/*--> It was built in 1947 to expand the water supply for the city of Oklahoma City. He fishes with artificial baits only, and is partial to 1/8- and 1/4-ounce jigs in chartreuse, white, and red, white, and blue Though the white crappie is the main species at Grand, Martin reports that people are catching more black crappie than ever before. Spawning crappie can be predictable, and savvy anglers can catch an ice chest full in no time. 2 8 Mar 17, 2014 chadwick88 0 Crappie will spawn around hardcover like brush, docks, long-stemmed reeds and cattails and really like gravelareas. As at Grand and Gibson, Tenkiller anglers are allowed 15 crappie with a minimum length of 10 inches. All Rights Reserved. Lake Hefner is a reservoir in northwestern Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Spring in the Sooner State is generally punctuated by unpredictable weather. You are trying to access a feature that requires a Fishidy account. I like to use a crappie rig baited with minnows to fish at depths of 10 to 20 feet. Three sizes of jigs do the trick for Reece: 1/32, 1/16 and 1/8 ounce. Live minnows or small beetle spins are excellent bait for . .goog-te-menu-value:hover {text-decoration:none !important;} Lake employee Leon Mixer says he has witnessed some good stringers of crappie caught at the indoor fishing dock located beside the 15th Street boat ramp. There is an abundance of game fish in the lake, including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, channel catfish and bluegill. He catches crappie all yearon the lake, but says the easiest time is in June, July and August when the weather is consistent in the summer and the crappie are schooled up. Beaver Creek Reservoir is a 104-acre water supply reservoir that was built in 1964 for the Town of Crozet. Call (405) 297-2211 to speak with a Parks and Recreation representative regarding permits. A fish fry favorite, catfish are abundant across Oklahoma and easy to catch come summertime! Fishing, boating and swimming are popular activities in Virginia's many pretty lakes. Size: 1,500 surface acres Depth: 6 feet average, 13 feet deepest Attractions: Covered fishing pier, boat ramps, tending docks, handicap facilities, and fish attractors. Annuallystocked with channel catfish and hybrid striped bass. Texoma's night-fishing can be amazing. Elevation is 6 ft. below normal (stable), water temperature 63F and murky. The anglers here have plenty of options for where to fish, and the fishing is generally good. The spawn over, crappie undergo a shift in priorities that sends them off to new locations. June is the month the channel cats and flatheads move into the shallow water to spawn, and Hefner anglers have been catching them like crazy on just about anything, Hughes said. For all special regulations visit okc.gov. The tedium was suddenly broken: Crow's white spinnerbait was struck violently, he set the hook, and the battle was on. Fishing the canal. LAKE THUNDERBIRDLying 30 minutes south of Oklahoma City near Norman, my top pick is Thunderbird Lake, a 6,070-acre impoundment that locals have nicknamed "T-Bird" and -- because its water is normally muddy year 'round -- "Dirty Bird." 2022 All Rights Reserved Express Fishings, Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. This is the busiest time of year at LakeSide One Stop store in Crowder. The best fishing, she added, is from March 15 into April . That's right, you can save gas and catch crappie too! Throw in some morel mushrooms and not only will a country boysurvive, he will be well-fed to boot. Motley gives a prize of Beaver Bottom baits each month to the angler who catches the biggest crappie and brings it to his store. The two regularly take limits of channel catfish there in the 1 1/2- to 3-pound range, and occasionally catch some large blue cats. Bowfishing during daylight hours only. When using minnows, always have an adequate supply; the action can always heat up. Stealth presentations for up-close encounters with bass hiding in cover. Longnose Gar, Lepisosteus osseus with a minnnow. Fishing shallow cover with jigs and minnows during the spawn is one of the easiest ways and most fun ways to catch crappie. Jones and Wilson, regulars at Hefner, fish the long rocky riprap area around . The lake consists of 935 acres of clear to stained water that is home to good numbers of slab-sized papermouths. The good crappie fishing is only beginning, and big numbers of hard-fighting papermouths can be found at a venue near you. Two fishing docks are available at the lake, which in general offers uncomplicated access for crappie angling. Albemarle Lake | Virginia DWR Use heavier equipment and lures that can handle colder water, such as largemouth bass jigs and crankbaits. Google .more 12 Details chadwick88 Feb 27, 2014 - Lake Hefner Great lure in the summer!!! Lake Hefner is known for its fishing opportunities, but it can be expensive to book a fishing guide and take advantage of their services. Lake Overholser Oklahoma Fishing Guides Cabins RV Parks Click the images and links above for species details. He prefers to use feathers instead of plastic tails. Lake Hefner is located in central in Oklahoma Come join the best Family Orientated fishing website on the Internet. --> Be it news, outdoors, sports you name it, he wants to report it. Though the entire lake produces respectable numbers of crappie, the better areas are the clearer parts of the lake -- sites like Porum Landing, Duchess Creek, Belle Starr, and Highway 9 Landing. 27 in. The frontrunner this month is a 2.33-pounder. I have been fishing with a few friends that are . shows me in the lake, I assure you I'm well grounded. I set my rod down and became a spectator while Crow masterfully played the fish to the side of our bass boat. Allowed methods: up to three rods and reels per person with no more than three hooks per line (treble hooks are considered one hook). 4 foot depth. Generally, I find 90 percent of my fish in 12 to 16 feet of water, and catching 12- to 16-inch crappie is common.". View Map Find Local Fishing Spots on the Interactive Map! It's not uncommon for bass anglers to catch 3- to 5-pound largemouths, and Hefner contains some hybrids that make the journey down from Canton Lake in the North Canadian River. As they move deeper, spoons are among the top producers if the crappie are active. The eastern shoreline of these lakes provide gentle, drive-up access. Annual big crappie contest on Lake Minnetonka kicks off spring fishing Keep a variety of small crappie baits handy, and don't be too proud to dunk a minnow when fishing with artificials gets tough. There are numerous different species of fish to find on this body of water. Since the lake lies in both Oklahoma and Texas, purchasing the special Texoma fishing license would be a good idea. In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. The majority of crappie caught in Hefner will be white crappie running between 8 ounces and 1 pound. One thing's for sure: The crappie action is heating up, so pack up the panfishing gear, take a friend, and head to one of these local crappie holes. The water there is shallow, usually ranging from 2 to 3 feet, so you simply swim a jig around each stickup. Hefner Lake OK Fishing Reports, Map & Hot Spots To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. I have always enjoyed success fishing the riprap near the 15th Street boat ramp, and regularly take slabs there during April and May. Your email address will not be published. The spots on the lake that you'll want to fish are the rocky riprap occupying a third of the lake's shore, and the area near the west-side fishing jetty. Lake Overholser is a 1500 acre lake located in Canadian county. body {top:0 !important;} Conclusion Headquartered at Martin's Landing on Monkey Island, he operates a sport shop and motel, and books fishing trips the year around. One is on a dropper line. I had a lot of fun.. he was fun to catch. Strong crappie population in Beed's Lake in Iowa's Franklin County Huckabee is one of the busiest crappiefishing guides on Lake Eufaula. He started chasing the species nearly 50 years ago, long before crappie fishing became as cool as it is today. Small jigs ranging in weight from 1/32 ounce to 1/8 ounce are the optimal bait choice here. Website: Lake Hefner. The 2,500-acre lake has nearly 20 miles of By Kara Williams. Hembree said when she represents the Lake Eufaula Association at anoutdoors show, crappie fishing is always a topic of discussion among the showgoers. May 31, 2014 - Lake Hefner Details: Channel Catfish with a raw shrimp Fishing the canal. "Pretty much they will bite just about anything as they are guarding their nest," said Michael Hollie, a fisheries biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. There is no limit in the food supply for crappie in Lake Eufaula, he said. Huckabee is one of the busiest crappie fishing guides on Lake Eufaula. Lake Hefner OK Fishing Reports, Map & Hot Spots "It doesn't all happen at one time. Jeff Boxrucker, the ODWC's crappie expert, notes that the lake is lacking the aquatic vegetation necessary to sustain various size-classes of crappie, the result being that most of T-Bird's crappie are on average less robust than biologists had hoped for. Finally, there are trolling guides. Anglers can expect to take crappie in the 3/4- to 1-pound range, although Jones will grin and show you pictures of Hefner crappie weighing much more. Statewide Daily & Size Limits - Oklahoma Fishing | eRegulations At night, key in on the riprap areas near the lake's two main bridges, as crappie seem to be drawn to them. More:'That's pretty incredible': COVID-19 was good for the outdoor industry, but can it last? 13. These artificial structures are especially appropriate for vertically fishing jigs or minnows. Make Crawfish Part of Perfect Summertime Meal, Spin to Win: Panfish Secrets for Catching Limits on Spinners, It's Tick Season. Grand Lake is a 46,500-acre deep-water lake that's near Grove in northeast Oklahoma, an hour's drive from Tulsa. Between Wilshire and Hefner Road, and between Hefner Parkway and MacArthur, the lake lies next to a 36-hole golf course of the same name. Online Auction Underway for Vehicles, Boats, Tractors, and more Southwest corner of lake - covered fishing pier, East side of lake (near patrol station) - boat ramp with tending dock, South end by dam - boat ramp with tending dock. He prefers casting his jigs parallel to the rocky area near the dam and then retrieving them slowly. East of Tulsa near Wagoner, it has been the site of a national crappie tournament. "I like to use 4-pound-test line," he offered, "and I believe that fishing with jigs can be very productive. On Lake Eufaula, the crappie spawn begins on the southern half where the water warms sooner. Lake Hefner is an urban lake bustling with life, rated as one of the best lakes for sailboarding. These trips can be expensive, but they offer a unique experience that you wont find at most other locations. Its a good fishing lake. You can bet that legions of turkey hunters will also take to the woods this month, in hopes of matching wits with a spring gobbler. Walleye, Sauger & Saugeye Walleye The lake was created in 1987 by an earthen dam on the Deep Fork River begun in 1980. All Rights Reserved. Oklahoma Guys. Lake Hefner Tips - Central Bass Fishing - Bass In April, crappiemoveinto the shallow water along the shoreline to spawn. It covers105,500 surface acreswith 800 miles of shoreline. According to city officials, all anglers can fish in Lake Hefner, Lake Overholser, Lake Stanley Draper, "Close to Home" fishing waters and elsewhere without having to buy a city fishing permit or state fishing license on those days. So take plenty! Amanda Knight of Chandler caught a 22.6-pound channel catfish on June 19 that was the new Lake Hefner record. And Oklahoma City angler Clint Young, a regular visitor to Hefner Lake, also tells quite the fish story. Were we surprised! Photo by Jeff Samsel. In November, Lake Eufaula will be the site of a Crappie Masters tournament on Veterans Day weekend. Slightly windy. Crappie fair on jigs around floating dock. Bass, Largemouth, Bass, White Good on crankbaits, in-line spinnerbaits, spinnerbaits around brush structure, shorelines, weed beds. Lake Hefner is a 2,500-acre reservoir just 15 minutes from downtown. Now, Lake Hefner Dam is known for producing big fish, and plenty of them. Water muddy. "They are moving up," Motley said. The lake limit is 37 crappie daily. Overholser | Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Hefner has long held a reputation as a good walleye lake, even once holding the state record. . Jones rates the lake as a solid fishery that continues to impress him. With trips starting from just $50 per person, theres never been a better time to go fishing at Lake Hefner! Thunderbird is well known for its healthy population of crappie, and according to Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Kurt Kuklinski, the crappie recently sampled are showing a marked difference in quality. Hunters and anglers must learn to economize so they can afford their recreational pastimes. Young went fishing along Hefners rocky shoreline with the intention of catching walleye on the artificial lures and started ripping the catfish that were nesting in the rocks. Swimming is prohibited. #goog-gt-tt {display:none !important;} LAST CASTIf you want to economize even more, take a friend fishing and split the gas cost. Featuring a diverse array of habitat, Grand is home to a variety of hard-fighting fish. The catfishing has just been awesome.. Lake Largemouth Bass with a White jig head with hair, 4 lb. I've met with the most success using white, yellow, chartreuse, red, and brown jigs. Lake Hefner is a reservoir in northwestern Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Working brushpiles and deep dropoffs near the dam can get some happy results. Turn the legs and thighs of a freshly killed gobbler into comfort food for a chilly spring night. An email address is required to associate with your Fishidy premium subscription. Minnows. . It's incredibly scenic but also boasts great size and good numbers of crappie combined. Some popular types of fishing guides are charter fishing guides, which offer overnight trips to specific fishing spots. #4.25.5. Thunderbird -- "T-Bird," the locals call it -- harbors vast numbers of small crappie beneath the surface of its 6,000-acre area. main tactic for catching spring specks involves the use of a slip-cork. It often gets overlooked as a good fishing lake simply because of its urban location. Used heavily during the spring and summer months by sail boaters, Hefner receives very little fishing pressure at that time. "I love it when a plan comes together:" Thomas Allen may have missed a day-starting coffee and chill time, but his planning before a recent turkey hunt in Minnesota had him ready when gobblers showed up earlier than expected, and just before an April winter storm blew in. You can find Bluegill, Sunfish, White Crappie, Black Crappie, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, White Bass, Striped Hybrid Bass, Spotted Bass, Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass on these waters. It has been years since I fished Hefner. Let's find some beautiful place to get lost. Black crappie. There is 1 lighted fishing pier. Ruger's popular American bolt-action rifle has been a hit with hunters for years. However, boating Water skiing and jet skiing are not currently all Sign in to your account to find other friends and anglers who are using Fishidy. In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. The fishing areas with the likeliest prospects are found in the midlake area; there, post-spawn crappie will school in depths ranging from 6 to 20 feet. Oklahoma City's oldest reservoir, Lake Overholser was built in 1919 and connects to Hefner Lake by a canal. Even with the low water levels the lake is still open for a number of things including, fishing, ATV'S or dirt bikes, R.C. #google_translate_element2 {display:none!important;} Picnicking, fishing, sailing, boating, and personal watercraft are permitted. From March 10-20, Richardson said you can catch crappie between 2-15 feet. All Rights Reserved. ", More:'True to its roots': The last American duck decoy factory has new life in Henryetta. [CDATA[/* >