Memorial Day weekend is expected to be a busy one, as most lakes are at or slightly above normal. That's good news for fishers, boaters and campers.
Use this guide to check and see what conditions are at the lake of your choosing for the holiday weekend.
The lakes will be more crowded so please keep water safety in mind.
[ Stay safe on the water this summer ]
Here are the current lake levels and fishing tips in this week's fishing report issued on May 23 by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
NORTHEAST
Bell Cow: May 20. Elevation normal, water 78 and murky. Bass good on plastic baits. Channel catfish good on punch bait and chicken liver. Crappie good on minnows. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.
Carl Blackwell: May 20. Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water 76. Crappie fair on jigs. Saugeye and striped bass hybrids good trolling crankbaits. Catfish good on all baits. Report submitted by Jon Cunningham, game warden stationed in Payne County.
Chandler: May 20. Elevation normal, water 79 and murky. Bass good on plastic baits. Channel catfish fair on stinkbait. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County.
Copan: May 20. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water clearing. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs at 3-5 ft. from boats around the lake as well as from the new fishing dock at Copan Point. White bass slow on white grubs in areas with large number of shad. Catfish good on cut shad, sunfish and worms below the dam and down the Caney River. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.
Eucha: May 23. Elevation 1/3 ft. below normal, water 76 and dingy. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush and structure at 12-14 ft. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits. Bluegill good on crickets and worms around grass beds. Catfish fair on cut shad. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa.
Ft. Gibson: May 20. Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 76 and clear. Largemouth bass good on topwater lures, spinnerbaits and worms anywhere around gravel beds and stumps. Catfish good on juglines and rod-and-reel on shad and cut bait drifting the main flats around Long Bay and Hwy 51 Bridge. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. White bass fair on spinnerbaits while trolling and wading the windy points. Report submitted by Rick Stafford in Wagoner.
Grand: May 22. Elevation normal, water 74. Catfish fair on juglines baited with cut bait above Sailboat Bridge. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 20-25 ft. below docks. Report submitted by Kody Moore, game warden stationed in Delaware County.
Greenleaf: May 21. Elevation normal, water clear. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jig-and-worms along shorelines, creek channels, brush structure, rocky points and moss beds. Catfish good on liver and fresh cut bait on bottom. Crappie good on minnows and jigs in green and yellow around fishing docks and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.
Hudson: May 21. Elevation normal. Largemouth bass good on plastic baits. Channel and blue catfish good on juglines baited with cut shad at 8-10 ft. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 4-8 ft. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Rogers and Mayes counties.
Hulah: May 20. Elevation 5 ft. above normal, water clearing. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs at 6-8 ft. Catfish fair on cut shad and worms below the dam. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.
Kaw: May 21. Elevation normal, water murky. Striped bass and striped bass hybrids fair on jigs and live bait when releasing water. Striped bass hybrids good in the lake near the dam. Blue catfish good on juglines and trotlines baited with fresh cut bait in the upper end and on cut shad below the dam. Report submitted by Larry Green, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Keystone: May 21. Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water 73. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 5-10 ft. Catfish fair on juglines and trotlines baited with cut bait and shad. White bass fair off points. Report submitted by Karlin Bailey, game warden stationed in Creek County.
Lower Illinois: May 21. Elevation normal, water 44 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits at 1-2 ft. all along the river. White bass fair on jigs at 1-3 ft. all along the river. Striped bass and striped bass hybrids fair on live bait at 1 ft. at the mouth of the river. Channel catfish fair on cut bait on bottom all along the river. Crappie fair on jigs at 1-2 ft. all along the river. Trout excellent fly-fishing the surface, on rooster tails at 1-2 ft. and on Power Bait on bottom from Gore Landing to the dam. Report submitted D. Tracy, Town of Gore.
Oologah: May 20. Elevation 5 ft. above normal and falling, water upper 60s to low 70s and muddy. Blue catfish fair on juglines baited with shad at 10-15 ft. White bass fair trolling
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