Post by Steve Sutton on Jun 4, 2010 16:54:18 GMT -5
To the average angler, terms like black buffalo and river redhorse might appear to be references to obscure breeds of livestock, but they are both Oklahoma fish species that have earned state record listings this spring.
The same is true of species such as smallmouth buffalo, common carp, river carpsucker, northern hognose sucker, smallmouth buffalo and even the flathead catfish. While none of these species are classified as game fish and only a few of them may be recognizable among most anglers, they are all actively pursued by sportsmen and represent the diversity of fishing opportunities in Oklahoma.
“So often when we think of fishing in Oklahoma, we think of a rod and reel and our most sought after species like stripers, black bass, crappie, sunfish and other popular sport fish,” said Barry Bolton, chief of fisheries for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “But there are a lot of less commonly discussed species in our waters that we can catch — both on rod and reel as well as by other methods such as archery and gigging.”
Examples include the 48 lb., 13, oz., common carp arrowed May 16 at Broken Bow Lake by Scotty Littles, as well as the northern hognose sucker and river redhorse taken in March by gigging, or spearing, by brothers Clint and Carl Williams, respectively.
And while nongame fish species may seem less common, they continue to show up as record breakers when anglers land them both intentionally and unexpectedly.
Just last month, El Reno angler Richard Williams was bass fishing with a crankbank at El Reno Lake when he caught a 78 lb., 8 oz., state record flathead catfish. He was not trying to catch a state record flathead, nor is he a catfish angler, but he admitted that catching a state record fish was “pretty cool.”
Though flathead catfish are well known and highly sought after by anglers, they are still not considered game fish. But flathead fishing opportunities are abundant as are opportunities for other nongame fish, such as the state record black buffalo caught on a rod and reel by E. Dale Dampf in April, the record smallmouth buffalo caught on a trotline May 20 by Rickey Wayne Smith, or the river carpsucker arrowed April 25 by Jeffrey Ray at Ft. Cobb Lake. None of these fish were small, either — Dampf’s black buffalo weighed over 22 lbs., Ray’s carpsucker topped 8 lbs., and Smith’s smallmouth buffalo weighed a whopping 50 lbs., 4 oz.
“Not only do the nongame fish provide some unique ways to fish like archery, gigs, trotlines and even noodling, but they also are species that have a tendency to grow very large,” Bolton said. “And when you combine these two things, it makes for some great fishing opportunities to compliment all of our popular favorites,” Bolton said.
Nongame fish species like carp can be found at most lakes and often are best pursued by way of archery. Anglers who consistently land large numbers of carp often do so with specialized baits and equipment. Flathead catfish are an exception, however, as they can be caught regularly by rod and reel and are often caught by noodling, or fishing bare-handedly.
For a complete list of record fish and the procedures regarding certifying state record fish, consult the current “Oklahoma Fishing Guide” or log on to wildlifedepartment.com. Anglers who believe they may have hooked a record fish must weigh the fish on an Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture certified scale, and a Wildlife Department employee must verify the weight.
The same is true of species such as smallmouth buffalo, common carp, river carpsucker, northern hognose sucker, smallmouth buffalo and even the flathead catfish. While none of these species are classified as game fish and only a few of them may be recognizable among most anglers, they are all actively pursued by sportsmen and represent the diversity of fishing opportunities in Oklahoma.
“So often when we think of fishing in Oklahoma, we think of a rod and reel and our most sought after species like stripers, black bass, crappie, sunfish and other popular sport fish,” said Barry Bolton, chief of fisheries for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “But there are a lot of less commonly discussed species in our waters that we can catch — both on rod and reel as well as by other methods such as archery and gigging.”
Examples include the 48 lb., 13, oz., common carp arrowed May 16 at Broken Bow Lake by Scotty Littles, as well as the northern hognose sucker and river redhorse taken in March by gigging, or spearing, by brothers Clint and Carl Williams, respectively.
And while nongame fish species may seem less common, they continue to show up as record breakers when anglers land them both intentionally and unexpectedly.
Just last month, El Reno angler Richard Williams was bass fishing with a crankbank at El Reno Lake when he caught a 78 lb., 8 oz., state record flathead catfish. He was not trying to catch a state record flathead, nor is he a catfish angler, but he admitted that catching a state record fish was “pretty cool.”
Though flathead catfish are well known and highly sought after by anglers, they are still not considered game fish. But flathead fishing opportunities are abundant as are opportunities for other nongame fish, such as the state record black buffalo caught on a rod and reel by E. Dale Dampf in April, the record smallmouth buffalo caught on a trotline May 20 by Rickey Wayne Smith, or the river carpsucker arrowed April 25 by Jeffrey Ray at Ft. Cobb Lake. None of these fish were small, either — Dampf’s black buffalo weighed over 22 lbs., Ray’s carpsucker topped 8 lbs., and Smith’s smallmouth buffalo weighed a whopping 50 lbs., 4 oz.
“Not only do the nongame fish provide some unique ways to fish like archery, gigs, trotlines and even noodling, but they also are species that have a tendency to grow very large,” Bolton said. “And when you combine these two things, it makes for some great fishing opportunities to compliment all of our popular favorites,” Bolton said.
Nongame fish species like carp can be found at most lakes and often are best pursued by way of archery. Anglers who consistently land large numbers of carp often do so with specialized baits and equipment. Flathead catfish are an exception, however, as they can be caught regularly by rod and reel and are often caught by noodling, or fishing bare-handedly.
For a complete list of record fish and the procedures regarding certifying state record fish, consult the current “Oklahoma Fishing Guide” or log on to wildlifedepartment.com. Anglers who believe they may have hooked a record fish must weigh the fish on an Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture certified scale, and a Wildlife Department employee must verify the weight.