Doug Lay, Editor and Avid Fisherman

While driving back from the Wildlife Expo (see article below), I stopped in the Arbuckle Mountains to survey the recent wildfire damage. Although the fire entered a portion of Turner Falls Park, all businesses and the park remains open. Lake of the Arbuckles, Veteran’s Lake (record black bass lake) and Guy Sandy were also uneffected, so go on and plan a trip to this beautiful area!

I just returned from the Oklahoma Wildlife Department’s annual Wildlife Expo at the Lazy E Arena in Edmond, Oklahoma. What a fantastic event! Designed for children of all ages, the many booths, exhibits and hands-on activities educate those interested in all things outdoors. You can learn how to make a campfire without matches, hone your kayak skills, avoid poison ivy and many, many more things about the great outdoors.

I highly encourage you to attend this event AND take your children. Your future outdoor adventures will be much safer and enjoyable with everything you learn from the super-friendly folks that work at the Wildlife Department and other Oklahoma governmental agencies.

To view more information, go to: www.wildlifedepartment.com/wildlifeexpo.com

My wife and I spent the weekend at Lake Broken Bow and the Beaver’s Bend Resort area. For those of you who haven’t been there – you need to get there!

Located in the Ouachita National Forest, this area offers virtually EVERYTHING outdoors; fishing, boating, hunting, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding, ATV trails, hang gliding, golf, go-karts, dining and much, much more.

We met many hard-working and super friendly people who are dedicated to preserving AND enjoying everything the area has to offer. It doesn’t take that long to get there (2.5 hours from Dallas) and I highly recommend the area to anyone at anytime of the year. Stay a week or more – you won’t be disappointed.

High temperatures and prolonged drought led to a major fish kill at Great Salt Plains Lake in northcentral Oklahoma this week. Biologists with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation estimate 10,000 fish have died due to low dissolved oxygen levels in the lake.

“This is a major fish kill and it reflects how this abnormal weather not only affects farmers and ranchers, but it also affects our lakes and our fisheries resources,” said Barry Bolton, assistant chief of fisheries for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “We are monitoring the situation closely. Unfortunately, there is simply not anything we can do to remedy high heat and lack of rain.”

According to Bolton, Great Salt Plains is a relatively shallow reservoir making it particularly susceptible to warm water temperatures.

“What we really need is some rain, cooler temperatures or strong winds – unfortunately none of these conditions are in the short-term forecast and there is a real concern that this situation could get worse before it gets better,” Bolton said. “However, nature is very resilient and long term outlook remains positive. We will continue to monitor the situation and we will adjust our management efforts, such as stocking, in the future if that is appropriate.”
There have been no other fish kills reported in other state reservoirs.

For more information about fishing in Oklahoma log on to www.wildlifedepartment.com

Lake Texoma Guide GW Chisholm of Trails Guide Service reports that although it’s hot, the big stripers are biting, coming in over 10lbs and many in the teens. He also reports that the topwater action is getting better, especially on the cloudier days, very early in the morning with chrome colors working well, especially chrome and blue.

Editor’s Note: Thanks for the report GW! Remember to drink lots of water out there in the heat! As they say, the weather only bothers the fisherman!

Lake Broken Bow fishing guide Bryce Archey reports that now is the time to book your fall fishing trip for excellent opportunities to catch smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass. He caught this 5.8lb lunker smallie using a Sammy 85 top water lure. Bryce also notes to book in advance for the best possible dates.

Editor’s Note: Thanks Bryce — nice smallie! Visit Bryce’s site at: www.BrokenBowLakeGuide.com

While visiting with GW Chisholm, fishing guide at Lake Texoma the other day, he asked that I post this picture of a crappie I caught while fishing with him several summers ago. What is interesting about this crappie is not only it’s size (~3lbs.) but the beautiful emerald green tint that it has. GW says that’s this particular species is what makes crappie fishing at Texoma so fun. They are big, beautiful and very tasty!

Editor’s Note: Thanks for reminding me of that photo GW. We had a great time on that trip. It was my birthday, the weather was perfect and we caught a ton of fish!

Lake Skiatook Guide David Clark reports excellent hybrid striper action. He reports that 40 fish were recently caught with 30 of them being nice hybrids ranging from 3 to 6lbs using downlines in 20 to 35ft.

Editor’s Note: Thanks for the report David! David guides on 4 lakes in Oklahoma; Lake Birch, Lake Skiatook, Lake Sooner and Lake Waurika. Check out David’s site at www.FishOnOk.com

If you have ever had trouble tying effective knots or wished there were animated demonstrations to help learn specific knots, then fret no more. Check out www.animatedknots.com and never lose a monster hawg to a bad knot again!

Editor’s Note: Lake Texoma Guide GW Chisholm suggested this site. Thanks GW!

This just in…Lake Texoma game wardens like to fish too! Did the game warden actually forget to turn off his lights between stops OR is he trying to pull over a topwater striper?!?

Editor’s note: Maybe he forgot his electroshock equipment and had to use a rod for the fish survey…