Walking into sooner lake discharge?

[becker_atc]

I've never fished it. I know it's a good walk. What's biting right now? Fishing report odw says hybrids and sauger but kinda slow.

How big of fishing gear is needed here? Can it be pulled off with like 7 foot bass rods or need I step it up?


Any advice appreciated!!


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[dennishoddy]

Your regular bass rods will work fine. Its a mile walk, but there is a well defined trail. Some ride bicycles there and back. Others pull wagons with their gear. No matter what you do, don't wade. Some will walk out on a little point, and wade out a ways, but the GW has a spot where he likes to watch with binoculars.
It can be spotty, and I've found in 16 years of fishing there that the worst, nastiest, coldest days is when the fish will bite the best.
My go-to baits are Hyper-striper stump jumpers, and Kastmaster spoons. The bigger the better. I got some of their 2 oz saltwater models to use.
The stump jumpers can be bought at Bass Pro. Use the 3/8 oz heads in blue. Sometimes the red works, but blue is better.
If your there when the shad come in, and the hybrids come after them, it gets pretty exciting!

 

[Okie4Life]

I have only made the walk once, but I fish the bouy line frequently. I think your rod choice will be fine. The key in the discharge is being able to make the longest cast you can with anything that resembles a shad.
Swim baits, jig and curly tails or bucktail jigs all work well. Be ready to change up your techniques too. While generally longer cast will let you cover more water, when we were there we found a handful of Saugeye about 5-ft of the bank. There is a steep drop just south of the actual dischage. We ended up casting along the bank right down that ledge and managed a few.

 

[justin_h635]

The muddy mile seems like an eternity and even worse if you strike out on a bite. It's been decades since I have been there but I believe it to be the same, as Hoddy said, the best fishing is when it is the worst. You want ice on your rod tips, wind out of the N burning your hands kind of nasty. It seems I remember guys huddled around burn barrels like a bunch of downtown bums (is this even legal Dennis?).

Also, one thing to remember is have no expectations, the discharge is just one of those places where you might be catching hybrids one minute, crappie the next and then all of a sudden your plastic shad bait or spoon entices a 20# flathead. I don't know why but just that area must hold all types of fish and they all just eat. Your chances of catching non-sport fish on lures just seems to be elevated at the discharge.

I have heard of rooster-tails (inline spinners) , the big ones, working good there. Also, shad imitations such as the storm wildeye do good. Long casts are your friend.

 

[dennishoddy]

The burn barrels aren't legal. One of them got away and melted the porta-potty.

 

[Deer Slayer]

LOL, that's the c&^%s

 

[Oklahomabassin]

Might be too late for the prime time at the walk in area.

 

[J.T.]

Also, one thing to remember is have no expectations, the discharge is just one of those places where you might be catching hybrids one minute, crappie the next and then all of a sudden your plastic shad bait or spoon entices a 20# flathead. I don't know why but just that area must hold all types of fish and they all just eat. Your chances of catching non-sport fish on lures just seems to be elevated at the discharge.
.

Truth ^^. The only time I fished it was with a friend of my dads that got us in without the walk. I caught two flatheads that went 22 & 34 pounds and a giant drum. All on a 3/4oz. Rattletrap while fishing for hybrids.

 

[becker_atc]

Things didn't go as planned. Hit the river at folks place. Was low but found a hole and caught the one in the pic and 3 littler ones. Lots of bites and a carp.

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[dennishoddy]

Nice little flathead! Shame you weren't on the river this week. They have been discharging quite a bit of water during the week. I suspect they are drawing Kaw down in anticipation of potential spring rains up north so they can hold some water.