Fort Cobb a Good Fishing Spot
By Sam Powell, Tulsa World, Okla.
Jun. 10–A little bit about a lot, while looking forward to some good early-summer urban fishing.
A big, popular lake located in southwest Oklahoma was once famous for its winter crow roost, which for about three decades drew wingshooters from far and wide for exciting action.
In the last 10 years or so, it has turned into an outstanding fishery and has already produced a remarkable number of record fish in the Oklahoma Wildlife Department’s new lake-record program.
Fort Cobb has been noted for many years as a great spot for big flathead catfish, but is also producing outstanding hybrid striped bass fishing.
Margaret Recker of Eakly caught a 42-pound flathead catfish on May 28, and that same day Rocky Brewster of Fort Cobb pulled a 11.4-pound hybrid from the lake.
That record didn’t last long though, as Brooke King of Weatherford caught an 18.2-pound hybrid from the shallow, sandy lake only a few days later.
Hybrids are a hatchery-produced cross between large female striped bass and male white bass. They have been stocked in many different waters across the state in recent years and have become favorites of many anglers who enjoy catching these great fighters, which are also superb fare
on the dinner table.
The Oklahoma lake-record program continues at 13 different spots, and there are also about a dozen different fish which are eligible for entry in the listings. All the details on the program, such as minimum weights for consideration, places to register your catch and other requirements, are covered fully on the department’s Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com.
New officers: The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission — the eight-panel volunteer agency which oversees all policies and procedures of the Wildlife Department — elected new officers at its recent meeting. Harland Stonecipher of Ada was named chairman. Stonecipher was recently reappointed to the commission by the governor, after serving an eight-year term previously. He represents district 4 which includes several central-Oklahoma counties.
BASS winner: Jeremy Starks of Charleston, W. Va., outlasted perennial favorite and three time angler-of-the-year Kevin VanDam to win the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament Sunday on Alabama’s Wheeler Lake. Starks caught a total of 78 pounds, 10 ounces in four days and won $101,000. VanDam, of Kalamazoo, Mich., was only ounces behind at 78 pounds, 2 ounces. Bass fishing fans can watch all the action Saturday, 8 a.m., on ESPN2 (Cox cable channel 26.).
Big bass meet: Another major bass fishing event is coming to Grand Lake, as something called the Big Bass Bash is slated for June 28-29.
This is strictly a one-fish competition, with sponsors announcing a total payback of $75,000 with the best fish of the weekend worth $20,000.
Call (866) 515-0102 or visit www.bigbassbash.com.
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Copyright (c) 2008, Tulsa World, Okla.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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