New Lake Texoma Largemouth Bass Record

On March 3, Royce Harlan of Kingston hauled in a 12.4-lb. largemouth bass from the waters of Lake Texoma, nabbing that lake record spot and setting the stage for a great fishing season.


Harlan caught the 24-inch bass in the Washita arm using a soft plastic bait. The fish is a new record bass for Texoma in the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's lake record fish program.


"It's always a thrill to catch a big fish," Harlan said. "Everybody always hopes for that one big bite. I got it, and I'm thankful for it."


Harlan released the fish.

New Largemouth Bass Record

A new Oklahoma state record largemouth bass was caught Friday, March 23, at Cedar Lake in southeast Oklahoma. The fish weighed 14 lbs. 12.3 oz. and was caught by Poteau angler Benny Williams, Jr. while on a camping trip at the 78-acre LeFlore Co. lake. 


Williams caught the bass at 11 a.m. on a ¼ oz. Striker King jig. This fish measured 26 inches in length and 22 3/8 inches in girth.


Williams' fish breaks a state record held since 1999 when William Cross caught a 14-lb. 11.52-oz. bass from Broken Bow Lake.



"Catching the state record largemouth bass in Oklahoma is a big deal and catching a fish this large is a big deal," said Barry Bolton, chief of fisheries for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "It speaks to the quality of fishing we have in Oklahoma and also to the anglers who get out there and fish for them. We congratulate him on his great catch."


According to Gene Gilliland, assistant chief of fisheries for the Wildlife Department, Cedar Lake has been known to produce big largemouth bass for anglers in recent years - not only because of its southeastern location, but also because it has a history of receiving Florida strain largemouth bass through the state's stocking program.


"They grow pretty fast down in that part of the state," Gilliland said. "Cedar Lake has produced several double-digit fish in the last five years."

New Smallmouth Bass Record

Ryan Wasser of Pocasset was fishing March 31 at Lake Lawtonka in preparation for an upcoming local tournament when he hooked a fish that he knew was special.


"The fish came to the top where I could see it, and I knew that I had a potential record type smallmouth on," he said.


And a record smallmouth it was. At 8 lbs. 7 oz., the fish outweighs the previous record smallmouth by four ounces.


Wasser caught the bass on a ¼ oz. shakyhead lure from Flatlands Custom Tackle rigged with a finesse worm and 10-lb. test line. He was using a Shimano reel on an Abu Garcia rod. The fish measured 23 1/8 inches in length and 18 inches in girth.


Read the full story here.

Oklahoma Fishing Regulation Changes for 2012

Before heading out to the lake this season, make sure to brush up on the latest changes to the fishing regulations for the Oklahoma lakes listed below:

• The 13-16-inch slot length limit on large and smallmouth bass at Lake Elmer Thomas was deleted to help increase opportunity for anglers to harvest what is currently a surplus of fish.

• All the ponds on the Black Kettle National grasslands were added to the list of lakes with a 14-inch length limit on black bass.

• All Sooner Lake anglers must immediately release all striped bass under 20 inches in length to help manage the fishery for trophy striper fishing opportunities.

• The daily limit on striped bass at five daily statewide except at Lake Texoma where limits would remain at 10 daily with no more than two measuring greater than 20 inches.

• Kaw Lake anglers can keep up to 20 striped bass hybrids and/or white bass combined, with no more than five over 20 inches in length. 

NatureWorks Art Show and Sale March 3-4

Wildlife enthusiasts may find just the right painting, sculpture, carving or other piece at the 2012 NatureWorks Art Show and Sale March 3-4 at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center.


NatureWorks is the Tulsa-based conservation group that hosts the art show, bringing together wildlife and nature artists from across the United States and abroad for the event. Art at the show will be for sale, which will help generate matching grants to assist with a variety of state wildlife conservation projects. 


NatureWorks has also partnered with the Wildlife Department on a number of different conservation projects, such as the Department's paddlefish management program, duck stamp print program and centennial duck stamp print. 


Additionally, NatureWorks has supported habitat work at the Harold Stuart Waterfowl Refuge Unit within the Deep Fork Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and the Grassy Slough WMA. 


NatureWorks also has been an important supporter of the Wildlife Department's Hunters Against Hunger program - in which hunters can donate their legally harvested deer to feed hungry Oklahomans. 


In addition, they have funded important projects to help schools and libraries in the state receive paid subscriptions to the Department's Outdoor Oklahoma magazine.


Get all the show details here.

Watonga Trout Derby March 2-4

The Watonga Trout Derby will be held Friday March 2nd, Saturday, March 3rd & Sunday March 4th, 2012 at Roman Nose State Park and is being co-sponsored by Friends of Roman Nose State Park and the Watonga Chamber of Commerce.  Pre-registration is available this year as well as online registration.  

The three-day event gives fishermen an opportunity to catch tagged trout for prizes.  One hundred tagged trout are put in Lake Watonga in conjunction with the normal trout stocking done by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.  


A drawing from the tags of all registered trout will determine the $300.00 grand prize cash winner. A $100.00 Sr. division and a $50.00 Jr. division prize will be  given for the heaviest stringer of trout and will be awarded at the close of the derby.  All tagged trout are worth cash or gifts.

This year, one registration will be drawn to win a Deluxe Patio Package valued at over $1,200.  This gift package is sponsored by Lowes.


Read the full story here.

Cooler temps bring better fishing.

Hello from Southwest Oklahoma and Lake Tom Steed. It has been a long time since I have been fishing and post a story. The cooler weather sure is nice and I simply couldn't just sit home anymore.

The water temps were in the low 70s and the bass are moving closer to the top instead of down deep like they do in the summer. I managed to catch eight bass 14" or better with the largest at 5lb. It was a cloudy day and top water baits worked best casting them over the same areas several times as well as what I call back casting (covering an area and then coming back to it before moving on) 


One of the bass I caught had fishing line hanging from it's rear, a first for me. The best thing to do for him was to trim the line short and let him go. The largest bass was caught buzzing a top water bait over one of several brush piles now extending from the water.

For my next adventure I plan on getting a GoPro HD video camera and filming video of the bass in action at water level as well as all the other great sights you see while out on the water.

I would like to dedicate this great day out to my fellow fishermen and friend Mike Jackson as well as my son Michael. You will forever be missed.

Maniac Custom Lures Free Shipping Special

As many of you know, I am a HUGE fan of Maniac Custom Lures.  They make a superior product, right here in the USA, and the lures work great!  In addition, Maniac Custom Lures sponsors our twice monthly free fishing lures giveaway.


I have posted many big fish photos here on Hawg Blawg of the lunkers I have caught using Maniac Custom Lures from Texas to Canada.


My favorite is the 4" Salt Stick fished wacky-rig when fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass.  I've also had a lot of success with the new 6" Maniac Minnow.


During the summer months, Maniac is offer Free Shipping on all internet orders over $15.00.  For free shipping on your orders this summer, enter the code SuMmeR2011.

Lake Eufaula Fishing Guide

Please welcome our newest fishing guide, Barry Morrow of MRO Crappie Academy, fishing on Lake Eufaula!


Barry fishes for trophy crappie, bass & catfish and offers a Kids Academy Certification Program.  


Barry is also a Lindey Tackle Pro Staff member who produces a weekly internet radio fishing report.  


Book your next fishing trip with Barry by calling him at 660-723-2667, 918-452-3511, or email him at bmorrow@barrymro.com.

Lake Broken Bow Fishing

Broken Bow Lake fishing guide Bryce Archey sends us this report from Lake Broken Bow at Beaver's Bend State Park:

The fishing at Lake Broken Bow has been very good the spring, in spite of the crazy weather.  This year's pattern is requiring different techniques than in the last several years, and clients are catching on quickly to what I like to call "Old School Broken Bow Fishing".  Techniques that my Dad and I used years ago growing up on the lake are working very well for this year's tough bite.

Here are some recent pictures from trips.  Clients have caught just about every fish species in the lake.  Pictured here are some nice smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, hybrid bass, and walleye.  The spotted bass, sand bass, and crappie bites have all been strong too.

Editor's Notes:

• Click on the picture to view a larger version.  
• Check out 2 new fishing videos featuring Bryce on the OKFG YouTube channel; http://youtu.be/GENZpvSS7nw and http://youtu.be/v4h9FKrYbes
• Go fishing with Bryce Archey at beautiful Lake Broken Bow in southeast Oklahoma.  Call him at 580-494-6447 or 870-582-4561.  Visit his website here.