Lake Texoma - Record Breaking Year

USSFN 5/01/03 - We're all wondering just what Oklahomans are putting in the water at Lake Texoma?  Already this year the state records have crumbled not once or twice, but five times with two of these records blown away at Texoma.  There is no doubt in our minds here at USSFN that our biggest photo contributor, Doc Walker of Southern OK Guide Service, has his eye on a new Striped Bass record for this year.

Texoma yielded her first state record of the year on Sunday, March 16, when Rusty Keeton (left), of Ardmore, got more than he bargained for when he hooked an 87-pound, 4-ounce blue catfish near Briar Creek on the south-central Oklahoma reservoir.  It hit on shad gizzards at the end of 25 lb. line.  Rusty proved once again to anglers all over that even a cheap rod and reel combination can produce trophies.

Just six days later on March 22, Aaron Fridrich caught a new state record smallmouth bass at Lake Texoma weighing a whopping seven pounds, 12 ounces.  What makes this even more interesting is the fact that smallmouth are native only to the Ozark and Ouchita rivers and streams in eastern Oklahoma.  The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has now become very successful at establishing reproducing populations in lakes having no native smallmouth bass.  The last state record was also set back in 1996 at Texoma.

The fun started this year when fly fisherman John D. Ball Jr., 64, landed a new state record 9-pound, 12.8-ounce brown trout Jan. 13 from the lower Mountain Fork River.  Ball’s fish topped the previous record of 9 pound, 10.5 ounces set by Jim Horton in 2001.  Horton’s fish was also caught in the month of January from the lower Mountain Fork. Ball’s fish was caught on an olive-colored #10 size “wooly bugger” (bottom left column) using a #7-8 sinking flyline with a 6X (4 lb. test strength) tippet. Ball’s fly rod was a G.Loomis model FR1088 (see left column).

The second state record fell March 15 when Brandon Taber of Meeker landed a new state record 9-pound, 8-ounce spotted gar March 15 bowfishing in the Guy Sandy Arm of the Murray County reservoir.

The fifth and latest record was set when Shane McCleary of Blackwell landed a new state record paddlefish weighing 121.2 pounds April 1 below Kaw dam.  The paddlefish is a prehistoric fish that feeds on algae and zooplankton by swimming slow with their mouth open.

If you ask the USDA why this is happening, they might point you in the direction of the ACWF (America's Clean Water Foundation) who just helped us celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Clean Water Act in 2002.  By helping protect our nation's waters, we help preserve this great sport.  - Jim 

 
Bohning Bowfishing Kit 91023 - This bowfishing kit contains all the accessories you need for bowfishing, including T-style reel that fits in bow stabilizer hole, River Fish point, and 50' spool of 80-lb. line. Bowfishing tip booklet included.