Updated Fishing Report for July 27, 2010

Ft. Gibson: July 18. Elevation 5 1/2 ft. above normal, water 86 and stained. Largemouth bass good on buzzbaits and crankbaits in the flooded timber and around the docks. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. Catfish good on juglines and rod and reel with cut bait and shad. White bass good when surfacing on white jigs and rooster tails. Report submitted by Rick Stafford in Wagoner.

 
Greenleaf: July 20. Elevation normal, water clear. Largemouth bass good on chartreuse spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jig and worm along shorelines, creek channels and rocky points. Catfish good on fresh cut bait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around fishing docks and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

 
Lower Illinois: July 19. Elevation normal, water 54 and clear. Largemouth bass good on topwater lures all along the river. White bass fair on jigs at 1-3 ft. all along the river. Striped bass good on live shad at 1-3 ft. below Gore Landing. Channel catfish excellent on cut bait on bottom all along the river. Crappie fair on jigs at 1-3 ft. all along the river. Trout excellent on flies at the surface, on rooster tails at 1-2 ft. and on power bait on bottom above Gore Landing. Report submitted by D. Tracy, Town of Gore.  This week trout fishing is excellent at the Lower Illinois River above Gore Landing on surface flies, rooster tails at 1-2 ft. deep and on power bait on the river bottom.
   Oklahomans may not typically associate the heat of summer with trout fishing, but the Lower Illinois River in northeast Oklahoma and the Lower Mountain Fork River in the southeast both offer some of the best cold water angling, even during some of the hottest months of the year.
    Both the Lower Illinois River and Lower Mountain Fork River trout fisheries are stocked with rainbow trout nearly every two weeks, with occasional brown trout stocked as well. Since both fisheries are open to trout fishing year-round, anglers can plan their fishing getaway around their own schedule but also around pre-scheduled stocking dates, available on the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s website at wildlifedepartment.com.

   Anglers can catch trout any time, but it’s great that they can get an idea of when new stockings are taking place,” said Jay Barfield, streams management technician for the Wildlife Department. “Having the schedule right there online is like having an inside scoop on the fishing, yet it’s free to everyone who will log on and take advantage of the information.”
   The Lower Illinois River trout fishery includes a 7 ¾-mile stretch of the Illinois River from Tenkiller Dam to the Hwy 64 bridge near Gore in Sequoyah County. The Lower Illinois River Public Fishing and Hunting Area – Simp and Helen Watts Management Unit offers public fishing access to almost one mile of the trout stream as well as 320 acres of public hunting opportunity. To reach the area, travel north on SH 100 from Gore approximately one mile to the entrance. The area is managed for walk-in access only. Four other public access sites are available along the designated trout stream as well. Learn more by logging on to wildlifedepartment.com or by picking up a free copy of the current “Oklahoma Fishing Guide” anywhere fishing licenses are sold.

 
Tenkiller:  July 19. Elevation 2 3/4 ft. above normal and steady, water 89 and clear. Largemouth bass slow on topwater lures and spinnerbaits early. Catfish fair on minnows and cut bait at 10-20 ft. drifting. Sunfish good on night crawlers in or near docks. Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort. For more information about  Lake Tenkiller.

 

Webbers Falls: July 20. Elevation 4 ft. above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits in creek channels, mud flats and brush piles. Catfish good on fresh cut bait on bottom over mud flats. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush structure and bridges. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

 
Eufaula: July 18. Elevation 3 ft. above normal, water 84 and clear east and murky west. Largemouth bass fair on Carolina-rigged plastic baits off windy points. White bass fair trolling shallow flats near windy points. Blue catfish fair on fresh shad along deeper flats and creek channels. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 6-20 ft. under bridges and standing timber. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.

 
Robert S. Kerr: July 19. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 85 and murky. Largemouth bass slow. White bass slow. Catfish slow. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around submerged brush piles. Report submitted by Leland Sockey, game warden stationed in Haskell County.