Hi folks,
My wife and I are going back to Tulsa for Thanksgiving to visit her parents. Seeing as I’ll be up there, I’d really like to get some fishing in for a couple of species that I can’t catch down here in Florida.
So I’m thinking of either going down to the Lower Illinois river and trying to catch a few brown trout on my 6 wt, or going up to the Arkansas river near Tulsa and trying to land a big striper. I’ve never fished either of these speicies (in FL I’m pretty limited to redfish, trout, bass, and panfish) so I don’t quite know what to expect or how the fishing will be around this time.
Can anybody help me out? If any of you Okies are going to be around that weekend, and would like to tag along, let me know!
Cheers,
-Ray
“Tolerance is the mark of a man with no convictions.” -G.K. Chesterton
Okie,
Before you go to either of those destinations, you need to check the flows. I can’t predict what it will be like in a week, but they have been running water all week from both Keystone and Tenkiller dams. Here is a link to check current flows: [url=http://www.thetent.com/arcadia/ok/index.htm:357fd]http://www.thetent.com/arcadia/ok/index.htm[/url:357fd] If both of these are blown out I would suggest Pawhuska Lake for trout and the possibility of smallmouth bass and big bluegills and redears. If you do make it down to the Lower Illinois expect a lot more rainbows than browns. I plan on being at Texhoma State Park that weekend, but if that trip should get canceled I would be glad to take you fishing at one of the above mentioned locations.
Steve
“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went”-Will Rogers
Try the Lower Mountain Fork River for brown trout. It’s probably a 3-hour drive from Tulsa, but it’s a much more pleasant and scenic fishery than the Lower Illinois. Better trout fishing, too.
You can fish a short, 2 or 3 weight in Spillway Creek. Or you can bring a 6 or 7 and sling streamers in Zones II and III for those larger trout in deeper water.
If you get down there, ask around for a guide named Ethan Wright. Do yourself a favor and go ahead and have a few Starbucks bold-blend coffees beforehand so that you can keep up with him. Tell him John G. sent you. He’ll put you on fish.
Ethan lives in Hochatown, which is next to Broken Bow.
While you’re down there, stop at Broken Bow Lake. It’s easily the most scenic lake in Oklahoma, and maybe the entire United States. Don’t forget your camera.
I guarantee you haven’t fished with a guide like Ethan. Start running now to get into shape!
Fished lower Illinois this morning caughy 9 between son and me all rainbows.Lower Mountain Fork closer to 5 hours than 3 ACCORDING TO A FRIEND THAT FISHES IT. bEAVER ACROSS Arkansas line might be better than Illinois for browns and a whole lot closer than Mountain Fork.I live in Sand Springs give me a call when you get to Tulsa
Thanks so much guys. I talked to my father-in-law, and he’s going to go with me. I mentioned going down to Broken Bow to him, and he didn’t sound real interested, and seeing as he’s the one driving I guess I’ll be happy to go wherever.
It’s looking like the Lower Illinois is going to be it for us. He mentioned that he’s fished there a few times, and caught a few browns on streamers. We can’t go too far from home, seeing as we’ve got to be near the TV for the Bedlam game (go pokes!).
I’ll be sure to take my camera wherever I go, and I’ll report back upon my return.