Oklahoma’s State Fish Offers Hot Angling Action

By Oklahoma Dept of Wildlife Conservation

First posted on 03-23-2009

Of all the official state symbols Oklahoma claims, the white bass is the favorite for anglers, especially in the coming weeks when the native fish begin their annual spawning runs up creeks, rivers and other streams that feed into lakes across the state.

The annual spawning run of the official state fish, often called the “sand bass,” occurs during the spring and is perhaps best described as a “fish frenzy.” White bass move in large schools to spawn, and anglers who fish at the right time can end up with near constant angling action as well as a stringer full of fish. Fisheries biologists with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation recently provided the inside scoop on how to get in on the best springtime white bass fishing no matter where you live in the state.

This season’s white bass spawning run was already underway during the first week of March in tributaries of southeast Oklahoma lakes, with males being harvested in the upper reaches of Pine Creek and Broken Bow, according to Kyle James, southeast region fisheries biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

“At the same time, females were staging five miles downstream from the shoals in Broken Bow,” James said.

A cold front swept through the region the second week of March, dropping water temperatures back into the 50s. Flows peaked at 8,475 cubic feet per second on March 11 at the Mountain Fork River gage near Smithville. Warmer, dryer conditions are helping fishing conditions return to normal.

“Historically, the spawning runs last from mid-March to the first of May,” James said. “Using a 1/8 oz. jig and a white or yellow curly tailed grub is a popular lure for catching white bass. Try tying on two jigs at a time, but hold on, because two fish fight harder than one.”

Hotspots in the southeast region include the narrows at Broken Bow, Pine Creek, Hugo, and Sardis reservoirs. Both walk-in and boat access areas are available. James reminds anglers to get landowner permission before entering private property.

Angling success has been reported from creeks accessible from the Eufaula Wildlife Management Area in east central Oklahoma. One, Duchess Creek, is accessed by taking the Texanna Road exit off I-40 about four miles east of Checotah and driving south four and a half miles. Turn east on the dirt road and proceed one quarter mile to the first bridge. Fish upstream or downstream according to lake level. The other area on the WMA is located about 10 miles west of Eufaula. Turn south off Hwy 9 onto Lenna Road and continue about two miles south until arriving at a dead-end. Hike south or southeast a quarter to a half mile across WMA land to Mill Creek and find the riffle areas in the creek.

Additionally, Danny Bowen, central region fisheries biologist for the Wildlife Department, said sand bass are being caught on Wewoka Creek south of Wetumka.

Eastern Oklahoma offers a number of white bass fishing opportunities as well, according to Gary Peterson, eastcentral region fisheries biologist for the Wildlife Department.

“Pick one of the larger tributaries to the Arkansas River and watch for increased water flow in early spring,” Peterson said. “For example, on Robert S. Kerr’s Sallisaw Creek arm, fishing intensifies after a warm spring rain brings a water level rise. The same thing happens on Dirty Creek west of Webbers Falls, below Greenleaf Dam on Greenleaf Creek or below every dam on the Arkansas River Navigation System for that matter. It’s all a question of when the warm rains bring an increased water flow.”

Horseshoe Bend, on the Illinois River above Tenkiller Lake, is probably the best known white bass fishing “hot spot” in east central Oklahoma, according to Peterson.

“At times, when the spawning run is especially strong, the place resembles an RV campground, with plenty of states represented,” Peterson said. Traditionally, white bass can be caught anytime from mid March to early May depending on water flow, but the peak is usually around the first week or so in April. “The smaller males are the first to show up in any numbers, and any water level rise after that will send the females upriver to spawn. Bank access is limited, but boaters can put in at the Horseshoe Bend boat ramp.”

To get to Horseshoe Bend, take State Highway 82 south from Tahlequah to Horseshoe Bend Road in Keys. Turn east, stopping at the Illinois River.

“Locals say that when the redbuds are in full bloom it’s time to go,” Stahl said.

One female white bass can produce up to one million eggs. White bass reproductive activities are triggered when water temperatures reach 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Spawning occurs at random over weeds, debris and rocks. When tributary streams are available, white bass prefers upstream migration for spawning. No parental care is provided to eggs or young. Anglers should equip themselves with light to medium light action tackle and an assortment of jigs.

To learn more about white bass or fishing in Oklahoma, or to sign up for the Wildlife Department’s weekly fishing report, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.

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