Wildlife Department spring electrofishing survey turns up massive striper
Fisheries personnel with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation have repeatedly surveyed a number of large fish during their annual electrofishing surveys being conducted this spring, emphasizing to anglers that now is a great time to be fishing.
Several big largemouth bass have already been sampled by biologists from lakes like Arcadia, Lawtonka and Watonga this spring, and the newest big fish to add to the list of those sampled this year is a 41.5-inch striped bass estimated to weigh 51.5 lbs. based on measurements taken during the survey.
The big striper was sampled during electrofishing surveys below Lake Eufaula, and if an angler were to catch the fish, it would beat the current state record by an estimated four pounds. The current rod-and-line state record striper tipped the scales at 47 lbs., 8 oz. when Louis Parker caught it from the Lower Illinois River in 1996.
According to this week’s fishing report from the Wildlife Department, fisheries personnel who are conducting electrofishing surveys are not the only people who should be out on the water this week looking for Oklahoma’s big fish. Striper and striped bass hybrid fishing is reportedly good at Overholser, Sooner, Canton, Texoma, Foss, and Ft. Cobb Lakes, and catfish are biting at lakes all over the state as well.
In fact, this week’s fishing report shows most species of fish are biting at lakes all over the state this week, such as at Hefner Lake in Oklahoma City, where white bass fishing is reportedly good on small spinnerbaits, crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs at eight to 15 feet along the dam, catfish are biting good on cut bait, and bluegill fishing is excellent on worms and small jigs all around the lake.
Every week the Wildlife Department’s fishing report provides a listing of lakes and the current fishing conditions at that location.
“This time of year is magical for fishing in Oklahoma,” said Nels Rodefeld, information and education chief for the Wildlife Department. “The fishing report shows ‘good fishing’ at least 80 times for a number of species at lakes across the state this week, and ‘excellent’ fishing is reported in a number of places as well.”
The reports are compiled by Wildlife Department employees and volunteers and cover lakes and other waters throughout every region in the state. Information such as lake levels, water temperatures, species being caught, locations with best fishing action and successful baits is included in the reports
Fisheries personnel with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation have repeatedly surveyed a number of large fish during their annual electrofishing surveys being conducted this spring, emphasizing to anglers that now is a great time to be fishing.
Several big largemouth bass have already been sampled by biologists from lakes like Arcadia, Lawtonka and Watonga this spring, and the newest big fish to add to the list of those sampled this year is a 41.5-inch striped bass estimated to weigh 51.5 lbs. based on measurements taken during the survey.
The big striper was sampled during electrofishing surveys below Lake Eufaula, and if an angler were to catch the fish, it would beat the current state record by an estimated four pounds. The current rod-and-line state record striper tipped the scales at 47 lbs., 8 oz. when Louis Parker caught it from the Lower Illinois River in 1996.
According to this week’s fishing report from the Wildlife Department, fisheries personnel who are conducting electrofishing surveys are not the only people who should be out on the water this week looking for Oklahoma’s big fish. Striper and striped bass hybrid fishing is reportedly good at Overholser, Sooner, Canton, Texoma, Foss, and Ft. Cobb Lakes, and catfish are biting at lakes all over the state as well.
In fact, this week’s fishing report shows most species of fish are biting at lakes all over the state this week, such as at Hefner Lake in Oklahoma City, where white bass fishing is reportedly good on small spinnerbaits, crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs at eight to 15 feet along the dam, catfish are biting good on cut bait, and bluegill fishing is excellent on worms and small jigs all around the lake.
Every week the Wildlife Department’s fishing report provides a listing of lakes and the current fishing conditions at that location.
“This time of year is magical for fishing in Oklahoma,” said Nels Rodefeld, information and education chief for the Wildlife Department. “The fishing report shows ‘good fishing’ at least 80 times for a number of species at lakes across the state this week, and ‘excellent’ fishing is reported in a number of places as well.”
The reports are compiled by Wildlife Department employees and volunteers and cover lakes and other waters throughout every region in the state. Information such as lake levels, water temperatures, species being caught, locations with best fishing action and successful baits is included in the reports