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Paradise for less than a penny per acre
By Jim Blassingame
Contributor
Published November 5, 2009
From the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Web site come this interesting article:
If a deer hunter was told he could access 300,000 acres of prime hunting in oak-pine forested habitat with more than 170 food plots for less than 1/10 of a penny per acre, he might think he was dreaming. But it is a reality for every sportsman in Oklahoma.
For just $40 — the cost of a Land Access Permit from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation — Oklahoma hunters can gain a year of hunting or fishing access on the Honobia Creek and Three Rivers Wildlife Management Areas in southeast Oklahoma, where some of the most rugged terrain and abundant cover in the state allows deer to grow to mature age classes.
Additionally, the upcoming deer season is expected to be a good one on Honobia Creek and Three Rivers WMAs.
“Our 2009 deer surveys produced the highest number of deer surveyed since the WMAs were established in the late 1990s,” said Kyle Johnson, Wildlife Department biologist stationed on Honobia Creek and Three Rivers WMA.
He added that both black and white oak trees produced good crops of acorns this year, which offer food for deer and good areas for hunters to focus on when locating a great spot to hunt.
Oklahoma residents who are under 18 years of age on the first day of the current calendar year or are 64 years old or older are exempt from the land access permit requirements, making a hunting trip on Honobia Creek or Three Rivers WMAs a great way to introduce youngsters to the outdoors or spend a few day hunting with the family. Non-residents, regardless of age, are required to purchase an $85 Land Access Permit.
According to Johnson, the Land Access Permit is well worth the money.
“All LAF money goes directly into keeping the WMAs open for public hunting and fishing recreation and to manage the WMAs for the benefit of sportsmen and women as well as wildlife,” Johnson said.
The land that comprises the WMAs is privately owned by three timber companies — Weyerhaeuser Company, Hancock Natural Resource Group, and Rayonier Forest Resources, L.P. Through a partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the land is managed for wildlife and open to Land Access Permit holders for hunting and fishing.
According to Johnson, the area offers camping opportunities at no charge to permit holders as well as the chance to hunt in a 5,800-acre walk-in only hunting area that allows sportsmen to hunt free of any disturbance from vehicles.
COLLEGIATE BASS FISHING
In collegiate athletics, football and basketball reign supreme in televised competition. However, there is a new sport in town that has begun to crown champions on a field of play far removed from the gridiron or fieldhouse — collegiate bass fishing.
The sport’s governing body, the Association of College Anglers (ACA), has announced its 2010 tournament season has grown to five televised events.The schedule includes the fifth annual BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass fishing Championship, which returns to Texas’ Lake Lewisville on May 24-28, 2010.
“Four years ago, when we started supporting the championship, there were about 40 schools with organized clubs and no sanctioning body,” said BoatU.S. angler director Mike Pellerin. “Once this sport started gaining critical television coverage, its popularity has soared. Today, there are more than 200 clubs, with ACA leading the effort to grow bass fishing as the collegiate level.”
I feel that this program will very soon carry over to high schools. As a matter of fact, it has already started. I truly feel that I will see our area schools a part of this sport in the future — I sure hope so, anyway.
FISHING REPORTS
Pat Mayse Lake: This lake is still above normal pool and bass have been coming from different depths and patterns. Keep in mind when the lake came up, the grass line stayed. There will be a lot of water past the grass, inside and out. With the weather holding sunny, look for a good weekend to hang a truly big fish, but I still feel that the best method will be “power fishing” in a zig-zag patttern. But go with your gut. If you feel that a spot looks good for a big fish, work it out with a slower bait that will stay in the strike-zone for an extended period of time. With this system, I prefer a square-bill crank, a jig & pig or a drop shot. My drop-shot rig would be a 10-inch Berkley Power worm.
Lake Fork: Water levels are still high here also, but the Sabine River Authority is pulling water, which with bird-bird skies makes fishing a little tougher. I have noticed, though, when you do locate a fish, usually there will be others, which tells me the fish are beginning to bunch. Also, when you find a wad of these fish, they are usually running shad — feeding heavy. These bunches of fish are different sizes and if you are lucky enough to find the larger fish bunched up, the action is great. One more time, I feel that “power fishing” is the perfect way to locate these aggressive fish. This method is in no way easy, until you locate one of these schools. Then it is easy — or looks that way to other anglers.
Hugo: Most of the action here still remains below the dam in the tailwaters. Lots of big blue cats coming in on cut shad as bait. Some good crappie catches have been reported also.
Sardis: Spinnerbaits have been best in the creeks. Water levels are till almost three feet above normal.
With more rain in the forecast for next week, get out his weekend because I feel that some big fish will come in and maybe you or I will get one. I would not pass up a smaller lake with clear to slightly stained water because these fish will be more aggressive than fish in larger lakes.
Get out and enjoy this weekend. Fish smart, be safe and I’ll see you on the lake!
Jim Blassingame is a Paris resident and an avid angler.
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