 The biggest bass stringers of the year are typically hauled in during the months of February and March. Don't miss out on your opportunity to catch a giant this year! (Photo courtesy Backyard Bassin' Tournament Trail)
It's Time to Catch a Giant!
The season of lunker bass is upon us! While the outside temperatures are chilly to down-right frigid, the days are beginning to lengthen and beneath the surface largemouth bass are starting their pre-spawn journey.
Why is it lunker season you ask? February and March are the pre-spawn months for largemouth bass and several other fish species in Oklahoma. Female fish, the larger of the sexes, seek calorie-rich food in bulk to help develop their eggs, while male bass stock up their own fat reserves in preparation of exhausting themselves during the spawn.
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Photo credit: Florida Museum of History
Winter Weather and Oklahoma Fisheries: Threadfin Shad
As we begin to thaw across the state, you may notice small dead fish floating at some Oklahoma reservoirs. Threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense), a popular baitfish species in Oklahoma, are a subtropical fish native to the deep southern portions of the United States that have been transplanted into Oklahoma waters for their value as a forage fish for most sport fish species. Threadfin shad can’t handle extended periods of cold weather, becoming stressed in water temperatures below 50°F, and can experience large die offs in temperatures below 41°F. A weather event of this magnitude likely affected all water bodies across the state where Threadfin currently reside. Coupled with the concern of transporting Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS), few options exist for supplemental stockings. However, Threadfin shad are prolific spawners and over time their populations will rebound. We anticipate that while many shad will die, some will have found thermal refuge and will survive to repopulate the reservoirs in the coming years. We have already had a few reports of this occurring, including Konawa Lake. Threadfin Shad kills are a very common occurrence in Oklahoma reservoirs, especially those farther north. In the short-term, sportfish like Largemouth Bass will benefit from a buffet of dead and dying threadfin; however, long-term effects will vary based on the extent of the kill in each reservoir, and the abundance of other forage species.
ODWC's Ask and Angler Series is back for 2021! Ask an Angler is a series of monthly two-hour virtual fishing courses covering relevant topics for that particular month. Participants can have all of their fishing questions answered live and in real time during the events. Those unable to attend can watch the videos after the live events have concluded.
REGISTER FOR AN UPCOMING COURSE
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Ask an Angler: Virtual Fishing Course (Spawning White Bass Fishing Tips) I March 9, 1-3 p.m. Youtube Live I REGISTER HERE
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Ask an Angler: Virtual Fishing Course (Spawning Black Bass Fishing Tips) I March 30, 1-3 p.m. Youtube Live I REGISTER HERE
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Ask an Angler: Virtual Fishing Course (Sunfish Fishing Tips) I May 11, 1-3 p.m. Youtube Live I REGISTER HERE
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Ask an Angler: Virtual Fishing Course (Spawning Catfish Fishing Tips) I June 8, 1-3 p.m. Youtube Live I REGISTER HERE
Click here to view all Ask an Angler Series videos!
Click here to stay up-to-date on the latest fishing happenings!
Click here to view ODWC's Winter Fishing Tips!
What Should I Use? Click here to view popular lure selections.
Click here to view a breakdown of pairing the right fishing line to your rod and reel.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is committed to showcasing your proud fish catches to the world! The Dock is a place to share your fish photos and see what's being caught around the state. There are no minimum weight or measurement requirements. It doesn't matter if you caught a two-pound neighborhood pond bass or 100-pound Keystone Lake paddlefish, we want to see it! Any fish species, no matter the size or method of take, that was caught in Oklahoma is eligible for submission. So catch that fish, snap that pic, and show it off at The Dock!
Lance H shared these nice largemouth bass at The Dock! Click the link below to share your fish photos.
Click here to share your fish photos at The Dock!
Imagine yourself spending the day chasing bass with Fishing Hall-of-Famer Jimmy Houston. Or having a shot at a private-land tom turkey on a guided hunt. How about getting up close to an alligator in the wild? Or perhaps becoming the proud owner of an Oklahoma Lifetime Hunting and Fishing License?
These possibilities will become realities for the lucky winners in the new Outdoor Oklahoma Adventures raffle program!
Whether you are a hunter, angler, or someone who just appreciates the natural resources we have in Oklahoma, these Outdoor Oklahoma Adventures provide you the chance to have a great — and likely a once-in-a-lifetime — outdoor experience.
For this round, 14 raffles are being offered, with Adventures ranging from hunting and fishing opportunities to wildlife viewing excursions and youth opportunities.
Anyone can enter, whether or not you have a hunting or fishing license. Tickets are $10 each or a bundle of five tickets for $30 for each of the Adventure raffles. Or get an Ultimate Bundle for $50, which enters you into all 14 raffles. There is no limit to the number of tickets that you can buy.
All proceeds from these raffle opportunities go directly to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to fund fish and wildlife conservation, and public hunting and fishing opportunities for everyone to enjoy. For each raffle dollar raised, ODWC can access $3 in federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration funding. That means the $10 you spend on a raffle ticket could become $40 for fish and wildlife conservation and management in Oklahoma.
Raffle tickets are on sale now through the Wildlife Department’s license website at GoOutdoorsOklahoma.com. The final day to buy tickets for these Outdoor Oklahoma Adventure raffles will be Aug. 6, 2021.
Here are the Outdoor Oklahoma Adventures you can try to win:
- Guided Fishing Trip with Pro Angler Jimmy Houston.
- Guided Youth Dove Hunt with Crash Landing Outdoors.
- Snagging for a World Record Paddlefish with Reel Good Time Guide Service.
- Guided Youth Duck Hunt with MLB Pitcher Archie Bradley.
- Stream Snorkel Trip with ODWC Biologist.
- Become a Bear Biologist for a Day.
- Guided Spring Turkey Hunt With HiRoost Outfitters.
- Southwestern Oklahoma Private Land Hunt for a Cow Elk.
- Get Up Close to Alligators in Southeastern Oklahoma.
- Guided Birding Trip to Red Slough with ODWC Experts.
- All-inclusive Spring Turkey Hunt in Central Oklahoma.
- Private Land Youth Deer Hunt.
- Spend a Day With Any ODWC Employee.
- Win a Lifetime Hunting and Fishing License.
Don’t miss your chance of getting drawn for an Outdoor Oklahoma Adventure of a lifetime!
Click here for all the details.
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