Fishing time just around the corner

Well it seems we jumped right from winter to summer and back to spring! Welcome to Oklahoma!

For the first time in a while last year did not have an entry into the State’s top 20 Largemouth list. If you remember, last year’s temperatures were up and down more than the stock market.

It’s been dry as well, the last couple of years. And a few big rains have not been enough to stabilize area lakes.

Stable water levels, especially high into vegetation and other cover stimulates lake productivity. It gives eggs and little fish places to hide and grow before they become food for others. While some lakes have received much needed runoff, others are still low, so it just depends where you put your boat in.

We need rain! No doubt about it! To put it into equation format: rising water + warming temps = great fishing!

Well we have warming temperatures, and water is starting to catch up, after the February freeze. But most area lakes are down – Tom Steed more than 5 foot below normal and Lugert still 12 feet below.

The good news is that March is usually a stormy time for Oklahoma. If we can get some sustainable rain and runoff, then fishing should really turn on. So wash the car, do a rain dance, or whatever it takes to bring the wet stuff.

Typically the best fishing, especially for big bass is in March. In addition to numerous lake records, 15 of the top 20 largemouth were caught in March and several others in late February or early April.

The current state record, a 14-pound, 13-ounce lunker, was taken on March 13, 2013, at Cedar Lake in southeastern Oklahoma.

Shane Fields entered the top 20 list at number 20 with his 13-pound 10-ounce lunker caught at Lloyd Church Lake, an ODWC managed lake in Latimer County. Once again, his big bass was caught in March!

“March and April are both great months to tangle with heavyweight largemouths,” said Ryan Ryswyk, southwest region fisheries supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “If you’re really serious about catching a trophy fish, make plans to be on the water during March and early-April.

“When the water temperatures begin climbing into the 50s, the fishing will start heating up with the water.”

Ryswyk reminds anglers that potential state record fish must be weighed on certified scales with a Department employee witnessing the weigh-in. The Department also recognizes anglers for outstanding catches which are not state records through the Oklahoma Angler Recognition Program. Complete details on both the State Record and Lake Records can be found at the Department’s web site: www.wildifedepartment.com.

“March is a great time to get outdoors, and I can’t think of a better way to spend a warm March or April afternoon than fishing,” Ryswyk said. “If anyone has any questions on where the fishing is usually good or what lakes have the best fish populations, they can call the Wildlife Department’s Southwest Office at 580/529-2795.”

March and April weather in Oklahoma isn’t always predictable, but the fishing opportunities available to Sooner State anglers during these two months are something you can count on.