FISHING REPORT FOR APRIL 30, 2008

CENTRAL

Thunderbird: Elevation 3 ft. above normal and murky. Saugeye fair to good on jigs off points. Crappie beginning to move up to shallow water to spawn, but are just not there yet. Some are being caught on minnows and jigs on structure at 4-5 ft. White bass good on jigs and in-line spinnerbaits off points and trolling. Largemouth bass good on tandem spinnerbaits in shallow areas of warmer water around structure. Catfish slow. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.

NORTHEAST

Birch: Elevation normal, water in the lower 40's and clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 15-30 ft. around brush piles. Blue catfish good on cut shad at 10-15 ft. near creek channels. Striped bass hybrids and white bass fair on jigs and spinners up the creeks. Report submitted by Spencer Grace, game warden stationed in Osage County.

MARCH

7 & 8: Stars Over the Wichitas Tour at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The public is invited to participate in an evening with the stars. Participants will search and locate major constellations and other heavenly bodies with assistance from an amateur astronomer. Bring your own optics, or view the night skies through a 13" Dobsonian telescope. The two-hour program begins 30 minutes after sunset. Participants should meet at the Boulder/Lost Lake picnic area entrance gate. Reservations, which are required, may be made by calling the Visitor Center at (580) 429-3222. A $5 reservation fee per participant is collected prior to the program.

CENTRAL

Thunderbird: Elevation normal, water clear. Crappie good on minnows and jigs over structure at 8-10 ft. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.

NORTHEAST

An agreement between the City of Miami and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will mean better and cheaper fishing for paddlefish anglers in Miami’s Riverview City Park.

At a recent meeting, the Miami City Council unanimously approved a proposal from the Wildlife Department to eliminate the City of Miami spoonbill permit that has, up to this point, been a requirement for paddlefish anglers in the park. With the city permit abolished, paddlefish anglers will only need an appropriate state fishing license and the Wildlife Department’s free paddlefish permit. In return, the Wildlife Department will provide the City of Miami with $5,000, to be matched with up to $15,000 of Sport Fish Restoration funds, for increasing fishing and boating access in the area.

Duck season is closed. Conservation Order Light Goose Season (COLGS) open until March 30. For zone maps and complete waterfowl hunting regulations log on to wildlifedepartment.com

NORTHEAST

Ft. Gibson: Lake level is 2.18 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is fair. Due to the extreme high water through the summer and early fall the vegetation is in poor shape. Their are some agricultural crops in the area. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low, with low success.

You don’t have to convince Allen Gifford, Davis, that now is the time to be bass fishing in Oklahoma. He already knows, and the 14 lb., 8 oz., largemouth bass he caught Feb. 27 out of Arbuckle Lake proves it. Not only that, but the huge bass, along with a hefty 40.1-lb. blue catfish caught out of Grand Lake the same day are the first record setting fish to be landed since the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s new Lake Record Fish Program launched just weeks ago.

CENTRAL

Draper: Elevation normal, water clear. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 8-10 ft. around structure. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.

NORTHEAST

Part of the Endangered Species Act

The red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) is a federally endangered species that has a very restricted habitat. This species nests only in old-growth pine stands which, in Oklahoma, occur in the southeast. The major habitat problems for the species are that much of these old-growth pine forests have been converted to other habitats, are in short-cycle logging rotations, or have been degraded by hardwood encroachment due to years of fire suppression.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Anglers can show their support and appreciation for fish conservation by attending the 89er Chapter of Trout Unlimited's 13th Annual Banquet and Auction Saturday, March 1.

The banquet, to be held at the Sportsman's Country Club in Oklahoma City, includes dinner, raffles and silent and live auctions. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. All anglers and their friends are welcome to attend. The auction begins at 6 p.m., but items can be previewed starting at 5 p.m.

CENTRAL

Arcadia: Elevation normal, water clear. White bass being caught on chartreuse jigs. Channel catfish being caught on cut shad. Crappie being caught on chartreuse jigs around heated docks and on white jigs and minnows. Report submitted by Tim Campbell, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.

NORTHEAST

Birch: Elevation normal, water upper 30s and stained. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs around brush piles at 20-30 ft. A few hybrids are being caught suspended in open water at 25-30 ft. Channel and blue catfish fair on cut bait at 30-40 ft. in main channels. Report submitted by Spencer Grace, game warden stationed in Osage County.

Youth interested in wildlife, fisheries and law enforcement can apply now to attend the 10th annual Oklahoma Wildlife Department Youth Camp scheduled for June 2-6, 2008. This camp is free, and youth get a chance to learn about careers in wildlife conservation.

CENTRAL

Arcadia: Elevation normal, water clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits. Channel and blue catfish good on cut shad. Crappie good on minnows and chartreuse jigs at heated dock. Report submitted by Tim Campbell, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.

At its February meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission accepted $2,000 from Whitetails of Oklahoma as well as 36.31 acres of land from a private donor, both of which will be used to support conservation activities in Oklahoma.

For zone maps and complete waterfowl hunting regulations log on to wildlifedepartment.com

NORTHWEST

Ft. Supply: Lake level is 0.54 ft above normal. Habitat conditions around the lake are poor to fair. Local wheat crops in the area range from good to poor condition. Duck numbers are good, with mostly divers. Goose numbers are fair. Hunting activity is low, with no reports of success. Bird movement in the area has been low, but should increase with forecasted cold fronts.

It is with great pleasure and excitement that I have the opportunity to present the inaugural issue of MARLIN WORLD.

LINK TO MAGAZINE: http://viewer.zmags.com/showmag.php?mid=pgptf

1. Click anywhere on the screen to ZOOM in and read.

CENTRAL

Thunderbird: Elevation normal and clear. Crappie good on minnows and small jigs at 8-10 ft. around structure. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.