If Lesley McNeff of Mustang had caught her 78 lb. flathead catfish from Kaw Lake this time last year, she may have been the only one to cherish the sweet memory, but since she caught it March 8 of this year, the big cat will go down in the record books.
McNeff’s catfish goes down as the first lake record flathead catfish and the third lake record caught since the inception of the program. It was caught on a trotline baited with whole shad, and McNeff, 25, and her father braved cold weather to bring home the fish.
“It was really cold,” McNeff said. “It was 19 degrees when we got on the water.” The pair checked her father’s trotline first, coming up with three nice-sized flatheads, then switched to check Lesley’s trotline. There was only one fish on the trotline, but neither of them expected to find a Kaw lake record — weighing an even 75 lbs with a length of 51 inches and a girth of 34.25 inches.
“I was not disappointed that it was the only fish on the line!” McNeff said. McNeff enjoys running trotlines this time of year with her father, who learned the art of successful trotline fishing from his father. “My dad’s the best trotline fisherman I know,” McNeff said. “He knows how and where to set them, how to run them.”
For more information about The New Lake Record Fish Program, or for more on catfishing in Oklahoma, log on to www.wildlifedepartment.com
Recent changes that were approved affect fisherman and several popular fishing spots. The new rule amendments are as follows:
* Paddlefish anglers will be required to attach their paddlefish permit number to their fish, and it will be a requirement for paddlefish viscera to be removed before leaving the state. Additionally, paddlefish anglers will be required to have a free annual paddlefish permit. These paddlefish rules are currently in effect under emergency rules.
* The Illinois River was defined as the area from the confluence of Baron Fork Creek downstream to the Horseshoe Bend boat ramp.
* The boundaries on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System were clarified.
* Spotted bass were exempted from length limits statewide except for certain streams.
* Spotted bass bag limits were removed statewide except for certain streams.
* Alligator gar rules were modified after public hearings to define the closed area, shorten the period of closure and restrict all angling methods.
* The use of non-metallic materials will be allowed where natural materials do not exist for attaching limblines.
For more information, please visit http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/
A hefty 40.1-lb. blue catfish caught out of Grand Lake, by Illinois resident Denny Halgren, set a new Grand Lake record for blue catfish. Denny caught the fish with natural bait.
The fish was released, but had a length of 43 inches and a girth of 28.5 inches.
For more information about The New Lake Record Fish Program, or for more on catfishing in Oklahoma, log on to www.wildlifedepartment.com
You don’t have to convince Allen Gifford, 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.
The Oklahoma Wildlife Department has announced a new State Record program for 13 lakes around the state. While your fish may not have broken a state record, it could very possibly be the biggest fish ever caught out of your favorite lake.
Now thanks to new technology and a network of record keepers at 13 lakes around the state, your next trophy could qualify as a lake record. The program was established as a way to serve anglers and recognize big fish and the lakes they come from.
The 13 pilot lakes of the program are:
The Wildlife Department promises that more will be added later!
The 13 qualifying species (and their minimum weights) are:
To find a record keeper, Click Here
To view current lake records, Click Here
To become a record keeper, Click Here
Twice a month, https://www.oklahomafishingguides.com/ awards free lures & tackle to lucky fishing report subscribers.In addition, once a quarter a lucky subscriber will also win an Original Readi-Lure tackle box from Tackle Tech AND at the end of the year, one lucky subscriber will win a customized IM8 Hookhider Fishing Rod.
This week’s winner is Dustin S. from Altus AFB, Oklahoma.
Dustin will receive an assortment of lures & tackle from Alluring Lures & Tackle, Lead Babies Slabs, The Fish Grip, and our newest sponsor River Bottom Lures.Want a chance to win free fishing lures & tackle OR a new tackle box OR a customized IM8 Hookhider fishing rod? Sign Up Here!
Lake Broken Bow fishing guide Bryce Archey sends us this report:
Starting today, all boat ramps will be closed on Lake Broken Bow. Due to all the recent heavy rains, the lake’s water level is 18 feet above normal and still rising and all ramps are now under water.
The dam will begin releasing water next week and start getting the lake level back down to fishing levels in the next 7 to 10 days.
Editor’s Note: Thanks for the report Bryce. You be careful out there. To book a Lake Broken Bow fishing trip with Bryce, call him at 580-494-6447 or 870-582-4561 or visit his website at www.BrokenBowLakeGuide.com
Lake Broken Bow fishing guide Bryce Archey sends us this report:
The annual sand bass run has begun and we are catching big sandies right now. This run will continue for a couple of more weeks. Here is a picture of how big they can get this time of year.
I only have a couple of days remaining towards the end of the month if anyone is interested in a guided trip.
Editor’s Note: Thanks for the report Bryce. Looks like you guys had a blast catching those sandies! If you want to catch some sandies with Bryce, call him at 580-494-6447 or 870-582-4561 or visit him at his website: www.BrokenBowLakeGuide.com
