lake hefner crappie fishing

His long rod enables him to make a long cast, which allows him to keep his jigs in areas where crappie like to spawn. The lake's only drawback: a pricey access fee. Veteran crappie angler and fishing guide Todd Huckabee hefts a pair of slabs -- one black crappie and one white -- from Lake Thunderbird. #4.25.5. The bass and catfishing can be good as well on Lake Eufaula, but it gets overshadowed by the crappie fishing. The lake draws many crappie anglers from neighboring states likeTexas, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas, Hollie said. Largemouth Bass with a Berkley Gulp! My good friends Chris and Jeremy Box catch some nice slabs from a private dock that's tailor-made for specks thanks to the addition of submerged Christmas trees. fishing, ATV'S or dirt . The annual contest is a nice appetizer for anglers before the state's official fishing opener on the following . What could be better than a deep-fried nugget? 2022 All Rights Reserved Express Fishings, Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. It was built in 1947 to expand the water supply for the city of Oklahoma City. I've caught crappie virtually everywhere on the big lake. 2023 Fishidy. Keep a variety of small crappie baits handy, and don't be too proud to dunk a minnow when fishing with artificials gets tough. I started with 20 pound test monofilament, but the catfish kept breaking me off on the rocks, so I re-spooled my reels with 30 pound and 40 pound line. Spawning crappie can be predictable, and savvy anglers can catch an ice chest full in no time. Jones and Wilson, regulars at Hefner, fish the long rocky riprap area around . This lake is stocked annually with Walleye and Hybrid Striped Bass. It covers105,500 surface acreswith 800 miles of shoreline. Hewould, however, like to see the Wildlife Department put a lengthlimit on crappie at Lake Eufaula to protect the big females during the spawn. He advises anglers that access to these areas is for the most part limited to boats. Russ Horton points out that certain coves on the south side of the lake, such as Calypso Cove and Little Ax, hold quite a few crappie. Favorite Lake or River Whatever water is closest usually Lake Eufaula, Ok. Posted August 3, 2013. Lake Overholser is a 1500 acre lake located in Canadian county. Black crappie. I had a lot of fun.. Bank-fishermen can do equally well casting small jigs in the 1/64- to 1/8-ounce size range in bright fluorescent colors. Walleye, Sauger & Saugeye Walleye As they move deeper, spoons are among the top producers if the crappie are active. Reported by: Oklahoma Wildlife Dept. Lake Overholser offers a covered fishing pier, boat ramps, tending docks, handicap facilities and fish attractors. Crappie jigs work well in water from 2' to 40' deep, and are the most popular artificial lure for crappie ever. Hefner Lake, Oklahoma Fishing - Premier Angler Lake Hefner is a great place to go fishing. The lake is known as a great wintertime crappie lake, and Kuklinski says the crappie fishing there is good year 'round. Arcadia Lake garnered fame just after it opened by giving up some bragging-sized stringers of both crappie and largemouth bass. Fishing Although the picnic areas and playgrounds are free, Lake Hefner visitors must have a city fishing permit to fish off the bank or the covered piers. Water muddy. They also provide tips on where to find the best trolling spots in a particular area. Register and I will offer you a free Crappie.com decal ( plus a lot less ads too ). Beaver Creek Reservoir | Virginia DWR The lake was created in 1987 by an earthen dam on the Deep Fork River begun in 1980. Hefner Lake, Oklahoma Fishing Location and Information: Hefner Lake is located in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. Lake Hefner 2019 - Crappie But he adds a warning that the many private boat docks may well allow no fishing within 100 feet. Bass are slow on plastics fished near brush. Turn the legs and thighs of a freshly killed gobbler into comfort food for a chilly spring night. Reece catches some of his largest crappie in the south end of the lake near Crowder. just wasn't prepared for a walleye haha! The best spots will be found near the Roosevelt Bridge, Washita Point, Soldier Creek, Alberta Creek, and Buncombe Creek. If you like to dunk minnows, you could even split the cost on a couple of dozen as well. Report submitted by Tim Campbell (Game Warden Oklahoma County). Off bottom, with a common slip rig. Lake Hefner is a reservoir in northwestern Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. A healthy crappie population highlights the fishery in Beed's Lake in Iowa's Franklin County, with many fish 7-11 inches available. Another likely spot is the southeast side of the lake; heavily wooded, it's teeming with crappie. Headquartered at Martin's Landing on Monkey Island, he operates a sport shop and motel, and books fishing trips the year around. 7800 Northwest Expy, Oklahoma City, OK 73132, 1801 Belle Isle Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73118, 1200 W Memorial Rd, Oklahoma City, OK 73114, 1225 W I- 35 Frontage Rd, Edmond, OK 73034, Upland Update: Research Teams Trap Over 40 Turkeys in March, Turkey Numbers Reported "Steady" Ahead of April 16 Hunting Opener, Oklahomans Can Champion the Wild with Tax Return. If youre looking for a fishing guide to take you out on the water this summer, look no further than Lake Hefner Fishing Guides! Occasionally stocked with channel catfish. 13. For all special regulations visit okc.gov. Lake Eufaula, though turbid or dirty in some areas, possesses prime habitat within which schools of crappie lurk, waiting to ambush small minnows and shad. Generally, I find 90 percent of my fish in 12 to 16 feet of water, and catching 12- to 16-inch crappie is common.". Fishermen will find a variety of fish including flathead catfish, catfish, walleye, striped bass, black bass, crappie, bream/bluegill, white bass, largemouth bass and carp here. .goog-te-menu-value:hover {text-decoration:none !important;} You are trying to access a feature that requires a Fishidy account. Catfish, Channel fair on shad, worms around dam, main lake. It's true: We live in a time of economic uncertainty. It also serves as a major recreational destination, as it is surrounded by 9.5 miles of bicycle trails. You can find Bluegill, Sunfish, White Crappie, Black Crappie, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, White Bass, Striped Hybrid Bass, Spotted Bass, Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass on these waters. As an added bonus, crappie anglers fishing the gravel piles near Clear Bay or fishing near the Little Axe swim beach will have an opportunity to catch saugeyes, which are very common and, according to Kuklinski, a tasty surprise! "It doesn't all happen at one time. Top Secrets for Fishing the Crappie Spawn - The Fishing Wire 1999 - 2014 Angler Top 5 Crappie Fishing Lures For Virginia. So, what type of fish are in Hefner Lake? Changing our tackle and tactics, we began to catch even more of the feisty specks. The angler who catches the biggest crappie during the year receives a Todd Huckabee crappie rod. Fly-fishing guides help you learn how to fish with fly rods and fly lines. The best time to go fishing in Lake Hefner is during the morning or early afternoon hours. Don't do what I did one night, which was to stow insufficient stores of live bait. Thunderbird -- "T-Bird," the locals call it -- harbors vast numbers of small crappie beneath the surface of its 6,000-acre area. on slabs, spoons, worms around main lake. One is on a dropper line. Lake Hefner Fishing near The Village, Oklahoma The experts all agreed that small jigs and plastic baits in yellow, chartreuse, white and shad colors are the way to go; small minnows are the bait of choice for bait-anglers. Crappie fair on jigs around floating dock. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Travelers can enjoy fishing . Slightly windy. Minnow fishermen can catch slabs virtually anywhere. 18 in. Its got a lot of crappie in it, Hughes said of Hefner Lake. "These areas," he said, "are good staging areas for spawning crappie, which sometimes congregate there for weeks at a time.". Lake Overholser OK Fishing Reports, Map & Hot Spots Turn the legs and thighs of a freshly killed gobbler into comfort food for a chilly spring night. Be sure to wear a life jacket and watch for underwater obstacles that could snag your line. 2 8 Mar 17, 2014 chadwick88 0 There are numerous different species of fish to find on this body of water. Motley gives a prize of Beaver Bottom baits each month to the angler who catches the biggest crappie and brings it to his store. The lake limit is 37 crappie daily. In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. Bowfishing during daylight hours only. Bass, White, Crappie, Black, Crappie, White slow on jigs, minnows, plastic baits, spinnerbaits around docks, main lake, shorelines. of Engineers as a water supply lake can be reached by taking I-35 north from Oklahoma City and exiting east at either the 15th Street exit or the Edmond Road exit. For a lake right in the middle of the city, its got a lot of fish in it. "They just don't get very big." Fishing guides are a great way to maximize your fishing experience in Lake Hefner. Bass, Striped Hybrid, Sunfish, Bluegill Fair on flukes, jigs, plastic baits, worms. When the crappie are biting, Carl can be found fishing the riprap area just a stone's throw from his shop. 00:00 00:00. This is a turkey hunter's take on the classic Swiss dish. "I like to use 4-pound-test line," he offered, "and I believe that fishing with jigs can be very productive. This lake is stocked annually with Walleye and Hybrid Striped Bass. That's just what the author does each time he fishes these slab producers near his Oklahoma City-area home. LAST CASTIf you want to economize even more, take a friend fishing and split the gas cost. Guide, All Rights Reserved. Lake Hefner SLABSAUCE Sold Here | Come join the best Family Orientated fishing website on the Internet. They just dont get very big.. 7 oz. She said they like to spawn around stumps in depths of 2-5 feet. For a city fishery, its probably one of the best in the country, said David Hughes, owner of Lucky Lure Tackle in Oklahoma City and a Hefner fisherman. The last on our list of lakes -- and one well worth the drive -- lies right on the southern border of Oklahoma and boasts a king-sized complement of crappie. | Many of these fish can be caught on artificial lures or live bait. Contribute to conservation by sharing sighting details of fish, wildlife, and plants. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Male crappie are smaller and can usually be caught near the bank, while females, being larger on average, prefer slightly deeper water.". Catfish slow on liver fished deep near brush. The fishing areas with the likeliest prospects are found in the midlake area; there, post-spawn crappie will school in depths ranging from 6 to 20 feet. Choosing to fish almost exclusively from the bank, he's able to enjoy taking a limit of crappie on almost every outing. Oklahoma CityFishing Licenseis required in addition to aState Fishing License, unless exempt. The frontrunner this month is a 2.33-pounder. Lake Hefner Sponsored by Conditions : Hefner: Elevation is 5 ft. below normal (stable), water temperature 51F and stained. Lake employee Leon Mixer says he has witnessed some good stringers of crappie caught at the indoor fishing dock located beside the 15th Street boat ramp. Allowed methods: up to three rods and reels per person with no more than three hooks per line (treble hooks are considered one hook). Winchester's Nathan Robinson talks features with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Jeff Boxrucker, the ODWC's crappie expert, notes that the lake is lacking the aquatic vegetation necessary to sustain various size-classes of crappie, the result being that most of T-Bird's crappie are on average less robust than biologists had hoped for. he was fun to catch. One of my favorite tactics for T-Bird crappie involves using a float tube to access the stickup areas in the south end of the lake. Bass are slow on plastics fished near brush. This can be a very profitable way to spend a nice May night. It's incredibly scenic but also boasts great size and good numbers of crappie combined. However, boating Water skiing and jet skiing are not currently all Sign in to your account to find other friends and anglers who are using Fishidy. Hughes said the fish were schooling on piles of shad Tuesday evening. Right now, they ought to be starting. LAKE THUNDERBIRDLying 30 minutes south of Oklahoma City near Norman, my top pick is Thunderbird Lake, a 6,070-acre impoundment that locals have nicknamed "T-Bird" and -- because its water is normally muddy year 'round -- "Dirty Bird." "Thunderbird's crappie spawn in 2 to 3 feet of water due to the prevalent muddy or turbid water," he said. So, read on as I give you my picks of the best crappie spots. Traditional favorite crappie areas include Snake Pit Cove, Clear Bay, Duck Blind Cove and Old River Range Cove, located in the Hog Creek arm of the lake. You can bet that legions of turkey hunters will also take to the woods this month, in hopes of matching wits with a spring gobbler. Swimming is prohibited. He prefers to use feathers instead of plastic tails. Summer anglers regularly catch hefty limits of crappie at Eufaula, making it one of the most popular destinations for anglers statewide. He has a particular tactic he favors for taking the lake's crappie: slip-corking. The lake is a fee-use area with prices posted at the entrances. Two boat dock areas act as a focus for considerable quantities of crappie. View Map Find Local Fishing Spots on the Interactive Map! There is 1 lighted fishing pier. Conclusion Wanted: New Shakespeare 1924 Model Fk Fishing Reel For Sale? Shoreline length is 18 miles, lake acreage 2,500, average depth 29 feet, maximum depth 94 feet, walking/jogging trail 9 miles. Lake Hefner, according to lake expert Carl Jones, is an awesome crappie hole overlooked by many. Bass, Largemouth, Bass, White Good on crankbaits, in-line spinnerbaits, spinnerbaits around brush structure, shorelines, weed beds. It's undoubtedly one of the finest crappie venues in the nation. Lake Hefner Fishing Map | Nautical Charts App Contact him at egodfrey@oklahoman.com or on Twitter @EdGodfrey. Carl Jones is the owner of Hefner Bait & Tackle (405/722-3443), a nearby store that stocks fishing baits. "I love it when a plan comes together:" Thomas Allen may have missed a day-starting coffee and chill time, but his planning before a recent turkey hunt in Minnesota had him ready when gobblers showed up earlier than expected, and just before an April winter storm blew in. According to Martin, the crappie will move out of shallow water after spawning and congregate near ledges in 6 to 30 feet of water. Another smart tactic: Figure out the whereabouts of shad schools off many of the lake's rocky points, and then use Road Runner jigs or small tube baits in bright colors. With experienced captains and guides, the company offers a variety of fishing packages for those looking to catch a big fish. Oklahoma City's oldest reservoir, Lake Overholser was built in 1919 and connects to Hefner Lake by a canal. The 2,500-acre lake has nearly 20 miles of Hefner | Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation And you can too! "Pretty much they will bite just about anything as they are guarding their nest," said Michael Hollie, a fisheries biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. This month, the state's storm trackers hit the roads, keeping a watchful eye on ominous skies. Crappie fishing in Lake Albemarle is decent, with fish up to 12 inches being available. Submit your photo to the dock! Oklahomas state botanist will visit Arbuckle Springs WMA throughout the 2023 growing season to document the areas plant diversity. Crappie fair on jigs around floating dock. Larger lures can also be used in deeper water, but be careful not to overfish.