Phil Lilley

Sam - The time(s) you said you've seen bass floating after a tournament, I'm curious if it's after a local "bass club" type tournament or a sanctioned regional or national tournament... the bigger, more organized contests boat the bass to various areas of the lake for release--I'd think releasing the fish at the dock would be almost frowned on by even clubs now a days. I tried something many years ago after a trout tournament that ended in disaster. I filled a big tank with water and released the trout in the tank after they were weighed instead of carting them to the lake where they may not live. The idea was we could work with the ones that were having trouble. Problem - I filled the tank with well water--too warm and not enough O2. They all died- quickly. So I know first hand good intentions can end in a bad way. Accidents do happen but we learn.

By "river" which do you mean? I'm planning a float trip or two the next 10 days with my daughter before she heads to K-Colorado for 6 weeks. Thinking about a 2-day trip- may be the Current. But I am fishing for smallies... I throw a 3/32 oz sculpin marabou jig that they will not leave alone. If you're looking for river fishing, this is the place to be.

Sooner Lake is just north of Stillwater, OK. John Johnson asked me to come over and fish for hybrids along with his friend Joe and I said sure. I did a quick trip and for my age, I wouldn't recommend it. I left last night at 9 pm and got to the lake at 1:30 am. I slept in the van thru a lighting storm and rain and woke up to John calling me at 5:30 am. We got on the lake at 6 and headed to the north side of and "cold" side of the lake where we immediately found some hybrids on a wind driven bank. We casted chug bugs and hooked up on several nice fish. I missed several blowups before hooking my first hybrid. We bounced around the lake for the next 4 hours and caught fish on almost every bank we stopped. About 8 am we started throwing rattle traps because they quit htting the topwater baits. We ended up cleaning 31 fish, about 6 were small whites and the others were hybrids ranging from 3-6 pounds.

Guess how old Babler is???!!

Not sure what you mean by north/south... The channel doesn't come into play till Short Creek--there's not much of one till you get up there in the lake. The chanel generally is on the bluff side of the lake. I fish both sides and the middle... I have said there's alot of trout on the shallow side that people miss because they don't think about them being over there... not that there's more fish there. I like to fish the middle or drop from flat to channel because trout will hold there. Lures- jigs would be best. We have a new micro jig - orange headed sculpin- Bill Babler special ordered them and they are in. They'd be excellent.

Sorry- was refering to Bass Pro's guides.

FF- good points. I am a trout fisherman and feel the same way when someone says "I love smoking a big brown... there's nothing better!" I've had to put a knife to 2 keeper browns in my day and it was after someone caught it in my boat with me "guiding them" as a friend. Just so happens it was the same guy- a doctor from Springfield. They were caught 3 years apart, if you wondering. Anyhow- I hate to see a big rainbow die for the same reasons as all other c/r people- I want to see them swim away to fight another day; they have survived multiple hooksets and heron pokes-- and to see one get caught with power bait like the 11.5 pounder... well if he was that stupid he deserved to be stuffed. But you know what I mean. They do set limits for a reason and I don't think it's my place to judge someone who likes to eat fish or have one mounted. I have a 8.5 lb largemouth on my dresser... caught in 84 on BS and it's the only one I'll ever mount. They all the look the same anyhow. Spawning fish are different story. Poaching short fish or overlimiting is another.

$275?!?!? Try $350 - $400 plus.

and more water in Table Rock ensures generation this summer. Table Rock continues to rise with the help of continuing rain. And it's the best kind of rain--long and gradual--good soaking rain which our water tables need. TR is rising at a click of 12 inches per day the last couple of days and today is no exception. Fast approaching 911.0, it's only 4 feet from power pool but to be honest, normal pool for this time of year is about 917. When the Corp finally cuts loose the water, the junk that's collected for the past 6 months will break up and some down... it won't be pretty. But it's much needed. The upper lake's bottom is covered with alge and roten stuff. I can't imagine it's good for the bugs. Fishing is good. Well it was slow today off the dock but most everybody caught their limit- it just took longer. I told some people this morning early that the chance of rain was 20% today... I was looking at the NewsLeader not the computer. Opps- how about 100%. It's just now starting to stop. So not many boats were on the water today.

I've heard guides say the the spots are their "bread and butter" in the summer months, being able to catch them off points using night crawlers- easy fishin' for their clients. So I'm not sure they would be favorable to the idea that they should be taken for the reasons you stated. But I'm not a guide- I just repeat what I hear. And in saying that, I wonder how many of these guides who drop shot spots like this keep them. I'm think specifically of guides out of Big Cedar, not to be picking on them. Alot of "sunday fisherpeople" like to take fish home, especially if they're paying big bucks for a guide. So what do you do? Blue gill? Personally, I don't keep bass, except white bass. Actually I don't fish for them much but when I do catch them, they go back. Not for any other reason than... just because. But what about the idea that big bass eat more and leave less for the others, say, like in a farm pond... not that TR is a farm pond. Too many big bass will keep the population of smaller ones from gaining a foothold. Then there's the situation of too many medium-sized bass for the food base. One other observance and I'll quit... does fishing pressure really effect fish populations that much? In a big lake like TR? I mean, with all the catch-n-release fisherpeople now---and I think there's something to be said that these c&r fisherpeople are better equiped and skilled than the sunday-fisherpeople who are after fish for the skillet generally---does the harvest of bass really hurt enough to effect the population. If so- how much?

http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=379 Shows BS coming up a bit but I wouldn't think there'd be any bad runoff. TR isn't muddy and neither is Taney. Our rains have been steady rains- not gully washers. Level is almost up to powerpool- fantastic! Crowds will be much less on BS than TR. If you go I'd really be interested in what you find. It's hard to get a report from BS.

We are in the middle of a major dock remodle... I'll tilt the lake cam a bit to show what we are doing. http://lilleyslanding.com/webcam.php We closed the gap between the docks to add more stalls. The ramp is temporarily closed with a make-shift ramp there. We'll add a new ramp closer to the middle of the dock downstream. We're going to swing the dock out just a bit to make room for the ramp and boat travel between the dock and the bank so the ramp will be open. But we will send bigger boats and pontoons down to the public ramp at Cooper. I have always wanted to build a good sized building on the water behind the dock for meetings, fly tying classes, outdoor sports library and other fun activities. After all the stalls and ramps are situated, we'll do the building. But to answer when Jerry will be online- after Curtis gets the power restored on the upper dock.

After the last rain, TR's level has risen to 910.3, 1.3 feet from the rain yesterday and about 7 feet from the lowest level back in April. TR Dam is running just a little water each day and won't affect the level much at all. At this rate, TR's level will be back to power pool within a couple of weeks, if not sooner, if these rains keep coming every 3 days or so. Good news for boaters. Good news for the bass spawn. Good news for Taneycomo and generation this summer.

Ah... they fish with Bill all the time!!

For Immediate Release May 4, 2006 A service of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation News Contacts: Micah Holmes or Kristen Gillman (405) 521-3856 Web site: www.wildlifedepartment.com Commissioners discuss historical wetlands in Garfield County Oklahoma youth shoot for success Squirrel season opens May 15 Outdoor Calendar Fishing Report Commissioners discuss historical wetlands in Garfield County Wildlife Department staff presented information about an important wetland area in north central Oklahoma at the May meeting of the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission. The Drummond Flats area is located 15 miles south of Enid and just west of Drummond in Garfield County. Three creeks converge on the low-lying area forming a large, natural wetland. Historically, the area has been an important migration stop for shorebirds and waterfowl. Today, the area is primarily used to grow crops or as pasture for cattle. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is currently looking into opportunities to restore this unique wetland habitat and create more opportunities for sportsmen and other wildlife enthusiasts. Commissioners voted to endorse the concept of buying at appraised value - from willing sellers - about 3,000 acres in the wetland basin, plus up to 2,000 acres in the surrounding uplands. "We've done some initial surveys of local landowners, but now we're ready to see if some type of comprehensive purchase can become a reality," said Alan Peoples, wildlife chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Also at the May meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a resolution to designate June 3-4 as Free Fishing Days in Oklahoma. Oklahoma was the first state in the nation to offer free fishing days 24 years ago and has since been followed by dozens of other states that have established similar free fishing days. "Free fishing days are a great opportunity to introduce family and friends to fishing," said David Warren, information and education chief for the Wildlife Department. Resident and non-resident fishing licenses (including trout licenses and fishing and hunting legacy permits) are not required on the free fishing days, although anglers should note that local or municipal permits might be required on those days. Texoma Lake anglers should be aware that the Texas free fishing day is June 3 only. Anglers must also follow all other fishing regulations. In other business, the Commission recognized Mackie Fairfield, clerk for the Wildlife Department's Information and Education Division for 25 years of service. The Wildlife Conservation Commission is the eight-member governing board of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The Wildlife Commission establishes state hunting and fishing regulations, sets policy for the Wildlife Department, and indirectly oversees all state fish and wildlife conservation activities. Commission members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The next scheduled Commission meeting is June 5 at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters (auditorium), at the southwest corner of 18th and North Lincoln, Oklahoma City at 9:00 a.m. -30- Oklahoma youth shoot for success More than 200 youngsters converged at the University of Central Oklahoma Wellness Center for the second annual Oklahoma Archery in the Schools State Tournament April 27. Eric White, a 9th grader from Sapulpa, took home the top shooter trophy, while Coweta High School captured the team high school trophy. In a very tight match, Cottonwood School in Coalgate grabbed first place in the middle school division. South Rock Creek in Shawnee took first place honors in the Kindergarten through 5th grade team category. "It was a very intense competition this year. These kids didn't just come to participate, they came to win," said Lance Meek, Wildlife Department coordinator for the Archery in the Schools program. "Everyone had a great time including the teachers. During a couple of the shoot offs at the end of the day I thought I was going to have to get ear plugs because the kids were cheering so loud." According to Meek, the tournament would not have been possible without a variety of important partners including the UCO Wellness Center, Sportsman's Warehouse, Norman Archery and assistance from a number of Wildlife Department game wardens. The tournament showcased the innovative archery education curriculum called the Archery in the Schools program. Offering a two-week long archery curriculum, the program is designed to introduce Oklahoma students to Olympic-style archery. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation coordinates the ambitious program. To date, Oklahoma is one of 36 states that have adopted the Archery in the Schools program. In 2005, about 500,000 students across the nation went through the Archery in the Schools curriculum. With more than 50 schools and 5,000 students already involved in Oklahoma, the program is quickly gaining popularity. Wildlife Department officials expect participation to double by the end of the year. To participate in the Archery in the Schools program, teachers must simply attend a free one-day training session conducted by certified instructors. Once a teacher has completed the training course, their school is eligible to purchase an equipment kit at a reduced cost. Some equipment grants also are available through Wildlife Department. To learn how to bring this exciting program to your school, contact: Central and Western region: Lance Meek, lmeek@odwc.state.ok.us or (405) 522-4572 Southeast region: Steve Burge, sjburge@prodigy.net or (918) 297-0150 Northeast region: Colin Berg, cberg02@sbcglobal.net or (918) 299-2334 -30- Elementary School Division Girls Abigail Unruh, Morris Brooke King, Morris Brett Maxie, Morris Boys Seth Garcia, Christian Heritage Academy Brandon Muniz, Cottonwood Bailey Cobbs, Christian Heritage Academy Middle School Division Girls Courtney Dearth, South Rock Creek Courtney Lowry, South Rock Creek Haley Robinson, Coweta Boys Hunter Rasberry, Coweta Alex Horney, Tahlequah Jordan Parris, South Rock Creek High School Division Girls Charlie Carr, Coweta Kelli Hefley, Coweta Tasha Byrd, Coweta Boys Eric White, Sapulpa Bobby Pitcock, Coweta Tyler Huddleston, Coweta Editor's Note: Pictures of all the winners are available for viewing and download at www.wildlifedepartment.com/archeryevents.htm Squirrel season opens May 15 What more could one ask for in a hunting season? Plentiful game, a long season, thousands of acres of public access, challenging shooting - squirrel hunting has it all. Running May 15 through Jan. 31, squirrel season is one of the longest running, and most underused, hunting seasons available in Oklahoma. Public hunting opportunities abound in Oklahoma for squirrel hunters and both the gray and fox squirrel are abundant on many of the Department's wildlife management areas. Excellent squirrel hunting can be found on Keystone, Spavinaw Hills, Deep Fork, Hickory Creek and many other wildlife management areas. Just about any tract of oaks, hickory or pecan trees can be a productive area for hunters and you would be hard-pressed to find a small crowd of squirrel hunters anywhere. Squirrel hunting is a perfect opportunity to introduce someone new to hunting. In fact, the more eyes the better. With their sharp eyesight and hearing, squirrels have a tendency to disappear in the tree tops. A generous 10-squirrel limit offers a challenge to those going afield with a .22 caliber rifle. Other sportsmen prefer carrying a shotgun while going after squirrels. Another option that is increasing in popularity are pellet rifles, which through the years have become adequately powerful to deliver squirrels to the bag. To hunt squirrels in Oklahoma, you need a resident or non-resident hunting license unless exempt and a $5 Fishing and Hunting Legacy Permit, unless exempt. Resident hunters younger than age 16 can hunt squirrels without a license. For a complete list of squirrel hunting regulations consult the "2006 Oklahoma Hunting Guide" or log on to the Department's Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com. -30- OUTDOOR CALENDAR MAY 9: Hunter Education Home Study, Bass Pro, OKC; 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. (405) 218-5200. 11: Oklahoma Quail Forever Chapter banquet will be held at the Embassy Suites, OKC (1815 S Meridian). Doors open at 6 p.m. and seating is limited. Tickets are $50 and includes annual membership. For more information or to purchase tickets contact James Dietsch at (405) 721-9405 or Frank Lambert at (405) 990-4033. 13: Hunter Education Home Study: Midwest City Library, Midwest City; 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.; (405) 732-4828. 13: Aquatic Education Clinic at G.S.P. Pond, Greenleaf State Park. Pre-registration is required. Register by calling Steven Evans at (918) 487-7125. 16: Aquatic Education Clinic: ODWC Family Clinic, Casting Pond at ODWC, Jenks. Pre-registration is required. Register by calling ODWC- Jenks at (918) 299-2334. 18: Aquatic Education Clinic: ODWC Family Clinic, Casting Pond at ODWC, Jenks. Pre-registration is required. Register by calling ODWC- Jenks at (918) 299-2334. FISHING REPORT FOR MAY 3, 2006 CENTRAL Draper: Elevation 2 ft. above normal and clear. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 2-6 ft. around structure. Largemouth bass good on tandem spinners, medium divers and plastic worms at 3-6 ft. in coves. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County. Hefner: Elevation 3-4 ft. below normal, water 72. Channel catfish being caught slip corking off the dam at 4-8 ft. on punch bait and stinkbait. Walleye being caught on the west side of the dam on minnows fishing the bottom at 12 ft. Bluegill being caught using crickets. Report submitted by Bob Martin, OKC Fisheries. Thunderbird: Elevation 5 ft. below normal and clear. Crappie excellent on minnows and jigs at 2-6 ft. around structure. Largemouth bass good on tandem spinners, medium divers and plastic worms at 3-6 ft. Saugeye fair to good on jigs and medium divers (green) off points and old road beds. White bass good on minnows, jigs and medium divers off points. Catfish slow. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County. Wes Watkins: Elevation 3 ft. below normal and muddy in feeder creeks and clear around roadbed area and main lake. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 16-18 ft. around underwater structure. Catfish fair to good on minnows and chicken liver in the shallows back in the west end of the lake. White bass fair trolling with crankbaits at 7-10 ft. Largemouth bass fair to good on spinnerbaits, lizards, tubes and assorted soft plastic in grassy beds and mossy areas with some action on topwater lures early morning. Report submitted by M.M. Fowler. NORTHEAST Bell Cow: The only fishing method allowed at Bell Cow is rod and reel fishing. Elevation 3 ft. below. Crappie good on minnows. Catfish fair on the east side of the islands on dough baits. Report submitted by lake ranger. Carl Blackwell: Water 70 and murky. Crappie have picked back up after the storms and are biting well in shallows in the morning and evening on jigs, road runners, and minnows. Saugeye have been caught roaming the shorelines with minnows and jigs, trolling with crawler rigs and worms. Largemouth bass are biting on spinners and crankbaits. Striped bass hybrids have slowed down but are still being caught on large minnows, shad imitations and rattle traps. Channel catfish good fishing the shallows at night with stinkbait, minnows and worms. Report submitted by Tyler Gann, lake ranger. Chandler: Elevation 3 ft. below normal. Crappie good on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by lake ranger. Copan: Elevation 3 ft. above normal with two gates open below the dam. Water is muddy. Crappie good on medium minnows in and around the coves and creek channels at 6 ft. Channel and blue catfish good on worms, shad, and large minnows. Report submitted by Jason Cain, Copan Handi Mart. Eucha: Elevation 11 ft. below normal, water 60 and murky. Crappie good on jigs and minnows around brush at 5-10 ft. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits. Catfish fair on night crawlers. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries. Ft. Gibson: Elevation 1 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass good on spinners. White bass good on minnows and jigs in creek channels. Catfish excellent on prepared baits and worms. Reported submitted Don Cole, game warden stationed in Wagoner Grand: Elevation normal and murky. Channel catfish fair to good on worms and shad guts in lake tributaries. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10 ft. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County. Greenleaf: May 2. Elevation normal and murky. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits along shoreline. Catfish good on cut bait on bottom. Crappie excellent on minnows and jigs around fishing dock. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. Hudson: Elevation 1 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass fair to good on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfish fair to good on juglines baited with cut shad in river channel. Crappie slow to fair on plastic jigs at 3-8 ft. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Mayes County. Kaw: Elevation is 5 ft. above normal, water 62 and stained. Blue and channel catfish fair in upper end of the lake on shad, stinkbait and goldfish. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows at 10-12 ft. Report submitted by Marshall Reigh, game warden stationed in Kay and Grant counties. Keystone: Elevation 3 ft. above normal, water 65-70 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and plastics at 2-8 ft. around buck brush in coves. Smallmouth bass fair on crankbaits and jig and chunk at 5-10 ft. around rocky deep coves. Spotted bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits at 5-10 ft. in deep rocky coves. White bass fair on rooster tails and rattle traps at 4-8 ft. in coves with feeder creeks. Striped bass good on buck tails and large sassy shad at 3-6 ft. below the dam. Channel and blue catfish good on worms and crawdads at 4-8 ft. along banks in shallow coves. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 3-6 ft. around flooded brush. Report submitted by Larry Sellers, Woody's Bait and Tackle. Oologah: Elevation 1 1/2 ft. above normal, water 60, muddy on the north end and clear on the south end. Channel catfish good on worms and dough baits in creeks running into the lake and also in the Verdigris River itself. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around submerged structure at 4-8 ft. deep. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and bass tubes around flooded brush at 2-4 ft. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County. Skiatook: Elevation 4 1/2 ft. below normal, water 65 and murky. Smallmouth and largemouth bass fair to good, in the shallows, on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and some plastics at 4-6 ft. in the creeks. Crappie fair to good on small and medium minnows at 15-25 ft. around bridges and other structure, and in the creeks. Striped bass hybrids fair in creeks. Catfish fair on trotlines with very large minnows. Report submitted by Greenwood Fishing Center. Spavinaw: Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water 58 and clear. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around dam area. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries. Tenkiller: Elevation 8 ft. below normal, water 69. Smallmouth bass and spotted bass fair in coves and off points on spinnerbaits or crankbaits at 3-15 ft. Crappie fair at 3-10 ft. on minnows or jigs and good trolling the main channel with deep runner and at night under lights at 10-15 ft. on small minnows. White bass good trolling main channel on deep runners and good under lights at night on small minnows at 10-15 ft. Sunfish good on shallow gravel banks with worms. Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort. Webbers Falls: Elevation normal and murky. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits along riprap and creek channel. Channel catfish good on cut bait on bottom. Crappie good around brush structure and bridges. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. NORTHWEST Canton: Elevation normal. Crappie good in upper end of lake on minnows and jigs. White bass and striped bass hybrids good on minnows, jigs and crankbaits along dam. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County. Ft. Supply: Crappie and walleye fair on jigs and spinners in the shallows. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Harper County. Great Salt Plains: Elevation below normal and murky. Catfish good on trotlines baited with shad in the spillway and Coon Hollow on shrimp, shad or stinkbait. Report submitted by R.C Nickols, Great Plains State Park. SOUTHEAST Arbuckle: Elevation 3 1/2 ft. below normal, water 68-70 and clear. Crappie fair off docks and around brush piles. White bass are spawning up creeks and along dam. Bass good to fair on jigs, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics off points and in coves. Report submitted by Jack Melton. Blue River: Elevation normal, water 68 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on minnows and flies. Catfish fair on liver and worms. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area. Broken Bow. Elevation 10-12 ft. below normal, water 50 and clear. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits in the mouths of creeks. White bass good on white and yellow grubs and rooster tails along Panther Creek. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around structure and in the upper-end of Holly Creek. Walleye good on rouges late evening and early morning in the upper end of Holly Creek. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County. Eufaula: Elevation 4 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits at 1-6 ft. along the rocks. White bass good on crankbaits at 3-8 ft. trolling. Blue catfish good on shad at 4-10 ft. on the flats. Crappie good on jigs at 2-10 ft. along the banks. Report submitted Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County. Hugo: Elevation 4 ft. above normal, water 63 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and soft plastic lures. Crappie good on live minnows. Channel catfish fair on cut bait. Report submitted by Wendell Smalling, game warden stationed in Choctaw County. Konawa: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 75 and clear. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits and plastic worms at 4-6 ft. along weed beds. White bass fair on minnows and jigs at 15 ft. in the discharge channel. Channel catfish good on stinkbait at 8-10 ft. along points. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County. McGee Creek: Elevation normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair to good on soft plastic lures at 2-8 ft. around standing timber. Channel catfish fair on juglines baited with live bait. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County. Pine Creek: Elevation above normal, water murky. Crappie fair on blue and black jigs. Bass fair on spinnerbaits around points at 8-12 ft. Catfish fair on cut shad on juglines. Report Submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County. Robert S. Kerr: Elevation normal, water 71 and stained. Largemouth bass good at 2-4 ft. using plastic baits and spinnerbaits fishing the weed, rock and wood shorelines. Crappie fair at 6-8 ft using minnow fishing the edge of the channels. White bass good at 5-10 ft. using jigs and shad imitation lures fishing below Webbers Falls and Kerr dam. Blue catfish good at 3-10 ft. using fresh cut shad fishing the windy shorelines. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County. Sardis Lake: Elevation normal. White bass good in Jack Fork Creek. Crappie good on minnows around bridges and tower. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County. Texoma: Elevation 1 ft. above normal and rising. Water 64 and murky to north and clear to the south. Largemouth bass fair to good on plastic baits at 10-15 ft. in creek channels. White bass and striped bass fair to good on sassy shad at 15-20 ft. in Burns Run. Channel and blue catfish fair to good on cut shad at 5-10 ft. in Little Glasses Creek. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 5-10 ft. around structure on the south end of the lake. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County. SOUTHWEST Ellsworth: Elevation 10 ft. below normal, and murky. Crappie good in shallow water around structure on minnows and jigs. Catfish fair on cut bait off rocky points. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County. Foss: Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal, water 70 and clear. Walleye and saugeye fair on live bait or small jigs in front of the dam. White bass good. Hybrid striped bass fair. Catfish good on cut bait. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House. Tom Steed: Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water 62 and murky. White bass good on minnows off points and trolling crankbaits. Crappie fair on minnows at 4-8 ft. around rocks. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County. Waurika: Elevation below normal, water 69 and clear. White bass excellent on shad and white jigs. Hybrid striped bass fair. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around boat docks. Report submitted by Phillip Cottrill, game warden stationed in Jefferson County. To unsubscribe, please reply with UnSubscribe in the subject only. Copy/paste the UnSubscribe word into the subject line >>> UnSubscribe You also can subscribe/unsubscribe yourself by clicking this link http://wildlifedepartment.com/NewsSubscrip...bscription.aspx Please do not reply to this email except to unsubscribe. If you have a question or a comment, send an email to kgillman@odwc.state.ok.us

Admire the picture you took... more interesting is that you took it yourself. It might be common knowledge on your board, but how did Highway Cone get his name?

Wonder if Forest Wood or Dave Whitlock would get involved if asked... someone with some clout. I'd think Wood would already be- isn't he a commissioner? Isn't your governor an angler?

Q sent me this report so I'm passing it on. He and his dad fished Wednesday (yesterday) and did well- bring home 25 and leaving a bunch of short fish. Here's what he had to say - 1/16 oz. chartruese jig head with a smoke colored swimming minnow. Fish were scattered here and there. Honestly they were anywhere between two and 15 ft deep. I don't have a depth finder but that is my best guess. No structure, at least that I could see. We were working the jig painfully slow. Some were on the bank, and some were out deeper. They were not in any one certain pattern.

You're so funny... just because I don't get up at 5 am like you-- but you still get your 8-9 hours in buddy-boy. And it's 8 am at church Sunday for prayer- so there! Fishing... WORK?! Come on! Cleaning, taking care of people at the lodge, cooking, more cleaning - that's work. That just means Becky wears the pants in your house- buddy! You got it made!

Are you a drag fisherman? Are you slipping out in Becky's clothes again and screaming up and down the lake like a crazed ban chi again... I thought theapy had helped this time. Oh well... there's always hope.

You may research the "worker ant hatch" there. I heard about it when I was there last summer. It happened during the first good rain in July I understand. They're huge black ants that come out of the ground and are thick... they get in the river and the fish go nuts on them. I guess they use the big ant patterns and the fish explode on them. But you never know when it's going to happen.

Man- I love fishing below Truman and would like nothing more to get up there and fish a day. If anyone gets a chance- go. It's great fishing.

Thanks for jumping in. It's good to have your viewpoint on things living here so long and seeing all the changes.

You might want to look at this topic http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1890 It's the best info we've had on the forum in a week or so... and it's been consistant- deep water, trees, suspended 12-16 feet deep.

May be just me but I think it's staged... Shufflers.... shuffling spin rods.... Looks like a couple of C of O boys playing hookie.