Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

[Phil Lilley]

May 18, 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

DNA analysis confirms new state record black bass hybrid

Biologists examine blue catfish populations

June 3-4 marks Oklahoma Free Fishing Days

Outdoor Calendar

Fishing Report

DNA analysis confirms new state record black bass hybrid

The mystery fish is a mystery fish no more. DNA analysis

recently confirmed that Dru Kinslow, of Oklahoma City, caught a state

record black bass hybrid last March. Kinslow caught the 8-pound, 5.6-ounce

bass from Veteran's Lake near Sulphur.

When he took the fish to fisheries biologists with the

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, they immediately recognized

it was bigger than either the current smallmouth or the black bass hybrid

records. However, the brute had characteristics of both a smallmouth bass

and spotted bass.

Fisheries biologists sent a small fin sample to a DNA lab which

has now confirmed that fish was a cross of a smallmouth bass and spotted

bass. Black bass hybrids occur rarely in nature when the spawning areas of

black bass species overlap.

Kinslow was using a jig and salt craw combo when he hooked the

big fish in the clear waters of 67-acre Veteran's Lake.

"I was just trying out different lures to see what might be

biting when I hooked the fish," Kinslow said. "It fought pretty hard and

went all the way under the boat. I didn't realize how big it was until I

got it in the boat."

The fish measured 22.75-inches long and was 16.5 inches in

girth.

The former state record black bass hybrid was just established

this February when Sean McAllister pulled a 6-pound, 14-ounce fish from

Lake Texoma.

For a complete list of record fish and the procedures regarding

certifying state record fish, consult the "2006 Oklahoma Fishing Guide." If

you think you may have hooked a record fish it is important that you weigh

the fish on an Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture certified scale and

a Wildlife Department employee verifies the weight.

-30-

Biologists examine blue catfish populations

During a recent research project, Oklahoma Department of

Wildlife Conservation fisheries biologists collected a 24-year-old blue

catfish. More surprising than the fish's impressive age was its diminutive

weight. The catfish weighed only two pounds.

"That fish was not normal but, in short, we found that it takes

a long time for a blue cat to grow very large. Generally speaking, it takes

13-16 years for a blue catfish to reach 10 pounds. They have a long

lifespan compared to most Oklahoma fish, but they grow slowly," said Jeff

Boxrucker, senior fisheries research biologist for the Wildlife Department.

"We still have a lot to learn about blue catfish, but this research will

help us better understand these great fish."

Biologists spent months gathering samples and analyzing data

from blue catfish populations on seven Oklahoma lakes. However, all is not

equal in the realm of blue cats. That 24-year-old, two-pound fish was

caught in Lake Ellsworth in southwest Oklahoma, but this spring, biologists

aged a 78-pound fish caught by an angler from Texoma that was 19 years old.

"Some fish, particularly blue catfish in certain lakes, just

grow slower than others," Boxrucker said. "In our study we found that blue

catfish grow faster in Texoma, Waurika, Grand and Keystone lakes. On the

flip side, they grow relatively slower in Hugo, Ellsworth and Eufaula

lakes."

Boxrucker and his fellow biologists will continue to study

these unique fish in order to give fisheries managers the knowledge they

need to make informed management decisions. In the meantime Boxrucker has

one suggestion for anglers.

"Keep all the small blue cats that you can eat and the law

allows. But consider releasing the really big fish. These trophy blues are

a great resource for all anglers and because of their age they can be hard

to replace," Boxrucker said.

For more information about blue catfish research in Oklahoma

log on to wildlifedepartment.com and go to "Fishing," then click on

"Fisheries Research Projects."

-30-

June 3-4 marks Oklahoma Free Fishing Days

In case you needed an excuse to take your family fishing, here

is a good one - the first weekend in June (June 3-4) is Free Fishing Days

in Oklahoma.

"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.

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.

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 Saturday, June 3 only. Unless exempt due to age, anglers

fishing on the Texas portion of Lake Texoma on Sunday, June 4 must either

possess the special Lake Texoma license or a fishing license issued by the

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Anglers must also follow all other

fishing regulations.

-30-

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

MAY

27: American Catfish Anglers Tournament Series at Ellsworth Lake, Lawton.

Meet at Ralph's Resort (city permit required). For more information contact

Mike Strawn at (405) 410-9486 or http://www.catfishangler.com

JUNE

1-4: Bassmaster Elite Series at Grand Lake.

1: Aquatic Education Clinic: ODWC Family Clinic, Casting Pond at ODWC,

Jenks. Pre-registration is required. Register by calling ODWC- Jenks at

(918) 299-2334.

3: Wildflower Biology workshop at the Same Noble Museum. The workshop runs

from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information call (405) 325-4712.

3 & 4: Frontier Days at Crows Corral at Clear Bay Rea, Lake Thunderbird

State Park. Admission is free. You can learn about dutch oven cooking, bow

making, hide tanning and much more. For more information contact Julie

Tarver at (405) 321-4633.

3-4: Free Fishing Days in Oklahoma. 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.

3: Aquatic Education Clinic at Wildhorse Pond, Mustang Parks and Rec.

Pre-registration is required. Register by calling Mustang Parks Department

at (405) 376-3411.

3: Aquatic Education Clinic: Wal-Mart Clinic, Cypress Lake, Norman.

Pre-registration is required. Register by calling Gene Gilliland at (405)

325-7288.

3: Aquatic Education Clinic: Wal-Mart Clinic, Willow Pond, Norman.

Pre-registration is required. Register by calling Gene Gilliland at (405)

325-7288.

3: Aquatic Education Clinic: Crystal Lake Clinic, Backwater Bassin' Clinic.

Pre-registration is required. Register by calling Chuck Drake at (405)

354-9468.

CENTRAL

Arcadia: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water 70. Largemouth bass good off

northeast banks around trees mid-day to evening at 2-5 ft. on artificial

lures. Channel catfish being caught off the north banks in the morning on

worms and raw bacon just off bottom. Crappie good in coves and around rocks

and docks on minnows, worms, roadrunners at 3-8 ft. Report submitted by

Linnie Mason, gate attendant.

Draper: Elevation 2 ft. above normal and clear. Largemouth bass good in

coves with structure on plastic worms and tandem spinners. Report submitted

by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.

Hefner: Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water 72. Walleye good on worms and

bottom bouncing sinkers. Crappie being caught on the east side of the lake

and the south end off cement and riprap break on medium size minnows at

12-13 ft. Catfish being caught on the northwest bend of the dam slip

corking punch bait, stinkbait and minnows at 2-8 ft. Report submitted by

Bob Martin, OKC Fisheries.

Thunderbird: Elevation 4 1/2 ft. below normal and clear. Crappie good at

3-6 ft. on minnows and jigs around structure. White bass good on jigs,

spinners and medium diving crankbaits off points. Largemouth bass good on

plastic worms and tandem spinners in coves on structure. Saugeye fair to

good on medium diving crankbaits and jigs at 4-8 ft. off points and old

road beds. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in

Cleveland County.

NORTHEAST

Birch: Elevation normal and clear. Crappie good off of the birch cove dock

using minnows. Largemouth bass fair and can be found around rocky points

using crankbaits, plastic baits and spinnerbaits. Striped bass hybrids good

while trolling with live shad and crankbaits. Catfish fair on cut fish in

the creek channel. Report submitted by Ben Bickerstaff, game warden

stationed in Osage County.

Carl Blackwell: Water 68 and murky. Crappie fair on jigs in 10-12 ft. of

water. Saugeye and striped bass hybrids fair trolling with crankbaits.

Channel catfish good on cut bait and punch bait around rocks. Report

submitted by Tyler Gann, lake ranger.

Eucha: Elevation 7 ft. below normal, water 64 and clear. Crappie good on

jigs and minnows around brush and structure. Largemouth bass good on jerk

baits and Carolina rigged plastic baits off rocky points. Catfish fair on

night crawlers. Bluegill being caught crickets and worms. Report submitted

by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.

Grand: Elevation normal and murky. White bass good on spinnerbaits and jigs

in the tributaries. Channel catfish good on worms and shad guts in the mud

flats and the tributaries. Crappie fair on minnows at 15 ft. around brush

piles. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in

Delaware County.

Greenleaf: Elevation normal and clear. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits

and crankbaits. Catfish good on cut bait on bottom. Crappie good on minnows

and jigs. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in

Muskogee County.

Hudson: Elevation 4 ft. above normal and murky. White bass fair to good on

small gizzard shad and lures in the upper end of the lake and around rocky

gravel pits, Channel catfish good on cut shad in the river channel and

rocky points. Crappie fair to good on minnows at 3-6 ft. Report submitted

by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Mayes County.

Hulah: Elevation 13 ft. above normal and murky. Fishing in the lake is

slow. Flathead catfish are being caught below the dam cut fish and live

shad. Report submitted by Ben Bickerstaff, game warden stationed in Osage

County.

Kaw: Elevation 7 ft. above normal and rising with stained water. Blue and

channel catfish fair on stinkbait and cut shad in upper end of lake and

Arkansas River. Blue catfish fair in tail waters on whole and cut shad.

White bass fair in tail waters on minnows. Report submitted by Marshall

Reigh, game warden stationed in Kay and Grant counties.

Keystone: Elevation 5 ft. above normal, water 60 and murky. Largemouth bass

fair on plastics and spinnerbaits at 3-8 ft. in flooded brush. Smallmouth

bass fair on crankbaits and jig and chunk at 5-10 ft. off secondary points

and in rocky coves. White bass fair on minnows and rooster tails at 4-8 ft.

below dam and in creeks. Striped bass good on buck tails at 3-6 ft. below

the dam. Channel catfish good on worms and minnows at 4-8 ft. off rocky

banks. Blue catfish good on cut shad and large minnows at 5-10 ft. in the

flats and coves. Flathead catfish fair on minnows and jigs at 3-8 ft. in

calm coves. Report submitted by Larry Sellers, Woody's Bait and Tackle.

Oologah: Elevation 6 ft. above normal, water 60 and muddy in the upper half

and murky in the lower half of the lake. Channel catfish good on dough bait

and worms upper areas of the lake around flooded vegetation. Crappie fair

on minnows and jigs around submerged structure at 4-8 ft. Largemouth bass

fair on spinnerbaits and soft plastics around flooded brush. Channel and

blue catfish also fair below the dam on shad. Report submitted by Brek

Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County.

Sooner: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 64 and clear. Striped bass and

striped bass hybrids good on live shad on mid-lake humps at 27-40 ft.

Crappie fair using minnows along highways. White bass good trolling crank

baits and using jigs or slabs. Report submitted by Paul Tennies, Pete's

Place.

Great Salt Plains: Bass good in weed beds on Carolina Rigs and lipless

crankbaits. Striped bass hybrids good in the upper end of the lake on shad

and fair on slabs. Crappie fair on the rip-rap with minnows in 5-10 ft.

Report submitted by Marshall Reigh, game warden stationed in Kay and Grant

counties.

Spavinaw: Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 64 and clear. Crappie good on

jigs and minnows around dam area. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits.

Catfish good on chicken livers. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of

Tulsa Fisheries.

Tenkiller: Elevation normal, water 72 and stained. Crappie fair trolling

the main channel with deep runners and around docks or brush at 8-10 ft. on

minnows or jigs. Catfish fair with some action on minnows and worms in

coves. Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort.

Webbers Falls: Elevation normal and murky. Largemouth bass good on

spinnerbaits along shoreline and riprap. Catfish good on cut bait on

bottom. Crappie good on minnows around brush structure. Report submitted by

Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

NORTHWEST

Canton: Elevation slightly above normal. White bass and striped bass

hybrids and walleye good along drifting slabs and trolling crankbaits.

Crappie fair in the upper end of the lake on minnows and jigs. Channel

catfish fair in the upper end of the lake on cut shad and crawfish. May

18-21 is the annual Canton Lake Walleye Rodeo. Report submitted by Mark

Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County.

Ft. Supply: Elevation normal and clear. Channel catfish good shallow on

stinkbait. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in

Harper County.

Great Salt Plains: Channel catfish fair to good on trotlines baited with

shad, slow to fair around the spillway on shad and stinkbait. Report

submitted by R.C Nickols, Great Plains State Park.

SOUTHEAST

Arbuckle: Fishing can be good. Bass fair on jigs and plastic worms. Report

submitted by Jack Melton.

Blue River: Elevation slightly below normal, water 65 and muddy. 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 normal, water 71 and clear. Largemouth bass good off

rocky points on dark soft plastics. Crappie good in south Holly Creek on

minnows and jigs around standing timber. Walleye fair in Egypt Creek south

towards main body of lake off rocky points after dark on deep running

crankbaits. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in

McCurtain County.

Eufaula: Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass good

on soft plastic baits at 2-8 ft. around brush. White bass good on jigs at

6-10 ft. around bridges. Blue catfish good on worms at 2-6 ft. along the

rocks. Crappie fair on jigs at 3-8 ft. around brush. Report submitted Ed

Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.

Hugo: Elevation 3 ft. above normal, water 64 and murky. Largemouth bass

good on spinnerbaits. Crappie good on live minnows. Channel catfish fair on

cut bait. Report submitted by Wendell Smalling, game warden stationed in

Choctaw County.

Konawa: Elevation normal, water 75 and clear. Largemouth bass good on

crankbaits at 5-10 ft. along the points and road bed. Report submitted by

Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.

McGee Creek: Elevation 4 ft. above normal, water 68 and clear. Largemouth

bass fair to good on soft plastic lures at 2-6 ft. in standing timber.

Channel catfish good on juglines with sunfish and good on red worms with

rod and reel off rip rap. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden

stationed in Atoka County.

Pine Creek: Elevation above normal and murky. Bass fair on spinnerbaits

around points and creek channels. Crappie fair on pink, red, and yellow

jigs around timber. Catfish good on liver in upper end of lake. Report

Submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Robert S. Kerr: Elevation normal, water 72 and stained. Largemouth bass

good at 2-4 ft. using plastic baits and spinnerbaits fishing the rock, weed

and woody shorelines. Crappie good at 8-10 ft. using minnows fishing the

edge of the old creek channels. White bass good at 8-10 ft. using jigs

fishing below Webbers Falls and Kerr dams. Blue catfish good at 3-10 ft.

using fresh cut bait and goldfish fishing the edges of the current in the

upper part of the lake. Flathead catfish good at 10-20 ft. using live bait

on trotlines and juglines. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden

stationed in Haskell County.

Sardis Lake: Elevation 1 ft. above normal and murky. Catfish good on cut

bait. Bass fair on weed beds. Crappie good around bridges and brush piles.

Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Pushmataha

County.

Texoma: Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal, water 68 and clear to the south

and murky to the north. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits at 5-10 ft.

around shoreline and structure. White bass and striped bass fair to good on

live bait and sassy shad at 15-25 ft. around the islands. Catfish fair to

good on live bait and cut shad at 5-15 ft. in Little Glasses Creek. Crappie

fair on minnows and jigs at 5-15 ft. around structure. Report submitted by

Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.

Wister: Elevation 3 1/4 ft. above normal, water 68 degrees and muddy.

Channel and blue catfish good on the rip rap areas with shad at 3-8 ft.

Flathead catfish good on trotlines baited with live sunfish 1at 0-15 ft.

Crappie good on the banks with minnows at 3-6 ft. Largemouth bass fair

around the points on dark crankbaits. Report submitted by D.G. Belcher,

game warden stationed in Latimer County.

SOUTHWEST

Altus-Lugert: Elevation 14 ft. below normal and murky. North shore boat

ramp is high and dry. Crappie are being caught using minnows. White bass,

walleye and hybrid striped bass fair to good. Report compiled by Quartz

Mountain Grocery.

Ellsworth: Elevation 10 ft. below normal and murky. Crappie have slowed but

are still being caught in shallow water on jigs and minnows. 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 68 and clear. Walleye and

saugeye good along dam with live bait. White bass good. Catfish fair with

cut shad or shad gizzards. Bass and crappie fair. Watch for the birds

working and you will generally find fish. Report submitted by Eric Puyear,

B & K Bait House.

Ft. Cobb: Elevation 1/4 ft. above elevation and murky. Crappie fair on

minnows and jigs in shallow water. Catfish fair on cut baits. White bass

fair on jigs and minnows. Saugeye fair on night crawlers and jigs or sassy

shad drifting or trolling. Report submitted by James L. Edwards, Jr.,

game warden station in Caddo County.

Tom Steed: Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 68 and murky. Catfish good

on cut bait. White bass good trolling crankbaits. Crappie fair on minnows

around the rocks. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in

Kiowa County.

Waurika: Elevation below normal, water 70 and murky. White bass good on

jigs and shad off windy points. Catfish good on juglines or trotlines

baited with shad and goldfish. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at Washita

Bridge. Report submitted by Phillip Cottrill, game warden stationed in

Jefferson County.