Phil Lilley

Where can we send donations?

The Ozark Fly Fishers will meet Thursday, October 25, at 7:00 p.m. in the Greensfelder Recreation Complex in Queeny Park, 550 Weidman Road, Ballwin, MO 63011. This meeting will be the annual Swap Meet. For more information about the meeting see the October edition of the Ozark newsletter. To view the newsletter on the Ozark web site just click on the link below or copy and paste it into the address bar on your browser. http://www.ozarkflyfishers.org/pages/newsl.../nl_y07m10.html NO MONTHLY MEETING IN NOVEMBER (Thanksgiving)! Regards, Dave Haas Membership Committee (Database & Directory)

They aren't generating right now. Water isn't moving at the dock at least. Not a whole lot you can do wading except wade the cuts and coves including the outlets which are crowded. Get a boat and drift. If it's not too much water (1-2 units), you can get a scud, wooly, san juan worm, egg down to the bottom under an indicator pretty easy and drift.

October 19, 2007 A service of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation News Contacts: Michael Bergin or Micah Holmes (405) 521-3856 Web site: www.wildlifedepartment.com Special youth waterfowl hunt at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge Youth outdoor writing contest could mean trip of a lifetime for winning youth Archery in Schools workshop available to teachers Outdoor Calendar Hunter Education Clinics Fishing Report Special youth waterfowl hunt at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge Oklahoma youth have a unique opportunity this year to draw out for a waterfowl hunt at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. The special two-day waterfowl hunt is coordinated by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, and will take place Thursday, Dec. 20 and Friday, Dec. 21 on the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge near Vian. Youth ages 14 or 15 are eligible to be drawn for the hunt. “This is an outstanding hunt,” said Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers Co. and coordinator for the special waterfowl hunt. According to Henry, youth attending the hunt are sure to be in for a successful hunt. “If they’ve never taken waterfowl before, this will be an excellent opportunity for them to do that,” Henry said. Thursday will be a field day, where youth will participate in several waterfowl hunting related demonstrations including duck calling, hunting safety, decoy placement, waterfowl identification, shotgun shooting and retriever training. On Friday, the youth will be taken on a guided waterfowl hunt on the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. The Wildlife Department will provide successful applicants the necessary nontoxic shotgun shells, and a shotgun will be available for use if the youth does not have his or her own shotgun. Participants must apply for the hunt by mailing a postcard including their name, age and address to “Attention: Youth Waterfowl Hunt:” Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Route 1 Box 18A, Vian, OK, by Nov. 1. Successful applicants will be notified after the drawing. Call the Refuge at (918) 773-5252 for more information. -30- Youth outdoor writing contest could mean trip of a lifetime for winning youth Oklahoma youth have a chance to show their interest in the outdoors and win the trip of a lifetime through the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and Oklahoma Station Chapter Safari Club International 2007 Creative Writing Competition. "By writing an essay or short story on an outdoor theme provided to them, youth can show their love of the outdoors and conservation, and in the process have a chance to win a great outdoors getaway,” said Colin Berg, education supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. To participate, students must be 11-17 years of age and currently enrolled in any Oklahoma school or home school. Winners of the 2006 contest are not eligible. Applicants must have successfully completed an Oklahoma Hunter Education course by the entry deadline, which is Nov. 21, 2007. Students also must use the theme of “Hunting: Sharing the Heritage, Archery: What I like about Archery in the Schools and Bowhunting” or the concept of the theme to develop an expository essay or short story. Winners in the 15-17 age category (one boy and one girl) will receive a guided antelope hunt in New Mexico, and winners in the 11-14 age category are competing for scholarship for the Apprentice Hunter Program at the YO Ranch in Mountain Home, Texas. Safari Club International’s Apprentice Hunter Program is a unique, hands-on course designed for girls and boys aged 11-14. The program covers topics such as history of hunting, the ethical basis of modern sport hunting, wildlife management, field identification, tracking and interpreting sign, game cooking and the SCI Sportsmen Against Hunger Program. There are three sessions, each one week long, during the summer of 2008. The four statewide winners and their legal guardians will be invited to Oklahoma City to attend an awards ceremony in March. In addition, the top 25 essay entrants will receive a one-year youth membership to Safari Club International. The winning student essays will be published in the OSCSCI newsletter “Safari Trails.” Publication qualifies the winning entries for the National Youth Writing Contest sponsored by the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Several past national winners have come from Oklahoma. “One educator also will be awarded an all-expenses-paid scholarship for an eight-day conservation education school at Safari Club International’s American Wilderness Leadership School (AWLS) at Granite Ranch near Jackson, Wyoming,” Berg said. The AWLS program is conducted during the summer and presents an outdoor program for educators that concentrates on natural resource management. Participants learn about stream ecology, map and compass usage, fly tying, shooting sports, wildlife management, the Yellowstone ecosystem, camping, white-water rafting, educational resources, how to implement outdoor education ideas and language arts and creative writing in an outdoor setting. Both the essay contest rules and teacher scholarship applications are available from the Department's Web site at wildlifedepartment.com/writingcomp.htm. Essays and applications must be postmarked no later than Nov. 21, or delivered by Nov. 21 in person to the Department of Wildlife’s Jenks Office at 201 Aquarium Drive, in Jenks. Address entries to: Essay Contest, Attn: Education Section Supervisor, ODWC Jenks Office, P.O. Box 1201, Jenks, OK 74037. -30- Archery in Schools workshop available to teachers A program offering competitive archery to students has found its way into at least 75 schools in Oklahoma, and coordinators of the program say available grant money could make it easy for other schools to join up as well. The program, coordinated by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, is called Oklahoma Archery in Schools (OAIS) and is part of a national program that partners state wildlife agencies, schools and the nation's archery industry to introduce students to the sport of archery. The program curriculum is designed for 4th-12th graders and covers archery history, safety, techniques, equipment, mental concentration and self-improvement. “Teachers and students alike have many great things to say about the program,” said Lance Meek, OAIS coordinator for the Wildlife Department. “It’s a lot of fun, and teachers are reporting increased attendance, better attitudes and academic improvements.” And thanks to a recent grant made available through the Federal Wildlife Restoration Program, more than $50,000 is available for schools to acquire all the equipment, curriculum and training necessary to begin an OAIS <http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/archeryinschools.htm> program in their communities at little or no cost. “We’ve worked out a deal where, after applying the grant money and a reduction in cost provided by the archery industry, schools can get $5,000 worth of equipment for $1,300,” Meek said. “That includes bows, arrows, targets, safety nets, and almost everything else needed to run the program.” About 6,500 Oklahoma students participated in the program last year, 400 of which attended the OAIS state tournament held at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. Students have the opportunity to win bows, arrows, bow cases, trophies and medals through the program as well. “This is a great program because students of almost all sizes and physical abilities can excel,” Meek said. In order to be eligible for a grant, the school must send a couple of teachers to an eight-hour workshop where they will learn to how to conduct the program at their school and instruct students in archery. Teachers interested in learning more about the OAIS program or in starting an OAIS program at their school should contact Meek at (405) 522-4572. -30- Wildlife Miscellaneous Sale slated for Oct. 20 Shoppers won’t want to miss the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Miscellaneous Sale slated for Oct. 20. The sale will be held at Lake Burtschi, just west of Chickasha at the Lake Maintenance Headquarters. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m., and the sale will start promptly at 9 a.m. Items for sale range from Kawasaki and Polaris ATVs to boats, pickup trucks, digital cameras, computer monitors, truck tool boxes, riding and push lawn mowers, chainsaws and more. A complete list of sale items can be viewed on the Wildlife Department’s Web site at wildlifedepartment.com. High bidder must pay in full at the time of sale or bid will be rejected. Titles will be furnished with cash and cashier's check. Personal checks will be accepted; however, titles will be held for approximately two weeks. No warranty is given or implied. The State reserves the right to reject any and all bids. For additional information, call (405) 521-4600 or (405) 521-4618. Lake Burtschi is located 11 miles west of Chickasha on SH-92. In case of rain, the sale will be held Oct. 21, at the same time and place. -30- OUTDOOR CALENDAR OCTOBER 20: Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Miscellaneous Sale. The sale will be held at Lake Burtschi just west of Chickasha at Lake Maintenance Headquarters. 20: The Polebenders and the Oklahoma City Chapter of ACATS (American Catfish Anglers Tournament Series) will be hosting a catfishing tournament at Robert S. Kerr Reservoir. The event will start and finish at the Sallisaw Creek Ramp. Anyone can enter this tournament, as both clubs have waived the membership requirements for this one. Entry Fee is $50 per team, and there is an optional Big Fish Jackpot that costs $10. Participation in either club’s tournament season can qualify a person to fish in the Cabela's King Kat Classic, which will be held in the fall of 2008. The 2007 King Kat Classic, which was held in Kansas this year, was won by two members of the Polebenders club. For more information on the tournament contact Randy Jones (Polebenders) at (918) 774-3898, Kenny Reese (Polebenders) at (918) 776-9183, or Mike Strawn (ACATS) at (405) 601-0770. Email for Mike Strawn: okc-acats@cox.net <mailto:okc-acats@cox.net> 26: Oklahoma Section of the Society for Range Management (OKSRM) essay contest to select two deserving individuals to attend the Society for Range Management (SRM) annual meeting and participate in the High School Youth Forum (HSYF) as representatives of the OKSRM. OKSRM pays for their trip with generous donations from other sponsors. The two delegates would attend the SRM meeting in Louisville, Ky., January 26-31, 2008. Any Oklahoma high school student with an interest in rangelands is eligible. You must be able to miss a week of school January 26-31, 2008. Complete the application form <http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/EssayContest2007.doc> , prepare a 1-2 page essay on the topic “What Rangelands Mean to Me” and submit application and essay to melissa.teague@ok.usda.gov <mailto:melissa.teague@ok.usda.gov> no later than Oct. 26. Winners will be notified by Nov. 15. 27-Nov. 4: Deer Muzzleloader Season: Consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide” for regulations and season limits. 27: The Central Oklahoma ACATS (American Catfish Anglers Tournament Series) Chapter will host a tournament on lake Thunderbird. 27: Wildflower Walk. The program runs from 10:30-noon and is open to all ages. The prairie grasses are taking on color. Along the edge and in the forest, the red of Virginia Creeper vines stand out, while the red maroon-purple of the ash tree is more subtle. Join us at Oxley Nature Center in Tulsa to enjoy the color. Free, no registration required. For more information contact us at (918) 669-6644 or oxley@ci.tulsa.ok.us <mailto:oxley@ci.tulsa.ok.us> . NOVEMBER 1: Deadline to submit applications for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Youth Waterfowl Hunt and Field Day at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. Participants must be either 14 or 15 years of age at the time of the hunt. The field day will be held Dec. 20 and will receive hands on experience with duck calling, retriever demonstration and firearms safety. The hunt day will be Dec. 21. To apply or for more information contact the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge at (918) 773-5252. 3-16: Fall Turkey Gun Season. Consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide” for regulations and season limits. 5: The Wildlife Conservation Commission meeting is set for 9 a.m. at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters (auditorium) located at the southwest corner of 18th and North Lincoln, Oklahoma City. 10-Feb. 15, 2008: Quail Season: Consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide” for regulations and season limits. 10: Fall Foliage Walk at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. This bus tour and strenuous hike departs the headquarters at 10 a.m. Reservation are required and $5 per person will be collected at the beginning of the tour. For more information or to make reservations contact the Refuge Headquarters at (580) 429-3222. 10 & 11: National Wild Turkey Federation Women in the Outdoors program at Tenkiller State Park, Vian. This event is for women 14 and older. For more information or to register, contact Leann Bunn at (918) 489-5641 or email: lbunn@oklahomaparks.com <mailto:lbunn@oklahomaparks.com> . 17: Fall Foliage Walk at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. This bus tour and strenuous hike departs the headquarters at 10 a.m. Reservation are required and $5 per person will be collected at the beginning of the tour. For more information or to make reservations contact the Refuge Headquarters at (580) 429-3222. 17-Dec. 2: Deer Gun Season. Consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide” for regulations and season limits. HUNTER EDUCATION CLINICS The following is a list of upcoming hunter education clinics. If a phone number is listed, pre-registration is required. If a phone number is not listed, pre-registration is not required. Special arrangements and testing procedures can be made for persons with disabilities. Contact the Wildlife Department at (405) 522-4572 two weeks prior to course if person has disabilities which require special arrangements. OCTOBER 22: Oklahoma City; Home study, Bass Pro Shop. 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. (405) 218-5200 22, 23: Wayne; Mid America Tech Center. 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. (405) 521-4636 23: Jenks; Home study, ODWC Jenks Office. 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. (918) 299-2334 20: Wagoner; Civic Center, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 20, 21: Buffalo; Fairgrounds, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. (580) 727-5048 25: Oklahoma City; Home study: Sportsman’s Warehouse, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. (405) 302-4800 25: Oklahoma City; Home study: H&H Gun Range, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. (405) 947-3888 29: Oklahoma City; Home study: Bass Pro Shop, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. (405) 218-5200 NOVEMBER 1: Oklahoma City; Home Study, H&H Gun Range, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. (405) 947-3888 1. Oklahoma City; Home Study, Sportsman's Warehouse, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. (405) 302-4800 2, 3: Lawton; Great Plains Tech Center, 4500 SW Lee, Rm 300, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Nov. 2 and 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Nov. 3. Must attend each day. 3: Owasso; Community Center, 301 S. Cedar, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (918) 299-2334 3: Durant; Fairgrounds, Community Bldg., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 3, 10: Bokchito; Rockcreek School, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Must attend both days 6: Oklahoma City; Home Study, Sportsman's Warehouse, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. (405) 302-4800 6: Tulsa; Home Study, Tulsa Technology; Peoria Campus, Council Oaks Room, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. (918) 299-2334 6: Oklahoma City; Home Study, Bass Pro Shop, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. (405) 218-5200 6, 8: Broken Arrow; South Intermediate High School, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. (918) 259-4580 7, 8: Oklahoma City; Francis Tuttle Tech Center, 12777 N Rockwell, Construction and Trades Bldg., Rm. 101 South, 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. 8: Oklahoma City; Home Study, H&H Gun Range, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. (405) 947-3888 FISHING REPORT FOR OCTOBER 17, 2007 CENTRAL Arcadia: Elevation normal. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits. White bass biting on white grubs. Channel catfish good on cut shad. Bluegill biting on worms. Report submitted by Tim Campbell, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County. Hefner: Elevation normal. Striped bass hybrids good. Channel catfish good on cut shad and worms. Walleye are biting. Report submitted by Tim Campbell, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County. Overholser: Elevation normal and clear. White bass good on two inch white grubs. Striped bass hybrids good on crankbaits. Channel catfish good on cut shad. Bluegill good on worms. Report submitted by Tim Campbell, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County. NORTHEAST Bell Cow: Elevation normal and murky. Largemouth bass slow. Channel catfish good on stinkbait. Crappie good on jigs and minnows. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County. Birch: Elevation normal, water 70 and clear. Crappie fair around brush piles on minnows at 10-15 ft. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County. Chandler: Elevation normal and murky. Largemouth bass and crappie slow. Channel catfish fair on cut bait. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County. Eucha: Elevation 1 ft. below normal and rising. Water 71 and murky. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around brush and structure at 12-14 ft. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits. Catfish fair on juglines using cut shad. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries. Greenleaf: Elevation normal, water murky. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, purple worms and chatter baits along shoreline, creek channels and tree stumps. Catfish good on punchbaits and cut baits on bottom near spillway. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 12-16 ft. at fishing docks and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. Hudson: Elevation normal. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and topwater lures early morning and late evening. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Mayes County. Keystone: Elevation 3/4 ft. above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass good on buzzbaits and crankbaits at 2-6 ft. in shallow rocky points. Smallmouth bass fair on jigs and chunks at 6-10 ft. at secondary points in deep coves. Spotted bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits at 4-8 ft. in main lake pockets and bluffs. White bass fair on bucktails and small spoons 2-6 ft. at windy, shallow points below dam. Striped bass fair on bucktails and storm wild-eyed shad at 3-6 ft. below dam when generating. Channel catfish fair on worms and chicken livers at 4-8 ft. in shallow coves and creeks. Blue catfish fair on cut shad and punchbaits at 6-12 ft. on flats along river channel. Flathead catfish slow on large shiners and live shad at 6-12 ft. in riprap and bluffs. Crappie good on jigs and minnows at 10-18 ft. at docks, brush piles, ledges and along bluff areas. Report submitted by Woody’s Bait and Tackle. Lower Illinois: Water 58 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and spinners at 1-5 ft. along the shoreline. Spotted bass fair on live bait, crankbaits and spinners at 1-5 ft. along the shoreline. Striped bass slow on live trout and red fin at 1-20 ft. in deep holes. Channel catfish good on cut shad and worms at 10-20 ft. in deep holes. Walleye good on minnows, crankbaits and rattle traps at 5-10 ft. at night in deep holes. Saugeye good on minnows and crankbaits at 5-10 ft at night in deep holes. Trout excellent on power bait, wooly boogers and power eggs at 5-10 ft. in deep holes. Report submitted by MarVal Family Camping Resort. Oologah: Elevation normal, water 70 and clear. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around brush piles at 10-15 ft. Blue catfish good on shad around timber on north end of the lake. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits at 5-8 ft. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County. Spavinaw: Elevation slightly below normal, water 72 and clear. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around the dam area. Largemouth fair on crankbaits. Catfish fair on juglines using live sunfish. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries. Tenkiller: Elevation 1 ft. above normal and clear. Largemouth bass slow with some action on crankbaits in schools of shad and deep brush on large plastic worms. White bass fair in the flats at standing rock on spinners or slab spoons in the evenings. Sunfish good in or near docks on night crawlers. Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort. Webbers Falls: Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits in riprap and creek channels. Catfish good on cut baits, stinkbaits and punchbaits on mudflats. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 8-16 ft. at brush structures and bridges. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. NORTHWEST Ft. Supply: Elevation normal, water clear. Channel catfish fair on stinkbaits. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Harper County. SOUTHEAST Arbuckle: Elevation normal, water 75 and stained. Crappie good on marked brush piles on jigs and minnows. White bass are moving to drop-offs spoons and slabs good. Bass good to fair on topwater lures early, shaky head worms and white spinnerbaits good on flats. Report submitted by Jack Melton. Blue River: Elevation normal, water 66 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on minnows and flies. Channel catfish fair to good on worms, liver and stinkbaits. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area. Broken Bow: Water rising due to recent rains. Largemouth bass good flipping soft plastic worms around brush, structure and off points. Channel catfish good on cut bait or whole bluegill on trotlines or juglines. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County. Eufaula: Elevation 1 ft. above normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits at 1-3 ft. around rocky areas. White bass fair on slab spoons on the flats. Blue catfish fair on fresh shad drifting the flats. Crappie good on minnows or jigs at 8-15 ft. around boat docks. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County. Hugo: Elevation normal, water 78. Largemouth bass. Crappie fair on minnows. Catfish slow. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw and Bryan counties. Konawa: Elevation normal, water 78 and clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits along points and weed beds at 5-10 ft. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County. Lower Mountain Fork River: Zone 2 unsuccessful last weekend. Best flies have changed to very small midge patterns, miracle midge and zebra midge. Also egg patterns and worm flies have been working pretty well. Report submitted by Beavers Bend Fly Shop. McGee Creek: Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 78 and clear. Largemouth bass fair to good on soft plastic lures off of rocky points and on shad colored shallow running crankbaits on schooling fish. Crappie fair on minnows at 16-25 ft. over cedar brush. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County. Pine Creek: Elevation normal and clear. Bass excellent on red spinnerbaits and crankbaits around points. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around flooded timber. Catfish fair on trotlines baited with cut shad. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County. Robert S. Kerr: Elevation normal, water 78 and murky. Largemouth bass fair at 4-8 ft. using plastic baits fishing the weeds, rock and woody cover. Crappie good at 8-10 ft. using minnows fishing the old creek channels. White bass fair at 10 ft. using jigs fishing below Webbers Falls dam. Blue catfish good at 3-5 ft. using cut bait fishing the windy shorelines with weedy cover. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden for Haskell County. Sardis Lake: Elevation normal. Largemouth bass good in flooded timber on spinnerbaits. Catfish good on cut bait or live shad. Crappie good around bridges, brush piles and dam tower on minnows. White bass good trolling the islands. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County. Texoma: Elevation normal, water 78 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair to good on deep diving crankbaits and jig combinations at 10-15 ft. deep near the creek drop offs. Striped and white bass fair to good on live bait and slabs at 10-20 ft. from Catfish Bay south. Channel and blue catfish fair to good on live bait worms and stinkbaits at 10-15 ft. from the railroad bridge north. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 5-10 ft. around the fish attractors. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County. Wister: Elevation normal and murky. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits on points. Crappie fair with jigs or live minnows around timber. Channel catfish fair on cut shad and liver. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game Warden stationed in LeFlore County. SOUTHWEST Altus-Lugert: Elevation 8 1/2 ft. below normal and rising. Fishing is fair with a few good sized striped bass hybrids being caught from the bank. Channel and blue catfish being caught on juglines. Report submitted by Sue Hokanson, Quartz Mountain State Park. Ellsworth: Elevation normal and murky. Crappie fair at Ralph’s Resort on minnows and jigs. Catfish good on cut bait. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County. Foss: Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal, water in the low 70s. White bass and striped bass hybrids seen surfacing near shore in mornings and late evenings. Walleye slow to fair. Catfish good. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House. Ft. Cobb: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal. Catfish slow to fair on cut baits. Crappie slow to fair around brush. Report submitted by James Edwards, Jr., game warden stationed in Caddo County. Lawtonka: Catfish good on north end of lake on cut bait. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County.

I carry the lead and plyers... have for about 2 years. John- it's a simple "system". I've used it for 20 years in Michigan. Shooting line, zip line or amnesia. Tie a butt section- use no heavier line then your shooting line, say 20 pound. Length- the same length as your rod. Slip a snap swivel on, threading it thru the open eye allowing it to slide on the butt section freely. Tie a barrel swivel to the butt. We usually use #8's, black. Then tie your tippet, not more than 24 inches, not less than 18 inches. Then your fly(s). Attach your lead core to the snap swivel. That's it. Adjust the weight by changing lead. Keep your eye on the butt section close to the swivel for wear and tear. Micheal- you can order the plyers directly from LeadMasters. Those are the ones I carry- best by far.

Thanks! Never heard of those waters. Very nice.

Thanks for the report Bill. I talked to Bill on the phone before I read this... there's more to share and it'll come out in time. Lots of info given. I think there's room for discussion on our tailwater. I know the Corp will never allow anything put in the tailwater below the dam= no way. And they have good reason. But digging the "channel" out from below outlet #1 to Rebar shouldn't be a problem. Money- they made it clear there's no money for any project like this for Taney. But we're not talking about alot of money. As a matter of fact, I bet we can get most of the work donated. Liability- if anyone doesn't want to do something, they yell "liability". But if you want to do something bad enough, you find a way around it OR acknowledge that there's really no liability issue at all, which I don't think there is. We're not talking about 4 feet. We're talking about 2-3 feet tops. And again, it was 4 feet deep over 30 years ago and it's taken all this time to wash in. What do you do with the rock? Good question that the Corp and MDC can work out. Move it to the bank? Take it out altogether? If I had to bite off one project, this would be it.

Deep- MDC doesn't recognize any natural reproduction on Taney so they aren't going to close any season to protect something that doesn't happen. And the Corp isn't going to let anyone put boulders in the stream anywhere close to the dam face. They may down further but I don't know what that magic distance is. ryno- the hatchery improvements didn't change any water flow nor Do levels into the lake, I don't think. I'll check. The Corp injects O2 into the turbines, before or after (?) before water enters the tailwater. Nothing has changed there. They try to keep the O2 levels about 4-5 part per million which is nominal levels for survival. I seriously doubt the MDC is considering changing any regulations. But what they are ready to do is change the habitat.

Didn't see the article- thanks for posting it. I've heard of the difussers but alike you said, this issue has already been studied and I'd think difussers would have been looked at. But evidently not if they're studying it again. I think it would be great but all efforts up to now have been stymied by a lack of ongoing "maintenance funding" of any proposed project.

Bill Bird from Springfield keeps his boat here in the fall for just one thing- sucker gigging. They go out at dusk or after and usually get their limit which I think is 25 suckers. They can't go above Fall Creek but find plenty below. It is fun and they usually eat them the night of, sometimes they cook them on our pavilion with potatoes. Makes a long night though.

I brought alittle salmon home to share... well alot. 100 pounds of hot smoked. 100 pounds of cold smoked. There's an outfit in King Salmon that buys sockeye from the commerical fishermen in Bristol Bay and smokes over 600,000 pounds every year- yes 600k pounds! I bought it wholesale, already packaged and ready to eat. It's in the refrig and it's advised to not freeze it unless you need to keep it past Christman. http://www.aksmokehouse.com/ Here's their website. As you can see, Heidi has won several awards for her smoked fish. We're selling it for the markey price of $30 per pound. We have full filets which weigh from 1 to 2 pounds and smaller pieces in the hot smoked variety of less than a pound. The cold smoked is certified also called lox and is a staple and Europian tables each holiday. So send me a PM or email and we'll see how we can get you some! All profit will go to our local Big Brothers, Big Sisters Chapter.

No- we've already asked them about raising the level of the bottom at the cable to create a riffle and they said it's too close to the dam face. The DO issue, I think, will have to be solved at the dam itself in the way of injection or drawing water from higher in the lake where DO is higher. But then you have a temperature issue. Don't think the DO problem can be solved for those fish in the first 1/2 mile at least by improving the habitat. Just I'd love to be proven wrong!

Don't really want to make it an ethical question. Can't. MDC has already shown they aren't interested in managing ethics so going at it from that direction is fruitless. But snagging big browns during low DO periods is harmful and potentially lethal and that should be a consideration. Outlet #2 just happens to be the #1 place where this happens and for reasons that have nothing to do with skill and/or intent of the angler. The best angler will still foul hook a good percentage of trout when drifting a scud through the flow. Just too many fish in a small area. Spread them out, make it harder to run a line through the area, give the trout a place to hide and be safe from anglers.

There's a meeting tonight but it's invite only. I'm not going but I know several guides who are. The Corp is concerned about flow- that's true. But I believe we can improve habitat without adversely affecting flow. One thing they will oppose is adding anything to the tailwater that will impede flow like boulders or gravel bars close to the dam face. Any structure that will cause back pressure on the flow and turbines will affect power production. Dredging, on the other hand, does just the opposite. I hate to pick on the outlets but I believe more big trout are harmed by anglers snagging and stressing large browns in the outflow. If the flow of outlet #2 was dispersed evenly and not channeled as it is now, fish would not be herded up and easily snagged as they are now. Also, other considerations can be explored to make it harder to fish this area, ie. wood structures in and around the flow area. Yes- make is harder to fish! Right now it's like shooting fish in a barrel, no skill involved. I think a study on freshwater shrimp is in order. Come up with ways to create the ideal conditions for shrimp to grow. I know- that's pie in the sky thinking because not much is known about why gammarus do well in certain lakes and streams and why they don't in others. Interesting, not sure if I mentioned this but back in June we were exploring a lake up from camp in Alaska and I found thousands of gammarus around a small dock and some sort of pondweed, large ones. I'm sure the lake almost freezes solid for four months out of the year. They are not deep lakes. Imagine if Table Rock has a viable population of shrimp- what they would do for the fishery as a whole! To answer the comments on generation and flow... it's taken how many years to fill in the channel/holes? Back in the 70's you could not wade across the lake at, above or below outlet #2 because it's go over your waders. That's 30 years. I think a well thought out plan would help the tailwater- make it a 10 or 20 year plan and revisit it after that time to see if additional work is needed.

Question: What can be done to enhance the upper mile of the tailwater in regards to trout. Examples: Dissolved Oxygen Improvement, Fish Habitat. It would be great if there were examples given via a website or other valid information.

I am hoping that they use some of that money for enhancing the area just below Table Rock Dam in the way of deepening the channel, creating good, constructive habitat for big trout and other things that only a fish biologists would know how to do.

Benn watching this discussion... nothing in this topic that's positive or informative to anglers. I would ask that personal grudges and complaints to handled personally and not on a public forum where names are not used.... or take it to another forum that allows this type of conversation. I'm not taking sides nor do I have any opinion or dealings with anyone involved, just ending this before it gets even more ugly.

What color worked? Did you notice the wind helping?

Buy-Sell-Trade would work.

I think you can say that for anyone who sinks brush in a lake or pond.

Terry- there's a huge difference in big fish here and big fish there. The small fish on the Naknek would kick the butt of any big fish on Taney. You don't "walk" a big fish on the Naknek. You'll never land one if you don't make him work. If you let them rest, they'll just go to your backing again and again.

This should be interesting... I've already heard from a couple guides who think trees offer little value to a fishery. But I'll let them sound off on the subject.

Only got out for a couple of hours from 3:30 till 5:30 pm. Fished with Dan Hoy from Bass Pro and a couple of Naturalist from BP. They are working on a plan to develop an aquarium depicting Lake Taneycomo in their new eatery, "The Fish House" at the Landing. So we looked at some scuds, sow bugs, plantan, rocks and moss. And they caught some trout. We waded in just above the ramp... there were alot of people from the Big Hole upstream so we avoided the crowds. Not the fish though. There were plenty down by the ramp. We did have some trouble catching anything- using 7x flourocarbon, several varieties of midges and scuds- they'd look but no takers. I was trying to show Diana how best to create a dead drift. They started a generator I think about 4:30. Water came up and the trout really started eating. I tied on a San Juan and it was all over. They'd move 3 feet for it and even took it on a swing. She was having trouble fighting some of the ones she hooked cause of the 7x and they were fairly large rainbows but brought several to hand. Water only ran for a short time, then started to drop out but the trout kept feeding. I left them for an Options banquet at 5:30. Heard there's been alot of big browns caught out of #2 outlet already this fall. Several 14 to 18 pounders. Heard it 3rd hand but the source is very reliable. Sounds like a great brown season.

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