue catfish fair on cut bait below the dam and along channels. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around brush structure and docks. Report submitted by Karlin Bailey, game warden stationed in Creek County.

Lower Illinois: April 12. Elevation above normal, water 47 and clear. Trout slow on in-line spinnerbaits, nymphs and PowerBait below the dam and eddy areas. Fishing has slowed down due to high water releases from the dam. Report submitted by Jerry Henry, game warden stationed in Sequoyah County.

Oologah: April 15. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 55 and murky. White bass good on crankbaits and jigs along Verdigris River above the lake. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 6-10 ft. around brush and standing timber. White bass, crappie and walleye fair on in-line spinnerbaits and jigs below the dam. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.

Skiatook: April 12. Elevation below normal, water 50s and clear. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair on crankbaits around points. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 5-15 ft. around brush structure and standing timber. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County.

Sooner: April 15. Elevation normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on plastic baits around brush structure and weed beds. Striped bass hybrids fair on live shad in the main lake. Blue catfish fair on cut bait in coves. Report submitted by Stephen Paul, game warden stationed in Noble County.

Spavinaw: April 13. Elevation above normal, water high 50s and clear. Crappie good on hair jigs, minnows and tube jigs around brush structure, in coves and along dam. Largemouth bass fair on Alabama rigs, crankbaits, jigs and spinnerbaits in coves, points, riprap and shorelines. White bass slow on Alabama rigs, crankbaits and plastic baits along creek channels and discharge. Report submitted by Cody Morris, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Tenkiller: April 15. Elevation rising, water murky in the upper end. Due to recent rains, the river is rising and muddy and has shut down the white bass in the upper Illinois River and lake. Water conditions will be murky for a while in the upper portions. White bass slow on bill baits, minnows, rogues, small lures, spinnerbaits and jigs along river channel and clear creek channels. Crappie good on minnows, jigs and small lures at 6-15 ft. around docks, riprap, rocks and shallows. Crappie keep moving closer and closer to shallower water but are not on the bank yet. Largemouth bass fair on bill baits and plastic baits around brush structure, points and riprap. Largemouth bass are good on traditional baits and locations for pre-spawn activity. White bass are spawning in clear creek channels and inlets. Report submitted by Brady May, game warden stationed in Cherokee County.

Webbers Falls: April 12. Elevation above normal, water 56 and murky. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass good on bill baits, buzz baits, crankbaits, in-line spinnerbaits, jerk baits, plastic baits and spinnerbaits around brush structure, channels, in coves, creek channels, docks, flats, points, riprap, shallows, shorelines, standing timber and weed beds. Crappie good on hair jigs, jigs, minnows and tube jigs around brush structure, creek channels, shallows, shorelines and standing timber. Blue, channel and flathead catfish good on cut bait, live shad and shad along channels, creek channels, flats, main lake and shallows. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Northwest

Canton: April 12. Elevation above normal, water clear. Striped bass hybrids and white bass excellent on crankbaits and jigs along the dam and Sandy Cove beach area. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around brush structure and shallows. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County.

Ft. Supply: April 15. Elevation normal, water 61. Crappie and white bass good on hair jigs, jigs and minnows below the dam, around brush structure and points. Walleye fair on minnows and jigs below the dam and along the dam.

Foss: April 15. Elevation normal with gates open, water mide-50s and clear. Catfish good on live bait and stinkbait near opening of wildlife refuge along north shore. Striped bass hybrids fair on slabs. White bass slow but should be starting their run up river. Walleye slow to fair on worms. Smallmouth bass slow on hard plastic baits but seem to be moving. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.

Southeast

Arbuckle: April 13. Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water 56 and very muddy in parts of the lake. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits, jigs and spinnerbaits. Smallmouth bass good on spinnerbaits. Crappie excellent on small jigs. White bass good on red eye shad up creeks on flats. Channel catfish good on juglines. Report submitted by Jack Melton.

Blue River: April 16. Elevation normal, water 60 and muddy. Trout fair on in-line spinnerbaits, nymphs, green garlic scented PowerBait and spoons along channels, below falls and around large current breaks. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair on crankbaits, flukes, grubs and tube jigs around brush structure, rocks, below falls and around large current breaks. Channel catfish fair on chicken liver, dough bait, stinkbait and worms along channels and deeper pools. Report submitted by Ethan Lovelace, technician at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.

Broken Bow: April 12. Elevation normal, water 67. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass good on spinnerbaits along flats, points and shorelines. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around brush structure, points and shorelines. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Eufaula: April 12. Elevation normal, water 59 and murky. Crappie good on hair jigs, tube jigs and minnows around brush structure, docks and shallows. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait and shad along flats and river channel. White bass good on sassy shad and small lures along creek channels, river mouth and sandbar. Report submitted by Jake Bersche, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.

Hugo: April 12. Elevation below normal, water 59 and murky. Largemouth and spotted bass good on crankbaits, flukes, live bait, plastic baits, spinnerbaits and worms around brush structure, creek channels, main lake, points, river channel and shorelines. Blue, channel and flathead catfish good on cut bait, dough bait, live bait and shad below the dam, along channels, main lake and river channel. Crappie good on minnows and jigs below the dam, around brush structure, creek channels, main lake, shorelines and standing timber. Report submitted by Andrew Potter, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.

Konawa: April 11. Elevation normal, water 64 and clear. Largemouth bass excellent on crankbaits, lipless baits and plastic baits in the main lake, around points and weed beds. Striped bass hybrids good on crankbaits and live shad in coves, discharge, main lake and river channel. Channel catfish good on chicken liver, cut bait and stinkbait in coves, inlet, riprap and weed beds. Report submitted by Garret Harley, game warden stationed in Seminole County.

Lower Mountain Fork: April 12. Elevation normal, water clear. Trout good on caddis flies, midges, nymphs, plastic baits and PowerBait around rocks. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Lower Mountain Fork: April 16. Stocked approximately 800 rainbow trout on April 10. Report submitted by April Drake, secretary at the southeast region office.

McGee Creek: April 12. Elevation normal, water 60. Largemouth and spotted bass good on buzz baits, flukes, plastic baits and spinnerbaits along creek channels, points and rocks. White bass fair on minnows along creek channels and standing timber. White and spotted bass fair on crankbaits and lipless baits in coves and along flats. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Atoka County.

Pine Creek: April 12. Elevation normal, water murky. Largemouth bass excellent on crankbaits, crawfish and plastic baits in coves and shorelines. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around brush structure, shallows and shorelines. Channel catfish good on chicken liver, cut bait, dough bait and hotdogs along creek channels and main lake. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Robert S. Kerr: April 12. Elevation normal, water murky. Largemouth and spotted bass good on Alabama rigs, lipless baits, rogues and spinnerbaits in coves, creek channels, shorelines, standing timber and weed beds. Crappie good on hair jigs, jigs and minnows in coves, creek channels, shallows, shorelines, standing timber and weed beds. White bass good on grubs, lipless baits, plastic baits and small lures along channels, creek channels and river channel. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Sardis: April 12. Elevation above normal, water 67. Largemouth and spotted bass good on jigs, plastic baits and spinnerbaits around brush structure, shorelines, standing timber and weed beds. Blue and channel catfish fair on cut bait and shad along flats, main lake and shorelines. Crappie fair on hair jigs, jigs, minnows and tube jigs around brush structure, shorelines, standing timber and weed beds. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.

Texoma: April 12. Elevation below normal, water 60 and clear. Lake Texoma fishing is great now that the water has cleared up. Striped Bass fishing is in full swing, they are being caught with a number of techniques which include live bait, sassy shad, long line trolling, cut bait. Trolling bill baits in 20-24 ft. of water will produce over 20" fish (only 2 per angler). Using cut bait will produce mostly box fish with overs mixed in. Use sassy shad on 20-30 ft. depth transitions, allow the bait to go to the bottom and retrieve bait slowly while reeling sassy shad uphill to produce a strike. Using cut bait has been producing fish while fishing on anchor paired with a generous amount of chum in the water. Bank fishing for stripers has been good when using ghost minnows cast along sandy windblown beaches. Striped bass good on cut bait, live shad, minnows, plastic baits, sassy shad and shad below the dam, along flats, main lake, points and shorelines. Crappie fair on jigs, live bait and minnows along creek channels, docks, points, rocks and standing timber. Crappie fishing has been hit or miss with the weather being so crazy. Crappie are still staging in about 15 ft. of water, crappie have been baiting in early mornings and late evenings off of docks, orange and black have been great colors for producing bites. Blue catfish fair on cut bait and shad in the main lake, river channel and river mouth. Catfish will be caught in the river mouths and smaller fish in the main lake drifting cut bait. Bass fishermen have been catching fish in 4-6 ft. of water on bill baits or spinners. Report submitted by Trey Hale, game warden stationed in Bryan County.

Wister: April 12. Elevation above normal, water cloudy. Largemouth and spotted bass good on bill baits, buzz baits, crankbaits, plastic baits, spinnerbaits and topwater lures around points, shallows and shorelines. Blue and channel catfish good on chicken liver, cut bait, hotdogs, punch bait and stinkbait below the dam, along channels, main lake and points. Crappie good on minnows, jigs, plastic baits and tube jigs below the dam, around brush structure, points, shallows and shorelines. Report submitted by Thomas Gillham, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.

Southwest

Ellsworth: April 12. Elevation normal, water 50s. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush structure and docks. Blue and channel catfish fair on cut bait and stinkbait in the main lake and around points. Report submitted by Chris Stover, game warden stationed in Stephens County.

Ft. Cobb: April 15. Elevation normal, water upper 50s and clear. White bass good on jigs along creek channels and flats. Report submitted by Brayden Hicks, game warden stationed in Caddo County.

Lawtonka: April 12. Elevation normal, water 50s. Blue and channel catfish fair on cut bait and punch bait in the main lake and along shorelines. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush structure and docks. Report submitted by Chris Stover, game warden stationed in Stephens County.

Tom Steed: April 16. Elevation normal, water 58. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs around brush structure and creek channels. White bass and striped bass hybrids good on crankbaits and jigs around points. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County.

Waurika: April 12. Elevation above normal, water high 50s and murky. Striped bass hybrids and white bass fair on minnows, sassy shad and shad along the dam, points and shorelines. Crappie slow on minnows and tube jigs around brush structure and docks. Channel and blue catfish fair on cut bait, dough bait and stinkbait around docks and shorelines. Report submitted by Matt Farris, game warden stationed in Jefferson County.