2017 Angler's Guide In This Issue: Featuring Oklahoma's Close to Home Fishing Program - Oklahoma Department of Wildlife ...
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M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 7 – O N LY $ 1 0 A Y E A R
In This Issue:
2017 Angler’s Guide
Featuring Oklahoma’s Close to Home Fishing Program
A PUBLICATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
Panoramas
I
f you haven’t been fishing lately, you are missing • Fishing-related purchases generated $77 million in
the boat. state and local tax revenues.
Fishing is considered America’s favorite pastime • Fishing activity supports more than 11,000 jobs in Oklaho-
in more than a few surveys. Nationwide, more than ma, according to the American Sportfishing Association.
33.1 million people said they had fished in 2010. And that Even more interesting are findings from the latest
number was up 11 percent from the previous survey in 2005. Oklahoma Angler Survey from 2014, supervised by
Arguably, more Oklahomans participate in fishing responsive management specialist Corey Jager. Here are
compared to any other recreational activity (except per- some eye-openers:
haps watching football on TV). And consistent improve- • Oklahoma fishing licenses were held by 722,298 people
ment in fishing access, such as new boat ramps, new in 2014, and almost 600,000 considered themselves active
fishing docks and Close to Home Fishing sites, makes a anglers.
day near the water even more enjoyable. • The average Oklahoma angler is 48 years old.
Fishing is important in the Sooner State, and the statis- • About 70 percent of state anglers said the relaxation
tics show it. Consider these findings reported by the U.S. from fishing was very important to them.
Fish and Wildlife Service: • The average fishing trip in Oklahoma has an economic
• Oklahoma’s population was about 3.6 million in 2010. value of about $67.
Of that number, about 680,000 had gone fishing at least • The most popular fishing destinations in the state are
once in the previous year. Lake Eufaula, Lake Texoma, Fort Gibson Reservoir and
• The number of anglers grew 19 percent from 2006 to 2010. Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees, in that order, based on
• All told, state anglers spent 7.9 million days fishing in the estimated number of trips to each site during the year.
2010. That’s 21,629 years! These facts easily show the importance of sport fishing
• Fishing-related spending by anglers represented a to Oklahomans and their economy. And that’s one reason
$730.5 million segment of Oklahoma’s economy. why our dedicated
Fisheries Divi- Anglers were most
sion employees
Top Species Anglers Preferred to Catch work tirelessly to
likely to not go
conduct research, fishing because
operate hatcher- of a lack of time.
ies, stock fish, fine-
tune regulations and conduct other projects that support and
maintain some of the best fishing in the United States.
In this year’s Angler’s Guide, we are highlighting the
1. Crappie Department’s Close to Home Fishing program. We are
stocking extra fish in these areas, so pick a day to go give
it a try.
Time equals priority. Please do yourself a favor and
make a trip to one of our Close to Home areas this summer.
2. Largemouth Bass
Sincerely,
3. Channel Catfish Nels Rodefeld, editor
MARCH/APRIL • VOLUME 73 • NUMBER 2
Contents
Off the Beaten Path. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Notes on wildlife, outdoor tips, environmental news and more
Angler’s Guide 2017. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
“Close to Home” Fishing Program
By Skylar St.Yves, Information and Education Specialist
Red River Research. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Biologists Get Their Feet Wet During Streams Team’s Survey
By Jena Donnell, Wildlife Diversity Information Specialist
Destination Outdoors!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Let’s Talk Turkey
Know These Basics to Help You Take a Springtime Tom
By Kelly Adams, Information Specialist,
and Rich Fuller, Wildlife Biologist
Watchable Wildlife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Long-tailed Weasel
By Kourtney Cunningham
Follow the Wildlife Department on Facebook and Twitter.
facebook.com/wildlifedepartment @OkWildlifeDept
THIS PAGE: Oklahoma’s forested areas pop with pink and
lavender splashes of color in early spring as the Eastern redbud
comes into bloom. Also called “Judas tree,” the redbud is the
official state tree of Oklahoma.
ON THE COVER: Young angler Aisha Wright, 12, proudly displays
DON P. BROWN/ODWC
the bluegill she caught during a recent fishing adventure. Discover
Close to Home Fishing spots near you in this issue’s 2017 Angler’s
Guide. (Wade Free / ODWC)
Published by the Oklahoma Department Bill Hale, Chief, Law Enforcement Division Art direction by Stroud Design, Inc. of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of
of Wildlife Conservation Nels Rodefeld, Chief, Information & Oklahoma City, Oklahoma the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. To
Education Division Copyright ©2017 by the Oklahoma Department request an accommodation or informational
S tate of Oklahoma of Wildlife Conservation. Reproduction in whole material in an alternative format, contact
Mary Fallin, Governor Nels Rodefeld, Editor or in part without permission is prohibited. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation,
Micah Holmes, Associate Editor Outdoor Oklahoma (ISSN 0030-7106) is published (405) 521-3851. If you believe you have been
Wildlife Conservation Commission Don P. Brown, Managing Editor bimonthly by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife discriminated against in any program, activity or
John Zelbst, Lawton - Chairman Contributing S taff Conservation, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK service, contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
John D. Groendyke, Enid - Vice Chairman Kelly Adams, Jennifer Benge, Jim Burroughs, 73152. Periodicals postage paid at Oklahoma City, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management,
Dan Robbins, Altus - Secretary Allen Couch, Kourtney Cunningham, Jena Donnell, OK, and additional mailing offices. Notification 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041.
Ed Abel, Oklahoma City Wade Farrar, Wade Free, Rich Fuller, Corey Jager, of address change must include both old and
Bill Brewster, Marietta Whitney Jenkins, Ryan Ryswyk, Trevor Starks, new addresses and ZIP codes, with six weeks’ Printed on recycled, recyclable paper.
Leigh Gaddis, Ada Skylar St. Yves. notice. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
Robert S. Hughes II, Bartlesville Outdoor Oklahoma, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma
Bruce Mabrey, Okmulgee Outdoor Oklahoma editorial offices: City, OK 73152. ONLY $10 A YEAR
P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152 Subscriptions are $10 per year, $18 for
Oklahoma Department of This program receives federal assistance from two years and $25 for three years. Single
Wildlife Conservation P hone the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and thus copies are $3 ($4 if mailed). Any costs of
J.D. Strong, Director (405) 521-3856 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, production and distribution not covered
Wade Free, Assistant Director of Operations Website color, religion, national origin, disability, age by subscription costs are borne by the
Melinda Sturgess-Streich, Assistant Director wildlifedepartment.com and sex (gender) pursuant to Title VII of the sportsmen of Oklahoma through their
of Administration and Finance Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), Title hunting and fishing fees.
Barry Bolton, Chief, Fisheries Division E-mail IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the
CALL (800) 777-0019
Alan Peoples, Chief, Wildlife Division donald.brown@odwc.ok.gov Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Section 504
MARCH/APRIL 2017 1
Of f the Beaten Path
Not es on W i l d l i f e • O u t d o o r T i p s • R e a d e r s ’ L e t t e r s • E n v i ro n m e n ta l N e w s
C o m p i l e d b y D o n P. B row n
WARMER WEATHER SIGNALS THE START OF TICK TIME
Warmer weather encourag- borne illnesses in Oklahoma to keep ticks at bay. Good tac-
R. Grantham Oklahoma State University
es more people to venture into are the American dog tick, tics include:
the outdoors. But be wary: At Lone Star tick and deer tick. • Wear light-color clothing to
some point you will likely give The American dog tick is the make ticks more visible.
some unwelcome parasitic only known Oklahoma tick • Tuck pant legs into socks.
hitchhikers a ride. to transmit Rocky Mountain • Apply insect repellent, pref-
Ticks are abundant in Okla- spotted fever to people. But erably one containing DEET.
homa and commonly feed on ticks in general can carry • After an outing, check your
humans and other animals. many other diseases. American dog tick (Dermacentor body for ticks and remove
Although only a small per- You can decrease chances variabilis). Female (L) and male (R). them. Look along the hair-
centage of Oklahoma ticks are of illness by removing ticks bite area. Dispose of a live line, around waistbands,
infested with diseases causing as soon as you discover them. tick by either submerging it in underwear and armpits. Ticks
bacteria, numerous tickborne Using tweezers, grasp the tick alcohol, placing it in a sealed like warm and dark places.
illnesses, including Rocky close to the surface of the skin. bag or container, wrapping it • Parents should thorough-
Mountain spotted fever, ehrli- Pull slowly and steadily with- in tape or flushing it down the ly check their children for
chiosis and tularemia, are out jerking, twisting or crush- toilet. Never crush a tick with ticks.
reported each year. ing the tick. After removing your fingers. (Sources: Centers for Dis-
The ticks that are com- the tick, rub alcohol, an iodine When planning to be in ease Control and Prevention,
monly associated with tick- scrub or soap and water to the brushy areas, take precautions Oklahoma Health Department)
APRIL 2017
Outdoor Calendar 1 Fly Fishing Clinic, 9 a.m., Arcadia Conservation Education
Area, Edmond.
1–2 Youth Spring Turkey Season (except Southeast).
For new updates to the O utdoor Calendar,
please visit the D epartment ’s 2 “Outdoor Oklahoma” TV, Eagle Research, 8 a.m., OETA.
website: wildlifedepartment.com /calendar.htm 3 Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission meeting, 9
a.m., 2145 NE 36, Oklahoma City.
MARCH 2017 5–9 Civilian Marksmanship Program’s Oklahoma Games,
Oklahoma City Gun Club, thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-
3 NWTF Cherokee Strip banquet, 6 p.m., Enid, travel-games/cmpgames_ok.
bud_912@sbcglobal.net.
DU Good Ol Boys dinner, 6 p.m., Tulsa, (918) 724-0956. 6 First day of Spring Turkey Season (except Southeast).
4 NWTF Tulsa banquet, 5:30 p.m., Glenpool, dkbip99@att.net. 9 “Outdoor Oklahoma” TV, Doc Hollis Fishing,
8 a.m., OETA.
6 Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission meeting,
9 a.m., 2145 NE 36, Oklahoma City. 15 Last day to enter Outdoor Oklahoma’s Readers’ Photo
Showcase Contest at
9 NWTF Three Forks Longbeards, 5:30 p.m., Muskogee, steve. wildlifedepartment.com/out_ok/reader.htm.
roberts@cmc.com. Application deadline for Oklahoma Wildlife Youth Camp.
15 Last day of Rabbit Season.
15–16 Southeast Youth Spring Turkey Season
18 DU Wagoner 30 Gun Bash and Hunt Party, 6 p.m., Wagoner,
16 “Outdoor Oklahoma” TV, Tallawanda Bass Fishing,
(918) 237-0241. 8 a.m., OETA.
25 NWTF Southeast Strutters banquet, 5:30 p.m., McAlester,
17 First day of Southeast Spring Turkey Season.
office@buckwilsoncustoms.com.
Women in the Outdoors, Tulsa and 3 Rivers Limbhangers, 7 23 “Outdoor Oklahoma” TV, Pine Creek Crappie,
a.m., Sapulpa, pjbing1@juno.com. 8 a.m., OETA.
26 “Outdoor Oklahoma” TV, Pine Creek Crappie, 30 “Outdoor Oklahoma” TV, Arkansas River Bass Fishing,
8 a.m., OETA. 8 a.m., OETA.
2 Off the Beaten Path
Game Warden’s Journal
Accounts from the field by the public
servants who enforce the fish and
wildlife laws of Oklahoma.
Game warden Phillip Cottrill, If anyone has information
based in Major County, report- that could help solve this case,
ed excellent participation by stu- please call Operation Game
dents attending his firearms and Thief at (800) 522-8039. Call-
all-terrain vehicle safety class ers can remain anonymous,
during Major County Fifth- and if a caller’s information
Grade Wellness Day. Oklaho- leads to an arrest and convic-
ma’s game wardens are often tion, the caller may be eligible
called to give presentations for a cash reward.
about safety and their jobs to
school students across the state. (Reports from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation-Game Wardens Facebook page.)
Game warden Clint Carpenter, based in Dewey County, was
seeking leads in a case involving six Canada geese carcasses EDITOR’S NOTE: Please help make a difference! When violators
illegally dumped along U.S. 183 south of State Highway 60. The break the law, they steal fish and wildlife from you! Report violations
initial report indicated a goose decoy was also left at the scene, anonymously by calling Operation Game Thief at (800) 522-8039.
but when Carpenter arrived, there was no decoy to be found. You could earn a cash reward.
OU FISHING CLUB ANGLER LANDS SPOTTED BASS RECORD
Several new lake-record fish have been added to the Wildlife Department’s official database in recent weeks. Here are snapshots of
those big ones that didn’t get away!
Thunderbird Lake Texoma Lake
Record Spotted Bass Record White Bass
Weight:
Weight:
3.6 pounds.
3.2 pounds.
Length:
Length:
18 inches.
17.25 inches.
Girth:
Girth:
14 inches.
14.5 inches.
Angler:
Angler:
En rique En ns of
Alexis Howa rd of
Sem inole.
Norm an.
Method of Catch:
Method of Catch:
Baitcast rod and reel.
Spinning rod and reel.
Date Caught:
Date Caught:
Jan. 1, 2017.
Nov. 13, 2016.
Area Caught:
Area Caught:
Soldier Creek.
East side near the dam.
What’s the biggest fish you’ve ever caught? A 7-pound largemouth, a 2-pound crappie
or a 45-pound blue catfish? While your fish might not be a new state record, it possibly
could be the biggest fish ever caught from your favorite lake. Thanks to a network of
record-keepers at lakes across the state, your next trophy could qualify as a lake record.
The Lake Record Fish Program was established as a way to serve anglers and
recognize big fish and the lakes they come from. To find out more, go online to
wildlifedepartment.com/fishing/records.htm.
March/April 2017 3
2016 CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION
“THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE TO SEE A SUNRISE”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Each year, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and
Oklahoma Station Chapter Safari Club International join to sponsor a creative writing compe-
tition for Oklahoma middle and high school students. A boy and a girl from two age divisions are
selected winners. Students were required to write essays using the theme “Hunting: Sharing the
Heritage” or “Archery: What I Like About Archery in the Schools and Bowhunting.” Winners
in the age 15-17 Senior Apprentice Hunter category receive a guided antelope hunt in the Texas
Panhandle. The Oklahoma Station Chapter of SCI will reimburse travel expenses up to $500 per
essay contest winner. In this issue, “Outdoor Oklahoma” honors Senior Program male winner
Will Russell, 15, a 10th-grader from Jenks High School.
By Will Russell ute more money to wildlife conservation than any other group
Hunting: It’s one of the old- and are virtually solely responsible for the restoration of deer,
est things man still does today. turkey, waterfowl and other wildlife populations. If we want
From generation to generation to continue to enjoy the nature we have today for generations
over a millennia, man has passed to come, we need to continue hunting and continue to teach
this ancient art down to their children the values and ways of nature.
descendants. Unfortunately, in I truly believe hunting can act as a form of art, and one of
many respects, this is a dying art. the most rewarding arts you can do. From the time the season
Children aren’t spending time ends, hunters are itching to get back in the stand. Hunters work
outside, learning to fish, learn- through the year, braving the elements, in order to find out
ing to shoot a gun or mastering when and where the deer will be. Then, you have to find the best
archery. Hunters are under fre- way to and from your stand. When the season finally opens,
quent attack due to the actions of our predecessors and a few you can feel the excitement in the air as people are ecstatic to
modern irresponsible outdoorsmen. However, there is still a see their hard work pay off. On opening day, you get up hours
glimmer of hope for this way of life. before dawn and head to your stand. You sit in silence as you
Few people still rely on hunting as their main food source. watch the sunrise. There is no better place to see the sunrise
This is one of the largest contributing factors in the decline of than over a field on a cool Oklahoma morning. Even if the hunt
hunting. People just don’t see the reasons for hunting anymore. isn’t successful, you still got to enjoy a day in nature.
What people don’t often see is this country was built on the However, sometimes out of nowhere you’ll hear a twig snap
actions of outdoorsmen like Daniel Boone and Davey Crockett and your heart will begin to speed up. You assume it’s a squirrel
pushing across the frontier, or the Native Americans and their and you begin to relax, but then you look below you and there’s
intimacy and connection with nature. Our nation would not be a doe! She has her head in the air, and you fear she’s smelling
where it is today if it wasn’t for hunters. you. You’re frozen in place. Your heart is beating uncontrol-
Hunting is something of a way of life for many people, espe- lably as the doe steps in front of you. You get your bow ready
cially here in Oklahoma. Being in Native America, we have one and wait for her to get in a position where you can shoot. Then
of the most diverse and populous groups of Native Americans out of the corner of your eye, you see a fawn. It happily gallops
in the nation, and that means hunting is a very big part of many out toward it’s mother as you lower your bow. You sit back and
Oklahomans’ cultures and history. Native Americans’ lives enjoy watching the show whose only director is God himself.
often revolved around hunting, especially before Europeans Suddenly, the pair runs off. Then you see a pair of antlers. It’s
arrived. They used everything they killed for things like cloth- a massive buck. He smells the air, and you get your bow ready.
ing, food, shelter and tools. Some would even follow herds of He slowly makes his way into your shooting lane, and you think
animals while gaining great familiarity and knowledge with your heart is going to pound out of your chest. You wait for
nature and landscapes around them. This wisdom was passed what feels like forever, then he emerges 20 yards away, broad-
down from generation to generation, giving them a unique siding you. You draw your bow and get aligned, you let out a
outdoor culture. To this day, Native Americans take great pride little grunt, and he stops and you shoot. He bolts off, but you see
in their hunting. him fall only 50 yards away. There is no feeling of satisfaction
Native Americans are not the only ones who value their quite like that, seeing all of that work pay off in a glorious way.
outdoor heritage. We have all had ancestors who have valued I love hunting, and I’m marred knowing it is in decline.
hunting. Outdoor knowledge has been passed from generation However, I am hopeful seeing people and organizations like
to generation. Fathers and sons hitting the woods, grandfathers the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and Safari
telling their stories at family dinners, and old tales give us great Club International encouraging young people to spend time
outdoor knowledge and experience. Hunting is one of the big- in nature by doing things like introducing archery into the
gest, oldest and one of the most important traditions we have schools, providing controlled youth hunts, and offering essay
today among all cultures. contests like this one. As long as we continue teaching our
Today, hunters are the biggest conservationists. Due to an children about nature and providing them with outdoor oppor-
excise tax on hunting gear and to license sales, hunters contrib- tunities, hunting — this great tradition — will never die.
4 Off the Beaten Path
Creek. The eel is edible. (I have
eaten a lot of them.) If
Game Bag
you catch one on a
line, it will tie a
hundred knots in
your line with its
tail! We used to
wade the creek and
A COLLECTION OF LETTERS TO THE WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT gig fish, when Billy US
FW
S
Balou was the game war-
We’d like to hear from you! Send your letters to Outdoor Oklahoma
den. When an eel is laying on
Letters, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152, or send
the bottom, you can gig it. But if you scare it, all you see is a blue
e-mail to donald.brown@odwc.ok.gov. streak. I never knew anyone who could gig one after it took off.
Vonnie L. Jones, Stilwell
Dear ODWC,
I would like to extend my sin-
cere appreciation to several of Dear Editor,
your employees for their selfless I am looking forward to receiving the magazine and reading
service in support of the McAl- the articles. I watch the Outdoor Oklahoma show on OETA every
ester Army Ammunition Plant’s chance I get and always enjoy that.
hunting program. It would be In the back issue I just received, there was an article on the deer
impossible for us to execute this harvest for last year, which I found very interesting. There was a
nationally recognized program chart that showed the deer harvest by year going back to 1972, which
without the assistance of our part- was the year I killed my first deer! I give the Oklahoma Department
ners from the Oklahoma Depart- of Wildlife Conservation the credit for the management and prolif-
ment of Wildlife Commission. eration of the deer population we now have in the state.
The dedicated efforts of Eric I can remember reading back then that the Oklahoma deer pop-
Suttles, Sherman Ellis, Jeff Ford, ulation was estimated to be about 100,000. Fast forward to today,
Chris Parker and Joe Hemphill and the number that is harvested is around that total population
were instrumental in providing a safe, controlled hunt that creates number back then. Amazing!
lasting memories for everyone involved. Thanks again for all your Department does in helping to make
This program is also essential in assisting this installation in Oklahoma a great place in which to live, fish and hunt. Keep up
an ongoing effort to demonstrate to the American taxpayer that the good work!
the U.S. Army is committed to preserving our natural resourc- Steve Reynolds, Pocola
es and protecting the environment, even while we execute our
ammunition mission. Because of your professionalism, we have a
multitude of advocates across Oklahoma and surrounding states Dear ODWC,
that understand and can tell our story. The average member of the public does not think about the
Again, thank you for your dedication to this program and our time, effort, impact and families that game wardens sacrifice to
mission. It is my sincere hope that this program will last long into do such an amazing job in each of our counties in Oklahoma. Sac-
the future. Your continued efforts will bring that vision to reality for rifices are made each and every day by all of them. They believe
generations of hunters to come. in what they do, and they take it to heart to get their jobs done. I
Army Col. Sean M. Herron, commanding officer, know this from firsthand experience. I’m proud of all of you for
McAlester Army Ammunition Plant taking care of our communities and counties in Oklahoma, and
then some.
Deby Lawson, via Facebook
Dear Editor,
I like the Outdoor Oklahoma magazine. It has the best pictures EDITOR’S NOTE: On page 42 of our January/February 2017
I have ever seen. In the Jan./Feb. 2017 issue, you have an article issue, the location of Drummond Flats WMA was incorrect. The
about the eel. They used to be plentiful in both Little and Big Lee’s area is a half-mile west of State Highway 132 and Skeleton Road.
SHARE OUTDOOR SHOTS IN READERS’ PHOTO SHOWCASE
Submissions are being accepted now for the 2017 Readers’ zine associate editor Don P. Brown.
Photography Showcase competition. The judges will choose from a range of subjects relating to
Anyone can enter this annual competition that celebrates Oklahoma's outdoors, such as animals, plants, scenics, people
the best photographic efforts of Outdoor Oklahoma readers. enjoying nature -- almost anything relating to the outdoors. The
Magazine editors and selected Oklahoma Department of photos should have been taken in Oklahoma.
Wildlife Conservation employees will pick the “best of the best” Each participant may submit up to four original, high-qual-
to be published in the July/August issue, which always proves to ity digital images online at wildlifedepartment.com/out_ok/
be one of the most popular issues of the year. reader.htm. Photos should be in sharp focus, and image reso-
“The Showcase has become a way for us to thank our lution should be at least 300 dpi (dots per inch) for printing in
faithful readers while also sharing the beauty and fascina- the magazine.
tion that can be found outdoors in Oklahoma,” said maga- Submission deadline is April 15.
March/April 2017 5
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First Name M.I. Last Name
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Name of Parent or Legal Guardian
Please include a recent photograph of the applicant participating in an outdoor-related activity or event.
Complete application form and return it along with the required essay, letter of recommendation, and photo to:
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Law Enforcement Division
P.O. Box 53465
Oklahoma City, OK 73152
MARCH/APRIL 2017 9ANGLER’S
GUIDE 2017
“Close to Home”
Fishing Program
By Skylar St.Yves, Information and Education Specialist
10 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMAT
he Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
SKYLAR ST.YVES/ODWC
Conservation joined 13 other state
fish and wildlife agencies in 2002 to
create an urban and community fishing
program. The driving force behind the
program was the need to create more
fishing opportunities for urban residents.
Fisheries staff created the Close to Home
Fishing Program (CTHP) at Dolese Lake,
a 19-acre pond in northwest Oklahoma
City. A cooperative agreement between
ODWC and the City of Oklahoma City listed
responsibilities for both parties and the
CTHP was underway. The program quickly
grew to eight sites by 2007. Benefits to
municipalities that sign up for the program
include patrols by ODWC game wardens,
preference for boating and fishing access
funds, access to aquatic education materials
and equipment, technical assistance and
preference for stocking fish, when needed.
Most of the cooperating municipalities
are in the Oklahoma City area, including
Edmond, Guthrie, Moore and Norman.
The Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation
Department contributes a great deal of
support toward the program. The H.B.
Parsons Oklahoma City Fish Hatchery
staff manages 10 CTHP ponds and raises
fish for stocking. In addition, the parks
and recreation department conducts a
minimum of 12 aquatic education events
each year at many of the ponds.
The program has expanded in
recent years to include waters in the
northwestern, northeastern and
southwestern parts of the state. In total,
there are 44 CTHP waters statewide. Each
CTHP area is required to have adequate
facilities that can accommodate families,
including restrooms, picnic areas, parking
and fishing piers, before being selected by
ODWC to participate in the program.
While the primary fishes stocked in CTHP
waters over the years have been channel
catfish and hybrid sunfish, many species can
be found in each body of water, including
black bass, crappie, flathead catfish, trout (at
seasonal CTHP waters) and carp.
MARCH/APRIL 2017 11ABOUT THE
PROGRAM
Fisheries management activities for all
SKYLAR ST.YVES/ODWC
CTHP waters involve creating put-grow-
take fisheries by stocking low to moderate
numbers of juvenile fish that will grow to a
more desirable size that will please anglers.
This approach has been moderately
successful at ponds with low angling
pressure. Ponds with fish feeders tend to
show better growth.
CTHP COMPONENTS
The five main components of the CTHP
are opportunity, fishing access, boating
access, education and outreach:
Opportunity - Development of
a larger network of Close to Home
fishing locations through the use of
existing and construction of city-owned
and leased ponds, privately owned
ponds (homeowners associations or
businesses) and existing water-supply
reservoirs. There are 18 partnerships with
municipalities statewide that include 44
sites totaling 306 acres of water. At least
10 cities have expressed interest in joining
the program.
Fishing Access - Construction of fishing
docks, piers, shoreline access areas, and
amenities associated with angler access,
such as sidewalks, parking lots, lighting
and restrooms. Access projects installed
to date include five fishing piers, one boat
ramp, three handicapped accessible pads
and four aeration systems.
Edwards Park in Oklahoma City provides excellent
Boating Access - Construction of new
bank and fishing pier access for anglers. The 5-acre and renovation of existing boat ramps,
lake is a great place to catch catfish and sunfish. courtesy docks, parking lots, lighting,
12 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMAABOUT THE
PROGRAM
restrooms and access roads. Only one
ALLEN COUCH/ODWC
boat ramp and dock have been installed
under the program because the majority
of the ponds do not allow boating due to
their size.
Education - Increased numbers and
locations for youth and adult fishing clinics
with the assistance of trained volunteer
instructors. Hundreds of Aquatic Education
Resource Program (AREP) events have
been held at CTH sites since the program
started. More than 300 certified volunteer
instructors are available statewide under
the program.
Outreach - Development and
distribution of brochures, magazine Channel catfish like these are stocked statewide in
articles, news releases, radio and television CTHP waters.
commercials, and programs regarding
WildlifeDepartment.com
the conservation of our aquatic resources
and their use in recreational fishing. Some
brochures, maps and news articles have
been released since 2000.
ODWC will continue to provide
residents of Oklahoma municipalities with
quality fishing in neighborhood-based
waters by focusing on anglers’ desires,
uses and benefits and by implementing
sound fishery management techniques on
urban ponds and lakes.
In the next several pages, we’ll
highlight some of our favorite areas from
each region along with the CTHP fishing
regulations, a story about hybrid sunfish
production at our Byron fish hatchery as
well as fish identification of common sport
fish found in Oklahoma. Happy fishing and Oklahoma’s Close to Home Fishing waters give
tight lines! youngsters the opportunity to catch their first fish.
MARCH/APRIL 2017 13CENTRAL REGION
Kitchen Lake
• Oklahoma City
• 28 acres
SKYLAR ST.YVES/ODWC
southern end. However, for the more
adventurous bank anglers, access can be
found along the entire shoreline. That is if
you’re willing to take a trek.
Kitchen Lake is the second-largest Close
to Home fishing area at 28 acres. With that
much water, there’s no telling what you
might reel in!
Try a night crawler and a bobber off
the fishing pier or along the riprap on
Like several Close to Home fishing the dam during the spring months and
areas in Oklahoma City, Kitchen Lake you’re bound to have success. Make sure
has received some major renovations you’ve got adequate line on that reel
recently, including a new Americans because you never know when the big
with Disability Act compliant fishing pier, one might strike!
family picnic area and paved parking lot
SKYLAR ST.YVES/ODWC
with ample spaces.
Easy bank access is limited to the
southwestern and southeastern corners
of the lake as well as the dam on the
Amenities
• Picnic Area
• Paved Walking Path
• Fishing Pier
• Dam Parking Access
• New Paved Parking Area
14 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMACENTRAL REGION
Griffin Community Park
• Norman
• 5 acres
SKYLAR ST.YVES/ODWC
fish here is usually as simple as putting a
line in the water.
Each spring, the George Hulsey Trout
Derby is held at Griffin Park Pond. The
event is for youths ages 5 to 15. Hulsey
served for many years as The Norman
Transcript’s outdoor editor, writing
columns about the world of hunting
and fishing. Hulsey was instrumental in
establishing the Sutton Wilderness Area
Situated just down the road from just north of the park.
Kitchen Lake, Griffin Park in Norman is A large sheltered picnic area that sits
a great place to spend a day. Highlighted along the north shoreline is great for large
by an extensive wilderness trail, soccer families and groups.
and baseball complex, dog park, disc golf Bring a flying disc for disc golf, a ball for
course and 5-acre lake, Griffin Park has the dog or a rod and reel for fishing. It’s
something for almost everyone. bound to be a grand day at Griffin Park!
The lake has excellent bank access SKYLAR ST.YVES/ODWC
along the entire shoreline with several fish
attractors scattered throughout. Finding
Amenities
• Sheltered Picnic Area
• Dog Park and Walking Trail
• George M. Sutton Wilderness Area
• Disc Golf Course
• Ballfields
MARCH/APRIL 2017 15CENTRAL REGION
Crystal Lake
• Oklahoma City
• 48 acres
SKYLAR ST.YVES/ODWC
The lake supports a healthy
abundance of several fish species. A large
floating fishing pier and easy-access
shorelines provide bank fisherman with
a great opportunity to catch fish. The
lake also has a boat ramp for those who
prefer fishing from a watercraft.
A 3-D archery range in the southwest
corner of the property allows visitors
the opportunity to shoot from both the
ground and elevated shooting stands.
The goal at Crystal Lake is to provide a
Crystal Lake has come a long way safe place for people in Oklahoma City to
since its days as a dumping ground come out and enjoy the outdoors!
for tires and trash. In partnership
SKYLAR ST.YVES/ODWC
between City Care and the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation, the
western Oklahoma City lake has been
transformed into an ideal recreational
area for urban youths.
Amenities
• Floating Fishing Pier
• Boat Ramp
• 3-D Archery Range
• Covered Picnic Area
• Easy Bank Access
16 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMANORTHEAST REGION
Lee Lake
• Bartlesville
• 20 acres
SKYLAR ST.YVES/ODWC
and fishing piers. It is among the few Close
to Home areas where anglers can put a
motorized watercraft on the water.
About an hour north of Tulsa in
Bartlesville, Lee Lake is a great place to
spend a day fishing. With ballfields, walking
trail and a dog park, there is something for
nearly everyone in the family to enjoy!
SKYLAR ST.YVES/ODWC
Lee Lake recently received a Federal
Boating Access Grant makeover.
Renovations included the installation of a
paved boat ramp, walking trail around the
lake, sheltered restrooms, lake reshaping
Amenities
• Picnic Area
• Dog Park
• Ballfields
• Two Fishing Piers
• Walking Trail
MARCH/APRIL 2017 17NORTHEAST REGION
Veterans Park Pond
• Jenks
• 3 acres
SKYLAR ST.YVES/ODWC
opportunity to get out during the colder
months and put a line in the water.
Veterans Park is just a few blocks down
the road from the Oklahoma Aquarium,
so families could easily make a day by
viewing the aquarium’s freshwater and
saltwater species from around the world,
then head over to the park for a chance to
catch a few fish.
Nestled near downtown Jenks, Veterans The park has a playground for the little
Park Pond offers a wonderful fishing ones who may not be quite ready to fish.
opportunity for families in the Tulsa area. Sheltered picnic areas make the park a
Two covered fishing piers provide anglers good place to bring a lunch enjoy a picnic.
with protection of the elements while they Conveniently situated right off the
enjoy a day on the water. Creek Turnpike, Veterans Park is a must for
In addition to numerous warm- local families.
water species, Veterans Park Pond also
SKYLAR ST.YVES/ODWC
offers a seasonal trout fishery from
Dec. 1 through Feb. 28 annually. These
feisty cold-water fish offer anglers an
Amenities
• Two Sheltered Fishing Piers
• Sheltered Picnic Area
• Playground
• Easy Bank Access
• Seasonal Trout Fishery
18 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMANORTHWEST REGION
Meadowlake Park
• Enid
• 10 acres
SKYLAR ST.YVES/ODWC
Centered in the park is a 10-acre lake
full of fish. Great bank access offers
anglers the opportunity to fish different
depths around the lake. Don’t be surprised
if a big largemouth bass gulps down your
swim bait in the early spring.
Meadowlake Park has an excellent dog
park, so don’t forget to bring Fido along for
the fun.
Meadowlake Park Golf Course runs
along both sides of the southern arm of
the lake. Spring, summer and fall provide
Meadowlake Park is one of the larger some great weekends for fishing and
parks in Enid. This park is on 110 acres. golf, so bring your pitching stick and your
Meadowlake Park has 13 shelters scattered pitching wedge!
throughout the area. The park includes
SKYLAR ST.YVES/ODWC
activities for nearly everyone in the family,
including train rides, miniature golf, walking
and biking trails, horseshoe courts, tennis
courts, baseball field and playground.
Amenities
• Sheltered Picnic Area
• Dog Park and Walking Trail
• Playground
• Easy Bank Access
• Ample Parking
MARCH/APRIL 2017 19SOUTHWEST REGION
Elmer Thomas Park —
Lake Helen
• Lawton
• 3 acres
RYAN RYSWYK/ODWC
Elmer Thomas Park is the site of several
large public events each year.
The park is named after John William
Elmer Thomas, who was elected a member
of the first Oklahoma Senate in 1907. He
served as a senator until 1920. He also
served as president pro tempore from
191-13, founded Medicine Park Resort, and
oversaw the state’s first fish hatchery about
With four fishing jetties, excellent 12 miles north of Lawton in Medicine Park.
bank access and a ton of near-shore fish The J. A. Manning State Fish Hatchery is now
structure, Lake Helen is a gem of a Close to operated by the Oklahoma Department of
Home fishing area. Within Elmer Thomas Wildlife Conservation.
Park in northeastern Lawton, Lake Helen is
RYAN RYSWYK/ODWC
an easily accessible area right off Exit 39B
from Interstate 44.
An extensive walking trail offers anglers
the opportunity to get in some extra
exercise on a nice sunny day, and there’s a
great playground for the kids.
Amenities
• Four Fishing Jetties
• Walking Trail
• Sheltered Picnic Area
• Easy Bank Access
• Community Events
20 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMAREGULATIONS Looking for a nearby fishing lake or pond? Close-to-Home Fishing waters have the following restrictions: • Fishing is limited to no more than three rods and reels per person, with no more than three hooks per line (treble hooks are considered one hook). No other fishing methods are allowed. • All largemouth bass must be released (returned to the water) immediately after being caught; no harvest is allowed. • Channel catfish and blue catfish have a combined daily limit of six; only one blue catfish over 30 inches is allowed to be kept. • Netting of any kind (including castnetting) is not permitted. Oklahoma City – (405) 297-1426: • Southern Hills North (2710 • Skyline Pond (NE 27 and • Crystal Lake (6625 SW Faith Ave.) Dearborn Ave.) 15th). Fishing pier may be • Southern Hills South (2810 • Park Lane Pond (SE Pinewood reserved for youth-related Faith Ave.) Drive) aquatic programs. For more Enid – (580) 554-1536: Medicine Park – (580) 529-2825: information, contact City Care • Meadowlake Park (Corner • Medicine Creek (From Gondola at (405) 657-7947. of S Van Buren Street and W Dam to State Highway 49 bridge) • Dolese Youth Park (5105 NW Rupe Ave.) Moore – (405) 793-5090: 50th) • Government Springs North • Little River Park (700 SW • Edwards Park (1515 N Bryant Park (300 S 5th St.) 4th) (currently closed for Ave.) • Crosslin Park (1600 block W renovations, call for updates) • Kids Lake (3200 W Wilshire Blvd.) Purdue Ave.) • Buck Thomas Park Pond (1903 • Kitchen Lake (5894 SE 119th) • City of Enid Water Works NE 12th St.) • Route 66 Park (9901 NW 23rd) (1400 block W Chestnut Ave.) Mustang – (405) 376-7739: • South Lakes Regional Park Guthrie – (405) 282-8400: • Wildhorse Park (SW 59th and (4210 SW 119th) • Mineral Wells Park (Division Mustang Road) • Zoo Lake (2101 NE 50th) — and Mineral Wells Circle) Norman – (405) 366-5472: east shoreline only • Highland Park (Warner Avenue • George M. Sutton Urban Bartlesville - (918) 338-4226: and N Drexel Boulevard) Wilderness Area (12th • Lee Lake (2200 SE Adams Blvd.) Harrah – (405) 454-2951: Avenue NE and Rock Creek Choctaw – (405) 390-8198: • Heritage Park (1374 N Church Road) (currently closed for • Choctaw Creek Park (2001 N Ave.) renovations, call for updates) Harper) Jenks – (918) 299-5883: • Norman Lions Northeast Park • Ten Acre Park (NE 10th Street • Veterans Park Pond (E 101 and (1800 Northcliff Ave.) and Choctaw Road) Elm) • Griffin Community Park (1001 Del City – (405) 670-7314: Jones – (405) 399-5301: E Robinson) • Eagle Lake (3405 E Reno) • Battey-Mullhousen pond (N Sapulpa - (918) 227-5151: Edmond – (405) 359-4630: Henney Road and W Main • Kelly Lane Park (1151 S Park St.) • Hafer Park (1034 S Bryant Ave.) Street) Yukon – (405) 354-7208: • Mitch Park (1501 W Covell Road) Lawton – (580) 581-3400: • City Park (2200 S Holly St.) • Bickham-Rudkin Park (450 E • Elmer Thomas Park - Lake • Welch Park (615 Annawood 33rd St.) Helen (Interstate 44 and NW Road) El Reno – (405) 262-4070: Cache Road) • Robertson Activity Center • Legion Park (620 S Reno Ave.) • Liberty Lake (1717 NW Kinyon) (1200 Lakeshore Drive) MARCH/APRIL 2017 21
HYBRID SUNFISH
BYRON HATCHERY
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
SKYLAR ST.YVES/ODWC
Conservation’s Byron Fish Hatchery is in
northwestern Oklahoma. It is where ODWC
produces all of its hybrid sunfish for state
fish stocking purposes.
A hybrid sunfish is a cross between a
male bluegill and a female green sunfish.
Unlike all of the other fish species that
are produced at Byron, hybrid sunfish are
the only ones that are produced through
natural spawning.
Most hatchery-raised fish are produced
in what is known as jar culture. This is
the process of collecting milt and roe fewer fish with a lower mortality rate in a
from brooder fish stock (breeding adults). body of water.
Those are then combined in “test tubes” The production of hybrid sunfish
to simulate the reproductive process. involves three half acre ponds. The
After a short incubation period, the fry are production pond is stocked with 10 to
either placed in what are known as rearing 20 breeding pairs of male bluegills and
ponds, to allow them to grow to larger female green sunfish. These pairs then
sizes before being stocked, or they are naturally reproduce in the pond, 50,000 to
immediately put in bags and shipped to 100,000 offspring. After a year of growth,
other hatcheries. the fish are moved into a secondary
Byron produces several species of fish, pond to continue their growth. After a
including striped bass, hybrid striped bass, second year of growth, they are put in
walleye, sauger, saugeye and hybrid sunfish. a third pond for a final year of growing.
But since it is a natural forage fish for most These 3-year-old fish are then ready to
reservoir predators, the hybrid sunfish be removed from the hatchery and sent
requires a much longer process than all of out for stocking. This process is repeated
the other species Byron produces. annually, serving as a conveyor belt of
Stocking predator species usually involves sorts for hybrid sunfish production.
a quick turnaround. The fry are produced Most of the 3-year-old fish will be
and stocked in bulk (in the thousands) to sent to the Wyoming Game and Fish
ensure a desirable number of that particular Department in exchange for 5,000 adult
species makes it to adulthood, as most will brown trout that get stocked in ODWC’s
not survive due to predation or other natural two year-round trout fisheries. 10,000
causes. Hybrid sunfish on the other hand hybrid sunfish are sent to the Oklahoma
are allowed to develop for three years prior City fish hatchery and are stocked in the
to being stocked. This allows ODWC to stock Close to Home waters around the metro.
22 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMAHYBRID SUNFISH
BYRON HATCHERY
The remaining hybrids are sent to ODWC’s to catch the same fish multiple times in the
other fish hatcheries to be stocked in Close same day, especially in late May and June
to Home waters in those regions. when sunfish begin their spawning period.
Hybrid sunfish may be a forage fish by Most Oklahomans’ introduction to
most predators, but don’t be fooled by the fishing came by catching sunfish in a
“bait fish” label, as these are a voracious farm pond and the Close to Home fishing
species with an insatiable appetite, which is program aims to continue that legacy by
why they are the preferred stocked fish in providing a feisty fish for families to catch
Close to Home waters. It is not uncommon in their neighborhood waters.
SKYLAR ST.YVES/ODWC
REBECCA FILMORE
This is the half-acre pond used for the brood stock of male bluegills and female green sunfish at the
Byron Hatchery. The hatchery’s hybrid sunfish (inset photo) are produce by 10 to 20 pairs naturally each year.
MARCH/APRIL 2017 23SPORT FISH
OF OKLAHOMA
SALMON FAMILY — SALMONIDAE
Brown Trout Rainbow Trout
Salmo trutta Oncorhynchus mykiss
GAR FAMILY — LEPISOSTEIDAE
Alligator Gar
Atractosteus spatula
PADDLEFISH FAMILY — POLYDONTIDAE
American Paddlefish
Polyodon spathula
Walleye Sauger
Stizostedion vitreum PERCH FAMILY — PERCIDAE Stizostedion canadense
Saugeye
Stizostedion canadense x Stizostedion vitreum
24 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMASPORT FISH
OF OKLAHOMA
CATFISH FAMILY — ICTALURIDAE
Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
TEMPERATE BASS FAMILY
Striped Bass Hybrid White Bass
Morone chrysops x Morone saxatilis — MORONIDAE Morone chrysops
Redear Sunfish
Lepomis microlophus Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
SUNFISH FAMILY — CENTRARCHIDAE
Green Sunfish
Lepomis cyanellus
White Crappie
Pomoxis annularis
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
Spotted Bass Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus punctulatus Micropterus dolomieui
MARCH/APRIL 2017 25TREVOR STARKS/ODWC
Streams Team
biologists enjoyed
many remarkable
views, such as this
one of Medicine
Creek in the
Wichita Mountains
of southwestern
Oklahoma.
26 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMAA
series of well-worn footpaths
leads to many of our state’s
streams and rivers, taking
Red River
anglers and outdoor enthusiasts from
a world of hectic schedules and acres of
concrete to one of fishing poles, ice chests
and river shoes.
One-third of Oklahoma’s anglers take
Research
these footpaths each year to wet a line
and see what waits for them in the state’s
waterways. While sportsmen may enjoy
the streams for their fishing oppor-
tunities, biologists with the Wildlife
Department’s Streams Program see the
beautiful stretches of creeks and rivers as
an office with an incredible view. Instead
of catching fish for supper or sport, the
Biologists Get Their Feet Wet
“Streams Team” catches fish for science.
Though the Streams Program histori-
During Streams Team’s Survey
cally concentrated on small-scale stream
renovations, biologists have recently
shifted gears to a statewide focus on
the fish in our streams. Their work now
includes managing sport fish like large- By Jena Donnell,
mouth, smallmouth, spotted and striped
bass, as well as flathead, blue and channel Wildlife Diversity Information Specialist
catfish. They are also working to increase
public stream access, improve fishing
opportunities at the lower Illinois River
TREVOR STARKS/ODWC
tailwaters, and kicking off a long-term
fish community monitoring project.
By surveying the fish communities in
our state’s major drainages on a 10-year
rotation and comparing the results to his-
toric surveys, biologists will be better able
to understand how our fish are faring and
update records of where certain groups of
species can be found.
To get the new monitoring program’s
feet wet, the Streams Team visited south-
western Oklahoma’s sandy Upper Red
River basin.
The Braided River
of the Southwest
Fed by a mix of silty and sandy tribu-
taries, the Upper Red River’s channel con-
stantly changes. Easily flooded, the river’s
sand bars are pushed and pulled down-
stream with heavy spring and fall rains.
When flooding resides, the main channel
divides and reunites multiple times as it
flows, giving it a braided appearance. A Red River sandbar becomes a work of art after being sculpted by rushing water.
MARCH/APRIL 2017 27TREVOR STARKS/ODWC
West Cache Creek near Lawton was among the 17 creeks and river areas sampled by biologists in the Upper Red River Survey.
TREVOR STARKS/ODWC
By the end of the
summer, the team had
sampled each of the
sites three times and
had documented 53 fish
species in the 17 surveyed
creeks and river ways. TREVOR STARKS/ODWC
TREVOR STARKS/ODWC
With data collected, Streams Team biologist Tony Rodger packs up his
bags before heading for another site.
ABOVE: Streams Team Technician Donnie King and biologist Matt Skoog
Among the survey’s catch was this brilliantly colored longear sunfish. pull a seine through the water.
28 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMAThe Streams Team surveyed the
JIM BURROUGHS/ODWC
ever-changing river in July and August
2016, when the river was low enough to
safely traverse. Working their way from
the Prairie Dog Fork of the Red River near
Hollis southeast to Lake Texoma near
Kingston, the team took their sampling
gear to 48 different sites along the river
and nearby tributaries.
Backpack electrofishing units were
used to capture fish in the rocky, head- Streams Team Biologist Tony Rodger and Technician Trevor Starks measure water depth and
velocity during the Upper Red River survey this past summer.
water mountain streams of the Wichita
JIM BURROUGHS/ODWC
TREVOR STARKS/ODWC
Mountains, but biologists were able to use
a large net to sample the fish communi-
ties in the sandy and silty-bottom streams
throughout the rest of the basin. The net,
or seine, was pulled through the water
at least 20 times at each site to capture a
The plains killifish is found in sandy-bottom
variety of fish. Their catch was identified shallow streams in the western two-thirds
and recorded with each seine haul. of Oklahoma. It rarely grows more than 3
Before team members moved to the next inches long.
site, they also recorded information includ-
TREVOR STARKS/ODWC
ing the stream’s water depth, flow rate and
temperature along with the amount of
woody debris and the width of the stream.
This habitat data will help biologists learn
more about each fish species’ preferences
and may help them predict which species
The pupfish was among the 53 fish species
may be present at similar sites. identified during the Upper Red River survey in
By the end of the summer, the team summer 2016.
had sampled each of the sites three times
JIM BURROUGHS/ODWC
and had documented 53 fish species in
the 17 surveyed creeks and river ways. As
expected, some of the survey sites hosted
more species of fish than others.
“Diversity hotspots” for the Upper Red
Streams Program Technician Donnie King
River basin included the East Cache Creek holds a longnose gar, one of 53 fish species iden- Among the fish species logged during the survey
survey site near Lawton, where 25 species tified in the survey. was the red shiner.
JIM BURROUGHS / ODWC
MARCH/APRIL 2017 29Surveying the Upper Red River
JIM BURROUGHS/ODWC
30 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMAof fish were documented; the Red River
site near Marietta, where 22 species were
recorded; and the West Cache Creek site
Check Out the Chub
near Walters, where 21 species were logged.
TREVOR STARKS/ODWC
Four of the species documented last
summer are considered to be species of
greatest conservation need.
To see how the current fish communi-
ty compares to communities of the past,
the Streams Team has been combing
through past survey data, including field
notes and logs from Bill Matthews and
Edie Marsh-Matthews, biologists with the
University of Oklahoma. Matthews and
Marsh-Matthews were the last to conduct
a comprehensive survey of the region in
the late 1980s and have graciously shared
their information with the Streams Team.
This summer, the team will continue its The prairie chub is among four species of greatest conservation need that were documented
work surveying the state’s major drainag- by the Streams Team.
es, focusing efforts on the Arkansas River
Learn more about one of the fish species of greatest conservation need that
and its tributaries. As team members
was found during the Streams Team survey of the Upper Red River. Little is
move across the state sampling various
known about the prairie chub, but it proved its resilience in surviving several
rivers, they will track changes in fish dis-
years of drought. This fish’s intriguing story will be included in the May/June
tribution and document the distinct fish
issue of Outdoor Oklahoma.
communities found in each ecoregion.
TREVOR STARKS/ODWC
Streams Team volunteer Doug Rodger and biologist Tony Rodger survey in Deep Red Creek south of Lawton.
MARCH/APRIL 2017 31You can also read
