Hello Grand Lakers!

White bass fishing is going to get better soon. It has to! It has been a slow summer for whites but they are surfacing some and this should get better. Also, at times, we can catch them on spoons at some of the regular humps on the lake.

The black bass fishing is still great but they have changed for me in just the last few days. We were catching them great fishing the points on the lake but this weekend the bite was far better flipping the willow trees.

If you have been on the lake you are seeing the spoonbill jumping all over. When I was a young man on the lake we saw very few of them jump but in the summers now they are everywhere. One of the most often asked questions when I am on a guide trip is why they jump, but I don't think anyone really knows.

I have a rare day off from fishing and have to go.

My wife said I have to mow the yard. (Sound familiar???)

Ivan Martin, Martin Guide Service

Call 918-260-7743 if you want to book a Grand Lake guide trip.

Ask about Mexico, Lake Fork (TX) and Lake Champlain (New York) guide trips too!

Hello everyone!

Well, the large mouth have still been biting like crazy. The Skeeter Tournament was at Grand Lake this past weekend and it took almost 24 pounds to win. You can fish almost anywhere and catch fish. On the points... in the willows... the large mouth fishing is just as good as it can get.

Sand bass have been tough this year but I have been finding some schooling near the surface. You can only catch a couple though, and then they are gone. I just don't know what is going on.

I've been catching a lot of crappie but they are only six inches long. It should be a lot better next year.

Watch out for the spoonbill, they are jumping everywhere!

Check out my TV show on Channel 47, KWHB at 4:00 p.m. Saturdays.

Until next time, Tony says, “Good Luck Fishing!” See his new Photo of the Week selections!

Tony

p.s. Check out some of the photos from our Mexico trips, and here are some pictures from a few recent guide trips. Don't forget, we have Gift Certificates that make an easy choice for your favorite sportsman.

Catch Tony's TV show all over Northeast Oklahoma on KWHB Channel 47 (Tulsa).

It airs at 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

Special Article: "A Grand Tour" by Kurtis L. Bubier, Freelance Writer

2nd Annual Rush for Brush (Photo)

Our lakes are getting older and some of the stump beds and rock piles are rotting out or silting in. As a result, some of our fishing holes are not as productive as they used to be.

Last year GRDA's Office of Ecosystems Management initiated a program called "Rush For Brush." The goal of the program is to restore fish habitat that has decomposed over the years. The program works like this: GRDA provides the materials to build "spider blocks" (made of concrete block, pvc pipe, and mortar mix) for artificial habitat. Volunteers come and help build the spider blocks. Once the blocks have set up overnight, GRDA evenly disperses the blocks among the volunteers on the following day.

Volunteers can place the habitat in their favorite fishing spot. GRDA does not care where the habitats are placed as long as they are in deep enough water to avoid contact with boats, other watercraft, and people.

Some of the benefits of the "spider blocks" are: 1.) They provide protection from predators, 2.) They provide a nursery for the young, 3.) They are difficult to find with a fish locator, therefore your spot remains a secret, and 4.) They are environmentally friendly.

So, do you your part of replenishing the fish habitat by participating in one of our events in the 2nd Annual Rush For Brush. Please contact Jacklyn Jaggars at (918) 256-5545 ext 4523 or email to jjaggars@grda.com to reserve your spot today. See the list of dates and locations below:

May 9-10: Lake Hudson Inn @ Lake Hudson

Bass fishing is really good!

Spinner baits, crank baits, top water, you name it -- the bass will bite it. They are being caught mostly on the main lake points.

White Bass action is good using a jigging spoons.

Catfishing is excellent around rip-rap using shrimp, crawfish, or worms.

Crappie fishing is just fair.

Fishing is really good in the river below the Dam.

Gene

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The weather couldn't be much better around Grand Lake. We have had afternoons and evenings with lots of sunshine and light breezes giving way to many hours of excellent fishing. The problem that we have is the catching. Oh, you can always catch fish out of Grand Lake, but these past few months the fish haven't been caught in the numbers that we have come to expect.

Catfish, white bass and crappie have all dropped off. The black bass and spoonbill have more than held up their end though. The boys and I tried fishing several areas this past week. One of those areas was Okeechee Flats up on the north end of the lake. A spot where I have felt that for the past fifty years to be one of the world's best catfish holes. We caught nothing like we have in the past years.

I had my niece and her husband, Harvey and Debra McElroy from Konawa, along with two of their grandsons, Dillon and Zac, stop by for a couple of days and do a little fishing. We were planning on doing a little catfishing and trolling for white bass. We never did get the catfish poles out the first day as Zac had gotten his pole out first and had four white bass in the boat before anyone else had a hit. Harvey had doubled up only to lose his bottom fish as it hit the bottom of the pontoon when trying to swing it into the boat. Dillon, the oldest grandson, got into the act and caught the largest fish. A four pound blue hit his shad rap. Harvey and Deb each took turns as they both boated a couple of big drum. The three hour trip turned out to be a good one. It was the first time the folks had fished Grand Lake. With all the action it got dark before we thought about the catfish poles.

Summer time has arrived around Grand Lake, which means that you need to do your fishing from daylight until 11:00 a.m. and then go out again from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. You may like the sunshine, but folks, the middle of day isn't the time I want to be fishing for the next few months.

Until next time, this is Lee Jeffery with the Grand Lake Fishing Report.

"If you're having trouble finding the fish, it would pay you many times over to get a guide like one of the professionals at Martin Guide Service or other fine guide service on Grand and let them show you where and how to catch fish. They furnish everything -- even clean your fish. If you have a youngster or a guest you want to get into some fish, a guide is the way to go. You'll learn more on a half day guide trip than you'll ever learn on your own. I know. I've been there!"

Hey folks!

I went on several white bass trips last week with only fair success. The fishing for whites should pick up soon with the lake going down.

Monday I was able to go black bass fishing. It is great right now, especially on Shakey Heads or big jigs.

The catfish let me down pretty hard Saturday, but I'm not ready to give up on them yet.

Just think, we will be snagging again in three or four months. Last fall was really good. If anyone would
like a video on how we snag in the winter time, just let me know.

CATCH AND RELEASE - DO IT FOR THE FUTURE!

Check out some of my past trip pictures. I usually snag from October into May, depending on weather and water levels. This past winter was fantastic in the deep water. Check out more pictures, and get your trip booked for the season now!

Remember, keep only what you need and release the rest for another day. If you would like a guide trip call Martin Guide Service or email me.

See you on the water!

Mark

Grand Lake is tough right now. The water clarity is poor from the head waters almost to the dam. Some clear water can be found in the back of creeks and on the very lower end of the lake. The water is still cold 44 - 49 degrees. You can find some warmer water in the calm, but sunny, coves and creeks.

Almost two thirds of the Triton Team Tournament held on 03/02/08 did not catch a fish. On the positive side however, 105 teams did manage to catch at least one bass and it took sixteen pounds to win. The dock talk indicates that most of the bass were caught on jigs in deep clear water.

Catfishing has ranged from pretty good to spotty lately. We're hearing people are catching some spawning channel cats while drifting the south-lake area.

Crappie are fair to okay in places. We caught some working ledges using jigs and grubs.

White bass are starting to get good as they move into the main lake and black bass are doing well.

See you on the lake!