Northeast Oklahoma Fishing report for week of July 18

Lake visitors should be aware that the heat has started taking its toll on area lake levels. While a some lakes are just a foot or two below normal, others are approaching three to four feet below. You will want to be sure to check your lake’s level in our fishing report provided by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.  Also, use extra caution when boating and keep in mind that there may be unseen obstacles due to the lower lake levels.

Beginning July 9, American Horse Lake near Geary will be closed to public access until further notice for repairs to the dam. For more information please go to wildlifedepartment.com

NORTHEAST

Bell Cow: July 15. Elevation below normal, water 91 and clear. Bass fair on plastic baits. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.

Chandler: July 15. Elevation below normal, water 91 and clear. Bass fair on jigs and plastic baits. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.

Eucha: July 17. Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 85 and dingy. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush and structure at 10-12 ft. Largemouth bass fair on plastic worms at night. Bluegill good on crickets and worms around grass beds. Catfish fair on cut shad. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.

Eufaula: July 15. Elevation 2 ft. below normal, water clear. Largemouth bass fair around deeper points and deeper rocky areas. White bass good on topwater plugs and slab spoons along flats early and late. Blue catfish fair drifting fresh shad along deep flats. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs under bridges, along riprap and rocky areas. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.

Ft. Gibson: July 15. Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 89 and clear. White bass good on white rooster tails and small crankbaits at 5-15 ft. around the windy points. Largemouth bass good on deep crankbaits and plastic worms at 10-15 ft. in brush piles. Catfish good on trotlines baited with whole shad or sunfish at 15-25 ft. Report submitted by Rick Stafford in Wagoner.

Greenleaf: July 16. Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water clear. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, bill baits and jig-and-worm along shorelines, creek channels, brush structure and rocky points. Catfish good on fresh cut bait and liver on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs in green, yellow and red along fishing docks and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Keystone: July 15. Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal, water 86 and clear. Largemouth bass fair to good on soft plastic baits at 5-8 ft. along structure, rocky points and below docks early and late. White bass fair to good on trolling crankbaits, grubs and rooster tails along the surface around points. Striped bass slow to fair on live shad at 26 ft. along the north side of the Hwy 412 Bridge in the evenings. Catfish fair on cut bait, shad and live bait on juglines and rod-and-reel. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs along timber. Flathead catfish good noodling. Report submitted by Dwight Luther, game warden stationed in Creek County.

Lower Illinois: July 16. Elevation normal, water 54 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on topwater lures all along the river. White bass fair on jigs and spinnerbaits at 1-2 ft. all along the river. Striped bass good on live shad at 1-3 ft. at the mouth of the river. Channel catfish excellent on cut bait on bottom all along the river. Crappie fair on jigs and spinnerbaits at 1-3 ft. all along the river. Trout excellent fly fishing the surface, on rooster tails  at 1-2 ft. and on Power Bait on bottom at the dam, Watts and Marval's. Report submitted by D. Tracy, Town of Gore.

Spavinaw: July 17. Elevation slightly below normal, water 84 and dingy. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at dam and brush shelters. Catfish fair on cut shad. Largemouth bass fair on buzz baits and plastic worms along deep shoreline and shady areas. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.

Tenkiller: July 16. Elevation 3 1/2 ft. below normal, water high 80s and clear. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and soft plastics early mornings and evenings. Catfish fair on stinkbait at 20-25 ft. or drifting minnows or worms at 10-20 ft. White bass fair north or south of Cookson around the islands or flats evenings. Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort.

Webbers Falls: July 16. Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and buzz baits along riprap, brush structure and mudflats with brush. Catfish good on fresh cut bait and liver drifting on bottom and along mudflats. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs in black and purple around bridges and brush structure.

Information provided by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation .