Outdoors

Fishing Report for August 8, 2018

Published

7 years ago

August 13, 2018

bowienews

Courtesy of Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC)

Central

Draper: August 3. Elevation above normal, water 88 and stained. White bass fair on crankbaits, in-line spinnerbaits and jigs along inlet. Largemouth bass fair on bill baits, buzz baits, plastic baits and spinnerbaits around points, shallows, shorelines and standing timber. Blue and channel catfish fair on punch bait and stinkbait around docks, points and riprap. Report submitted by Chad Strang, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.

Hefner: August 6. Elevation normal, water 82-85 and clear. Channel catfish fair on cut bait at 20-30 ft. off the dam. Largemouth bass slow on spinnerbaits and soft plastic baits along shorelines. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs off the docks and dam. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair on lipless baits, sassy shad and grubs off points early and late. Report submitted by Lucky Lure Tackle.

Thunderbird: August 3. Elevation below normal, water 89 and stained. Largemouth bass fair on bill baits, buzz baits, spinnerbaits and topwater lures around points, shallows, shorelines and standing timber. White bass and saugeye slow on bill baits, crankbaits and plastic baits around points. Channel and blue catfish slow on chicken liver, shad and stinkbait along the dam, points and riprap. Report submitted by Chad Strang, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.

Northeast

Copan: August 6. Elevation normal, water clearing. Channel, blue and flathead catfish good on shad, sunfish and worms along riprap, river channel and shorelines. White bass fair on grubs and in-line spinnerbaits around points. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs around brush structure and docks. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.

Ft. Gibson: August 7. Elevation below normal, water 86 and clear. White bass fair trolling crankbaits, rooster tails and in-line spinnerbaits along flats and main lake. Blue, channel and flathead catfish fair on live shad and minnows drifting flats, main lake and river channel. Crappie fair on minnows, jigs and tube jigs around brush structure, docks and riprap. Report submitted by Rick Stafford, Wagoner.

Greenleaf: August 3. Elevation normal, water 88 and clear. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair on bill baits, buzz baits, crankbaits, jerk baits and spinnerbaits around brush structure, channels, in coves and shorelines. Crappie fair on minnows, grubs, hair jigs, jigs and tube jigs at 12-15 ft. around brush structure, creek channels and standing timber. Blue, channel and flathead catfish fair on cut bait and shad along channels, in coves, flats and main lake. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Hulah: August 6. Elevation normal, water clearing. White bass fair on in-line spinnerbaits and swimbaits around points. Channel, blue and flathead catfish good on chicken liver, shad, sunfish and worms along riprap and shorelines. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs around brush structure and docks. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.

Keystone: August 2. Elevation above normal, water 88. Blue catfish fair on cut bait below the dam and along channels. Report submitted by Karlin Bailey, game warden stationed in Creek County.

Lower Illinois: August 3. Elevation normal, water 60 and murky. Trout good on nymphs, PowerBait and worms below the dam, along channels, rocks and below riffles at the head of deeper holes. Report submitted by Jeremy Bersche, game warden stationed in Sequoyah County.

Skiatook: August 4. Elevation below normal, water 80s and clear. Striped bass hybrids and white bass fair on live shad at 10-20 ft. in the main lake and around points. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 5-15 ft. around brush structure and standing timber. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County.

Tenkiller: August 3. Elevation 2 1/2 ft. below normal, water clear to murky. The lake is down, be careful for exposed and shallow flats that are not marked. Good luck and get it in before school starts. Fish are seeking deeper shaded waters and cover. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair on crankbaits suspended at 15-30 ft. in the main lake. Largemouth bass are suspended and harder to get to and catch with only 8+ pounds winning the last local jackpot tournament. Flathead, channel and blue catfish fair on trotlines and juglines baited with goldfish, live bait and sunfish. White bass fair on crankbaits in the main lake. Surfacing white bass can still provide quick action for the boater who keeps his eyes open and covers some acreage. Report submitted by Brady May, game warden stationed in Cherokee County.

Webbers Falls: August 3. Elevation normal, water 88 and murky. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fair on bill baits, buzz baits, crankbaits, jerk baits, plastic baits and spinnerbaits around brush structure, channels, in coves, creek channels, shallows, shorelines and standing timber. Crappie fair on grubs, hair jigs, jigs, minnows and tube jigs around brush structure, channels, standing timber and on bottom under bridges. Blue, channel and flathead catfish fair drifting shad and cut bait on bottom along channels, creek channels, flats and shallows. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Northwest

Ft. Supply: August 6. Elevation normal, water clear. Channel catfish fair on cut bait, punch bait and stinkbait along the dam, main lake and riprap. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Woodward County.

Foss: August 6. Elevation 3/4 ft. below normal, water high 70s. Striped bass hybrids good on live bait in deep water. Catfish good on juglines baited with cut shad. White bass and walleye fair. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.

Southeast

Arbuckle: August 4. Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal, water 81-83. Largemouth bass good on topwater lures early morning and on crankbaits and soft plastic baits. Smallmouth bass good on topwater lures early morning, on spinnerbaits in the wind and on soft plastic baits. Crappie slow on yellow/white slabs slayer baits at 18 ft. off docks and out on the lake. White bass good on grubs up creeks and on roadrunners along flats. Channel catfish good on punch bait, dead minnows and stinkbait. Report submitted by Jack Melton.

Blue River: August 6. Elevation normal, water 84 and clear. Largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass good on crankbaits, spinnerbaits and topwater lures around brush structure, rocks and sandbars; bass topwater action is best at dawn and dusk. Channel catfish excellent on chicken liver, punch bait, stinkbait and worms around brush structure and deeper pools on the edge of currents. Bluegill, green and redear sunfish good on in-line spinnerbaits, plastic baits and small lures along sandbar and shallows. Approximately 2,000 channel catfish were stocked on July 31. Report submitted by Matt Gamble, biologist at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.

Broken Bow: August 3. Elevation below normal, water 88. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass good on Alabama rigs and plastic baits around brush structure, creek channels, points and standing timber. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around brush structure and standing timber. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Eufaula: August 2. Elevation normal, water murky but slowly clearing. Blue catfish excellent on cut bait, live bait, live shad, shad and worms below the dam, along the dam and river mouth. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around bridges. Largemouth and spotted bass good on grasshoppers, small lures and spinnerbaits in coves, main lake and weed beds. Report submitted by Cannon Harrison, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.

Hugo: August 3. Elevation below normal, water 87 and murky. Blue, channel and flathead catfish slow on cut bait, dough bait, live bait and shad below the dam, along channels, main lake and river channel. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs below the dam, around brush structure, main lake and river channel. Report submitted by Andrew Potter, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.

Konawa: August 2. Elevation normal, water 96 and clear. Largemouth bass good on buzz baits, crankbaits, jigs, plastic baits and topwater lures in the main lake, around points, river channel and weed beds. Striped bass hybrids and white bass fair on Alabama rigs, crankbaits and live shad in coves, main lake and river channel. Channel catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait and stinkbait in coves, along creek channels, inlet and riprap. Report submitted by Garret Harley, game warden stationed in Seminole County.

Lower Mountain Fork: August 3. Elevation normal, water clear. Trout fair on caddis flies, PowerBait and small lures along creek channels and rocks. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

McGee Creek: August 4. Elevation normal, water 86. Crappie, white bass and spotted bass good on minnows around brush structure, river channel and standing timber. Channel and flathead catfish fair on chicken liver, goldfish and sunfish along creek channels and river channel. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Atoka County.

Pine Creek: August 3. Elevation below normal, water clear. Largemouth bass good on topwater lures along shallows. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush structure. Channel catfish fair on cut bait and punch bait in the main lake. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Robert S. Kerr: August 3. Elevation normal, water murky. Largemouth and spotted bass fair on flukes, lipless baits, plastic baits and spinnerbaits in coves and creek channels. Blue, channel and flathead catfish fair on cut bait, live bait, live shad, stinkbait and sunfish along flats, main lake, river channel and river mouth. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Sardis: August 2. Elevation below normal, water 90. Largemouth and spotted bass fair on buzz baits, crankbaits, hair jigs, jerk baits, plastic baits, spinnerbaits, topwater lures and tube jigs around brush structure, channels, creek channels, points, rocks, shorelines, standing timber and weed beds. Blue, channel and flathead catfish fair on cut bait, shad and sunfish along flats, main lake and shorelines. Crappie fair on hair jigs, minnows and tube jigs around brush structure, creek channels and standing timber. Report submitted by Dane Polk, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.

Texoma: August 6. Elevation below normal, water 88 and clear. Striped bass good on live shad and topwater lures along discharge, main lake and points. Crappie fair on hair jigs and tube jigs around brush structure and docks. Blue catfish good on cut bait and live shad below the dam, along channels and main lake. Report submitted by Trey Hale, game warden stationed in Bryan County.

Wister: August 3. Elevation normal, water cloudy. Largemouth bass fair on bill baits, buzz baits, crankbaits, plastic baits and spinnerbaits around brush structure, channels and points. Blue catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait, shad and stinkbait along channels and main lake. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush structure, channels and standing timber. Report submitted by Thomas Gillham, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.

Southwest

Ft. Cobb: August 6. Elevation below normal, water 84 and clear. Channel and blue catfish fair on cut bait and stinkbait around brush structure and main lake. Report submitted by Brayden Hicks, game warden stationed in Caddo County.

Tom Steed: August 6. Elevation normal, water 82. Striped bass hybrids, white bass and saugeye fair trolling crankbaits in the main lake and around points. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County.

Waurika: August 5. Elevation dropping, water 87. Blue and channel catfish fair on cut bait, stinkbait and worms in the main lake, around points and shorelines. Report submitted by Chris Stover, game warden stationed in Stephens County.

Outdoors

Cup Plant

Published

2 months ago

October 9, 2025

bowienews

By Norman Winter | The Garden Guy

When it comes to the backyard wildlife habitat, the cup plant has it all. To me, it is the flag bearer perennial for bees, butterflies, and birds. It is a stalwart native in 34 states from Louisiana north to Canada crossing every border east. Alas however its size is quite imposing. It is big, bold and wonderful, and this is the time of the year it shines the most.

If you are getting interested but are not familiar with the cup plant, it is known botanically as Silphium perfoliatum and as I alluded above cold hardy from zones 3-9. It can grow tall, 4 to 10 feet, and colonize, so it is a plant for the back of the border. Here at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens ours are around 7 feet.

Though it may be hard to imagine, they can dwarf a brown-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia triloba, or a Brazilan sage, Salvia guaranitica, both also considered large plants and terrific partners for the cup plant. Close by, we have the pagoda flower Clerodendrum paniculatum, Java glory bower, Clerodendrum speciosissimum, as well as Baby Lace, Hydrangea paniculata, all of which do their part to bring in hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.

You may be asking, why it’s called a cup plant. This is one of the magical attributes of the plant. As the plant grows, it develops large square stems that give the impression of piercing the center of the large leaves. It has two leaves without petioles that are attached to the stem, forming a perfect cup to collect rainwater. Small birds like finches take advantage of this natural reservoir of water. These same birds also feed on the seeds as they mature and get ready to disperse.

You’ll find the blooms to be covered in what may best be described as a pollinating frenzy. Every kind of bee, including honey bees by the hundreds, bumble bees, and wasps are there doing their thing. A quick glance on a recent morning visit showed eastern tiger swallowtails, long-tailed skippers, fiery skippers and yellow sulphur butterflies. It was like a Serengeti for pollinators. Though I didn’t see any, everyone reports hummingbirds on the plants as well.

The nature lover will find this to be one of the most thrilling plants to incorporate in the landscape. Get a chair, a pair of binoculars and a camera, and you are ready for a day of journaling. It will take some attitude adjustment for most gardeners before planting.

First, are you ready to incorporate such a tall, aster-family member into the back of the border? Second, can you accept a colonizing racehorse of a plant so to speak? Not only will you have rhizome spread but you will have reseeding. So, in other words, there will be some maintenance to confine to space allotted.

Native plant nurseries sell the plants, but they are also easy to start from seeds. Sow non-stratified seeds in the fall or stratified seeds in the spring. If you want to stratify, moisten coarse sand and seeds in a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator for three months.

Since this plant will be the backbone of your wildlife habitat or pollinator garden choose companions that are not only beautiful but will bring them in too. I’ve mentioned salvias and brown-eyed Susan’s, but Joe Pye weeds, milkweeds, and ironweeds native to your region would partner well.

Other favorites would be anise hyssops like Blue Fortune, Blue Boa, and Black Adder. They would give that complementary sizzle of opposite colors. Lastly, use the cup plant to create mystery in the garden by blocking a view and forming an area of transition.

The cup plant amazingly does it all for both wildlife and pollinators, all the while showing out with dazzling 3½-inch yellow blossoms. You have to agree that is pretty doggone special.

Outdoors

Fly Control That Works: What’s Worth Your Money This Summer

Published

4 months ago

August 20, 2025

bowienews

By Ann Asher

Every year about this time, it feels like the flies start winning. No matter how clean I keep the pens or how many fly strips I hang, they show up in clouds. Over the past few summers, I’ve tried just about everything—feed-through supplements, predator bugs, DIY traps, and plenty of fly sprays. Some things helped. Some were a waste of money. If you’re battling flies this year, here’s what’s actually worked for me—and what research says can make a real difference on the farm or ranch.

Start with Cleanliness (But Know It’s Not Enough)

The first—and most repeated—advice is to stay ahead of the mess. Manure management is critical, especially around barns, pens, and loafing sheds. Flies lay eggs in fresh manure, and those eggs hatch into larvae in as little as 24 hours during warm weather.
I try to clean high-traffic areas at least every other day, but the truth is, even on the cleanest farms, flies can still be a problem because of moisture, standing water, and nearby neighbors.

Feed-Through Fly Control: A Solid Foundation

One thing that made a noticeable difference for my horses and cattle was starting a feed-through larvicide early in the season. These products add a growth regulator to the feed that passes through the animal and prevents fly larvae from developing in manure.
It’s not an instant fix—you won’t see fewer flies for several weeks—but once it kicks in, you’ll notice fewer new flies being born.

Tip: Feed-through products only work if all animals on the property are eating it consistently. Otherwise, you’re just treating part of the manure, and flies will keep breeding.

Fly Predators: Small, Mighty, and Surprisingly Effective

Last year, I tried fly predators for the first time. These are tiny, non-stinging insects that lay their eggs in fly pupae, stopping the next generation.
I was skeptical (and honestly a little creeped out at first), but I noticed that where I used predators around the barn and dry lots, the fly pressure dropped. Some companies even offer subscription services that send predators timed to your local climate.

Tip: Fly predators don’t kill adult flies—they stop future flies. So you still need to control the adults already buzzing around.

Good Old-Fashioned Fly Traps

In areas like the barn aisle and outdoor runs, nothing beats physical traps.
I like a combination approach:

Sticky ribbons and strips for indoor areas
Odor-baited traps placed away from livestock areas to draw flies away

Tip: Hang baited traps a good distance from barns or stalls. Otherwise, you’re luring flies right into your animals’ space.

Fly Sprays: Choose Carefully

Fly sprays are the first thing most of us reach for—and they do help—but they have limits.
For horses, sprays containing pyrethrins, pyrethroids (like permethrin), or natural oils tend to offer the best repellency. Even then, most sprays only last a few hours, especially if animals are sweating heavily.

Tip: Apply before morning turnout and again before evening if possible. Reapplication is important, especially after heavy exercise or rain.

Other Tools That Help

Fly masks and fly sheets — particularly those with UV protection, to protect sensitive areas like the eyes and ears
Fans in barns and run-in sheds — flies struggle to land in strong airflow
Automatic sprayer systems — an investment, but highly effective for larger barns

The bad news? There’s no magic bullet for fly control.
The good news? Combining several methods—manure management, feed-through treatments, predators, traps, and targeted sprays—can actually make summer bearable for you and your livestock.

At the end of the day, I figure if I can cut the fly population by half, I’ve already made life better for my animals—and a lot less miserable for myself.

References:

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Managing Flies on Livestock
University of Kentucky Entomology – Controlling Flies Around Livestock
North Carolina State Extension – Livestock Pest Management
USDA Agricultural Research Service – Fly Management Resources
Spalding Labs (for info on biological control programs) – Fly Predators Information

Outdoors

Bumble bees, hornets and wasp… oh my!

Published

4 months ago

August 12, 2025

bowienews

By Andy Anderson

It’s August, which means hunting season is right around the corner. Hunters will soon begin to venture back into the woods to start prepping. Part of this annual ritual is checking out the deer stand, camp area and to getting things cleaned up. This is dangerous and will make you scream for your mamma if you are not prepared!

A few weeks ago I was clearing some fence line out. I had just cut the wire and kicked the wire fence to push it out of the vegetation and away from the T-post. It was then I realized I had just entered into a very painful situation. Now, I’ve been stung by honey bees, wasp, hornets, ground hornets and more, but what I had just angered was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

As I stepped back to move down to the next post, I heard a buzzing sound and the all too familiar bug flying around my face. I gave a quick swat of a hand, a swat that seemed to kick it all off. All of a sudden, BAMM! Before my mind could catch up and process what was happening, I had been hit four or five times in the head. As I turned to run, two more hit me in the back and right above my belly button.

I felt like I got a little distance from the attackers, but as I turned to check my six wounds, I see this black mass emerging from the ground, forming into a ball. I pick up the pace. I am digging in with each step in near panic, wanting to scream in fear of the pending pain that’s about to rain down me. As I am looking back, running as hard as I can at the moment, I trip. My combat training kicks in: I go with the fall, roll out left and pop up quick to get back on my feet. BAMM! One more hits me right between the shoulder blades.

I slide around the front of the truck like Bo Duke, grab the driver’s door handle and jump in. A dirty little aerial assassin followed me into the truck! I jump out quick; it follows me out. I jump back in.

As I sit there, covered in sweat and dirt, the pain starts to radiate throughout my body, specifically my head. I had been stung at least nine times; six of the most painful were in the back of my head. My belly was on fire! As I am catching my breath, trying to think of my next move, I look up. Hundreds, if not thousands of those black and yellow angry bumble bees were swarming my truck. I couldn’t believe it! They were literally ramming the windows, –you could hear each impact.

As the pain sets in I begin to develop a sense of a need to retaliate. As soon as it was safe to do so, I jump into my cabbed skid steer equipped with the equivalent of a brush hog. I shred the area where I thought they emerged from. There were thousands of them, vicious and fearless. They were attacking and trying to sting the equipment.

I pull back and wait to see if they will go away. Nope. After applying eight cans of wasp spray with no success, I call an exterminator. There were two, possibly three, hives underground. It was bad, and of course I had to find it.

The pain lasted two days, my head swelled up and my stomach turned red. I had always been told bumble bees had the worst sting and would chase you down. Well, I can confirm that statement.

A week later, as I head out to the woods to start prepping for this approaching hunting season, I am reminded of what I will more than likely encounter.

My experience with the bumble bees has changed my approach to dealing with wasp and such. I take a much more cautious approach, stopping to watch for any flying to and from to help identify where the nest is. Then a hit the igniter and open the fuel system with the gentle squeeze of the handle. The flame grows and intensifies. With a sweeping motion I cover the entire deer stand with the flame thrower, burning it to the ground along with all those stinging little…ok, not really, but it’s what I imagine I’m doing as I spray them down with wasp spray.

Bottom line, I was lucky. Bee stings in general are no joke, worse if you happen to be allergic to them. I took a bunch of hits when any one of them could have caused an allergic reaction and possibly death.

People do die each year from bee stings, mainly because they couldn’t get help fast enough. Before you enter the woods or head out to work that fence line, go prepared. Get some wasp spray, pain reliever, an epi pen and a flame thrower!