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Restricting ATV use at Honobia Creek, ending the bear hunting quota and eliminating baiting of wildlife on public hunting areas are among the changes to hunting and fishing regulations being proposed this year by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

The most controversial rule change is restricting ATVs to established roads only in the Honobia Creek Wildlife Management Area in Pushmataha County.

The new rule would make the rules on Honobia Creek consistent with ATV use at the nearby Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area in McCurtain County.

The proposal has caused an uproar among ATV owners and businesses in southeastern Oklahoma who profit from the recreational riders who visit the Honobia Creek WMA. The Wildlife Department has now scheduled a town hall meeting on Thursday in Antlers to discuss the issue.

“No one is pleased about this proposed deal,” said Lyndol Fry, outdoor writer for the Hugo Daily News.

Alan Peoples, chief of the wildlife division for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, said the rule was requested by the three timber investment groups that own the Honobia Creek land. Public use is allowed on Honobia Creek through an agreement between the Wildlife Department and the timber groups.

Since off-road use by four-wheelers was prohibited on Three Rivers two years ago, Honobia Creek now gets the bulk of those recreational riders. Some four-wheelers have been damaging the forest floor, he said.

“Not all 4×4 riders are destructive, but some are,” Peoples said. “In the latest agreement with the landowners of Honobia Creek for public use of the land, it was stipulated in the agreement that ATV rules would be the same as Three Rivers which restricts ATVs to established roads. if we don’t adhere to that agreement, we will lose use of the land entirely.”

Off-road use would be allowed during the deer gun season.

Black bear hunting could be expanded

Another proposal would eliminate the total cap of 20 black bears that could be killed by hunters in the bear archery season.

That quota has been in place since black bear hunting was legalized three years ago in four southeastern Oklahoma counties.

Under the agency’s proposal, archery season would open Oct. 1 and end the third Sunday of October. there would be no limit on the total number of bears that could be killed by bow hunters.

A 20-bear quota would be imposed during the black bear muzzleloader season that follows. While hunters didn’t kill 20 bears during the state’s first black bear seasons three years ago, the past two years has produced just the opposite.

The black bear season opened and closed the same day two years ago. it lasted just 48 hours last year.

With 20 or more bears being taken by hunters in just one or two days, how many would be killed during a three-week hunting season?

State wildlife officials don’t believe that bears would be killed at that same rate during a three-week season.

As it is now, hunters are shooting the first bear they see because they know the season may be over by nightfall, said Joe Hemphill, southeastern wildlife chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Bow hunters are going to be more selective and pass on younger and smaller bears if they know they have three weeks to hunt, Hemphill said.

His guess is that between 60 and 70 bears would be taken by hunters if the new regulations are approved. While no one knows for sure the number of black bears in Oklahoma, state wildlife officials say the population is expanding and can support additional hunting opportunities.

“We have a good population and a lot larger than what we based our initial (hunting) seasons on,” Hemphill said. “We can sustain a whole lot larger harvest.”

No more baiting on WMAs?

State wildlife officials also want to eliminate baiting of all wildlife on the state-owned public hunting areas.

Alan Peoples, head of the wildlife division for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, cites several examples as reasons for the proposal.

It’s illegal to hunt turkeys over bait but on wildlife management areas in western Oklahoma – where calling the birds can get hard – some hunters are baiting areas to lure turkeys and then ambushing the gobblers between their roosts and the baited areas, Peoples said. Technically, those hunters are not violating the law but are circumventing it, he said.

Also, hunters who bait deer on wildlife management areas have complained of other hunters setting up deer stands over or near their baited areas, Peoples said.

Eliminating baiting entirely on the state’s wildlife management areas would prevent that kind of hunter conflict, he said.

Other situations occur where a hunter lawfully baits a public area for wildlife but then another hunter could come along and unknowingly and illegally shoots dove or waterfowl over the baited area, which is illegal.

“It (baiting) just creates all kind of issues,” Peoples said.

Youth deer hunting change

State wildlife officials also are suggesting a change in the deer gun youth season.

The current hunting regulation allows for one antlered deer and one non-antlered deer to be harvested during the youth season.

Under the new proposal, a youth hunter still could kill only two deer, but both could be does.

Oklahoma anglers can catch bass

B.A.S.S. released the list of 100 anglers who have qualified to fish in its 2012 Elite Series tournaments and 10 are from Oklahoma.

In fact, Oklahoma has the third largest number of anglers on the Elite Series, trailing only Texas with 15 and Alabama with 14.

Kevin Ledoux of Choctaw and Jared Miller of Norman are two Oklahoma rookies who are joining the Elite Series this season.

Ledoux qualified for the Elite Series by finishing fifth in the Central Opens while Miller was third.

Ledoux, who grew up fishing Lake Konawa, thinks the state’s many bass fisheries are what produces a high number of successful tournament anglers.

“We have a lot of different lakes with a lot of different structure and cover and a lot of different ways to fish them,” he said. “I reckon that is why Oklahoma breeds such diverse fishermen.”

The 2012 Elite Series tournaments start in March. Anglers fishing the Elite Series this season will be attempting to qualify for the 2013 Bassmaster Classic, which will be held on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake.

Public meetings on proposed changes in the state’s hunting and fishing regulations are scheduled Tuesday in Poteau and Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoma City meeting will be at the headquarters of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, 1801 N. Lincoln.

The meeting in Poteau will be at the Kiamichi Technology Center.

There also will be a town hall meeting in Antlers on Thursday at the Wildlife Heritage Center. all of the meetings start at 7 p.m.

Sportsmen also have through Friday to comment on the proposed regulations on the agency’s website, wildlifedepartment.com.

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Colder-than-normal conditions have greeted fishermen at Clear Lake all week. the air temperature has been below freezing in the mornings and it’s rising to only 50 degrees by mid-afternoon. the water temperature has been as cold as 42 degrees in the mornings and only rising to 48 degrees by late afternoon. the result is that the bass have developed lockjaw and have hunkered down.

Without a doubt the most consistent action has been on jumbo minnows and that’s what most of the guides have been using. In fact, many of the recreational fishermen are also switching to live minnows for the simple reason that you’re almost guaranteed to catch fish. Minnows aren’t cheap, costing $12 a dozen or a buck a minnow. on a excellent day you will go through at least two dozen minnows. the stores selling minnows are Tackle it, the Fastop Convenience Store and Clear Lake Outdoors in Lakeport, Limit out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks, Clearlake Bait and Tackle and Lakeshore Bait and Tackle in Clearlake. the minnows have been so well loved that many of the bait shops sell out by late in the week. Some are now selling from 500-1.000 minnows a week. Many bass fishermen scorn the use of live minnows but many of these same fishermen do use them.

For those who prefer to use artificial lures, the lipless crankbait such as the LV500 made by Lucky Craft remains the top lure. It’s also an simple lure to fish. Just cast the lure out and once it hits the water give a small, hard jerk and then allow the lure to sink to the bottom. Repeat this action as you slowly reel in the lure. Many times a bass grabs the lure when it is resting motionless on the bottom. Other times the bass grabs the lure on the fall. on the fall the lure resembles a dying shad as it flutters down. the LV500 has noisy rattles that can be heard buzzing all the way back to the boat.

The beauty of fishing this way is you cover a lot of water and can find active fish. Moving along the shoreline fast is the top technique in locating bass during the cold winter months. the fish are schooled and it’s not unusual to travel up to one-half a mile along the shoreline before you get a strike. But, once you catch a fish, you should stay put and work the area thoroughly because there are sure to be other bass in the area. Lately the best color for the LV500 has been the chartreuse-shad.

Of course, the downside of using this lure is the cost, which is about $20. the other problem is when you allow it to sink to the bottom you will pick up a lot of debris. Every fisherman should also carry what is called a “lure knocker.” That’s a device with a weight on the end and a small length of chain attached to a long rope. the device will hook onto your snagged lure and retrieve it. At $20 per lure you can’t afford to lose many.

Angler’s Choice is holding a team bass tournament Saturday. the tournament goes out of Konocti Vista Casino and the weigh-in starts at 3 p.m.

Catfish action has slowed a little although fishermen who are drifting jumbo minnows or nightcrawlers in the deeper water have been scoring on decent numbers of catfish. Shag Rock is still one of the better areas. the same applies to Henderson Point. the docks at Library Park in Lakeport and at Lakeside County Park have been dead in regard to catfish action.

Upper Blue Lake is kicking out a few trout for persistent anglers. Trolling has been the top technique although a few fishermen have been finding success drifting a nightcrawler. the excellent news is the lake will be stocked on a regular schedule starting next year.

Duck hunters were hoping the cold weather would bring the ducks to the Sacramento Valley refuges but it hasn’t yet happened. the few windy days last week produced some decent hunting but overall the waterfowl refuges have been averaging only about two birds per hunter on the better days.

I got word from a friend recently that the Fishing Hall of Fame had announced next year’s inductees to the Hall recently, and that John and Duane Peterson would be inducted as Legendary Anglers in a ceremony in 2012.

The Fishing Hall of Fame is in Hayward Wisconsin and pays tribute to anglers who have made noteworthy contributions to the world of fishing.

John Peterson founded Northland Fishing Tackle in 1975. His brother Duane joined the company shortly after that.

Through the years I’ve had the excellent fortune to share a boat with John and Duane. when I heard about their induction into the Fishing Hall of Fame, I thought about some of those trips. following are notes from a few of those adventures.

My first time in the boat ever with Duane, we were after largemouth bass. We were throwing Reed-Runner spinnerbaits. Reed-Runners come with plastic tubing over the hooks to prevent mishaps in the tackle shops. The bass were hitting our Reed-Runners excellent that day: Duane was really catching them. I was getting hits, but not hooking up. after missing several fish, Duane looked at my bait. The plastic tubing was still in place, which prevented hook-ups. He removed the tubing and I immediately started catching bass.

After catching a few bass, I hooked a northern pike, and he ate my bait. I quickly tied on another Reed-Runner, and shortly after had another hit. I missed the fish, and then missed several more. Duane asked to see my bait. Yup, you guessed it: I had again forgotten to take the plastic tubing off. What a fantastic way to impress a new fishing friend: Not.

One time I joined John and Duane for an evening of ice-fishing on Upper Red Lake in northern Minnesota. this was during the crappie boom on Upper Red. We were making a TV show. The snow was deep on the ice and we were fishing from two shelters maybe twenty yards apart. John and I were in one, Duane and a friend were in the other.

The bite was outstanding, and the crappies were huge. our producer was running back and forth from one shelter to the other in hip-deep snow recording the action. He was getting a real workout. Finally we had to take a break from the fishing to give the producer a chance to recover. A fantastic memory for me, but maybe not for the producer.

The best day of northern pike fishing I’ve ever experienced came with John. again, we were on Upper Red Lake, throwing Magnum Reed-Runners in reeds in four feet of water. We caught probably ten pike in the forty inch range in a small afternoon, maybe three hours. might be the best pike fishing I’ll ever experience on a drive-to body of water.

The largest largemouth bass I’ve ever caught in the Midwest, an simple six pounder, came while fishing a lake near Bemidji with John.

John and Duane and I have worked together professionally for an long time, and that’s been a rewarding experience. But as important as the professional relationship has been, the personal relationship has been more-so. John and Duane are excellent people who just happen to make some outstanding fishing lures. my life has been enhanced because of their friendship, and I know others who feel the same way. It’s excellent to see deserving people get acknowledged, and their induction into the Fishing Hall of Fame is appropriate acknowledgement.

See all the newest episodes of Fishing the Midwest television, visit fishingthemidwest.com or MyOutdoorTv.com Join us at Facebook.com/fishingthemidwest

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Clear Lake is known for its outstanding bass fishing and even the crappie and catfish gain attention from the anglers, but, there are several species of fish that have been swimming in the lake for thousands of years and most fishermen have never seen them. One is the blackfish.

The blackfish is actually known as the Sacramento blackfish and dates back to long before humans walked the shoreline or boated on the lake. they are native to Clear Lake and the Sacramento and San Joaquin drainages. they also were introduced into other waters in the state. this species of fish is popular with some people because of its superior eating qualities. in fact, for years the blackfish was commercially harvested on the lake and shipped live to the Asian restaurants in the Bay Area, where they sold for as much as $4 a pound.

The blackfish is a member of the minnow family and is a plankton eater. Its diet consists of planktonic algae and zooplankton. they also eat small insects, all of which are in ample supply at Clear Lake. they use their gill-rakers as a filter and trap food in the roof of their mouth. they can grow to a length of 2 feet and weigh up to 5 pounds. Blackfish spawn in the shallows and an adult female can deposit up to 300,000 eggs although only a very small portion will successfully hatch. the eggs have an adhesive, which allows them to attach to tules and other aquatic weeds.

A blackfish spends most of its life in the deeper water of the lake. That’s why so few fishermen have seen them. Commercial fishermen have harvested blackfish for years on Clear Lake. the fishermen used large nets, which they drag behind their boats. the commercial fishermen stopped fishing on the lake about five years ago although the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) still issues permits to harvest the fish.

Recreational fishermen rarely catch a blackfish because they won’t strike at a lure. about the only way the fish is caught is when it accidentally snags itself on a crankbait or other lure.

The blackfish do serve a useful purpose on the lake. the young provide a food source for bass and other fish. they are also an vital part of the history of the lake.

In addition to blackfish there are a number of fish species in Clear Lake that are native and have survived here for thousands of years. One of the most popular is the Clear Lake hitch, which is found nowhere else in the world. the blackfish is often mistaken for a hitch, which were once an vital food source for the Native Americans who lived on the shores of Clear Lake.

The Sacramento perch is the only native member of the sunfish family west of the Mississippi River. at one time Clear Lake had a large population of Sacramento perch but the population has declined in the last 25 years although the occasional Sacramento perch is caught by a fisherman.

One native fish that is seldom seen but is an vital part of the ecosystem of Clear Lake is the prickly sculpin. this small fish is an vital food source for bass and other large game fish. what is unusual about the sculpin is that it buries itself in the mud on the bottom. when the lake water is clear you can often see the small holes and if you watch closely you will see the head of the sculpin emerging from the hole. recently I was using my underwater camera and I observed a sculpin swim out of a hole and then quickly turn around and re-enter the same hole. Largemouth bass often dig out the sculpin and feed on them.

With the exception of the Sacramento perch there are no other native game fish at Clear Lake. All the current game fish were introduced years ago. But, I delight in seeing a native fish such as a blackfish, sculpin or hitch as much as a trophy bass and we must protect these native fish because once they are gone the lake will never be the same.

After ten years in the mainstream ­music scene, maturation and change is natural. Abandoning your sound is not, and that’s exactly what Linkin Park has done on their latest release.

If you listen closely, you can tell “A Thousand Suns” is really Linkin Park. The album is more similar to their last release “Minutes to Midnight” rather than their certified diamond debut “Hybrid Theory”and their multi-platinum follow-up “Meteora.”

Gone are the heavy guitars and abrasive screaming of Chester Bennington. Instead, the band traded them in for electronic and synth effects. The album has an airy feel in comparison to past efforts, as multiple tracks are broken up by interludes.Mike Shinoda brings back a rapping presence that was absent on the past albums. Unlike his past verses, these seem less inspired and more repetitive.

The album is void of the unshakable hooks that were prevalent in past releases, so much so that even the album’s single “The Catalyst” feels out of place on rock radio.

The record’s lone gem is its third track, “Burning in the Skies,” but since no other track lives up to its quality, it simply serves as an example of the potential the band was unable to reach on the release.

Linkin Park may have warned fans that this would be an experimental release, but that doesn’t excuse the haphazard album. Maybe it’s time for the band to team-up with hit-making producer Rick Rubin and return to their multi-platinum ways … or fully commit to this new sound and really make it work.

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Are you a Linkin Park fan? I am! if you want to hear their new song, Blackbirds, you have to play the rock band’s new game first. Yes my friends, Linkin Park has teamed up with game developer Artificial Life to bring us a rockin’ app experience called Linking Park 8-Bit Rebellion! this game will be released for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. unfortunately, no firm release date is available yet. but lots of fans are desperately awaiting.

For those who didn’t know Linkin Park began partnering with Artificial Life more than a year ago. in the game, all of you will help the band get back its music from an evil entity called PixxelKorp, who has stolen Linkin Park’s music. all you fans out there will travel through different districts, each one themed after a band member. and to keep us even more excited, the game includes 8-bit interpretations of some of the biggest hits, including in the end, New Divide, and Crawling. Get to the end and you get to hear Blackbirds.

Be ready to rock it with your iPad. you never know, Linkin Park may come out Crawling from that gorgeous screen.

Open to anything herd ugly stiks are excellent need recomendations for any brand though. whatever is excellent and affordable.

I'm assuming if your looking at ugly Stiks your budget would be on the low end- somewhere between $40 – $60?

In my opinion, your "best bet" for a decent rod in that price range would be an "in-house" rod from a larger Sporting goods store, (like Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas, Gander Mt, D*cks, Etc.). you usually get the "most bang for your buck" on any sporting excellent branded rod over commercial rods. AND they usually come with a decent "no questions questioned" 1-2 year return policy/warranty.

Like I mentioned in your other Q- the only applicable ugly Stik for serious Bass fishing would be the "ugly Stik Lite" series. And, in my opinion, even an ugly Stik Lite would only be useable as an "OK" medium-small Crank-baiting rod. Anywho, here are some suggestions in that price range with excellent feedback:

1. BPS, Tourney Special 7' Medium action- basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-To…

2. Cabelas, Tourney Trail 7' Medium action- cabelas.com/product/Fishing/F…

The best way to investigate a rod or reel is to read reviews at Bass Pro Shops or Cabelas websites. you have to take some reviews with "a grain of salt", but, generally, it can narrow down what you want to buy.

Hope this extra info helps ya?

You took the words right out of my mouth. most of my rods are ugly sticks for one reason. EVEN I CAN'T BREAK THEM. I only own a few excellent rods, and they are very expensive for various reasons, but also guaranteed if broken. you simply cannot go wrong with an ugly stick. Due to their construction they are on a bit on the heavier side of similar size rods (not uncomfortably so), so make sure you match the reel to balance it and it will feel great in hand.

They are excellent quality, rugged, affordable rods you will literally have for a lifetime.

Look at BPS their Bionic Blade is on sale at 59 bucks, great rod for the money! an ugly stick might get by throwing cranks or a spinnerbait but sensitivity might as well use a piece of rebar!

Either get an abu garcia rod, or I like berkly lighting rods. Now bass Fishings not cheap. Just to get 1 rod, reel, tackle box, and a few lures can be over 200$

Abu garcia veritas are the best rod for only 99 dollars, they are equivalent to a 200 dollar rod

Hideous Stik's lack sensitivity and are on the heavy side. What do you consider affordable? What kind of price range?

Get the combos pre-spooled with line, they're usually 8-12 lb test.
But hideous-stiks are the way to go

I am a beginner fisherman. I've been fishing for two months and the biggest bass I've hooked was about 2 pounds. I do not have a boat. I am tired of the local ponds here in Torrington. if you know of any other good spots in Torrington or anywhere else in Ct. please tell me about them.

Bass boat w/fore and aft electronics. several rods/reels; spinning for light lures, baitcasting for heavier stuff like crankbaits. Wide selection of spinnerbaits, both single and double blade, willow blade, etc. Anchor to hold you on the midlake structure as needed. You'll find boaf smallies and largemouth in the same areas which is a bonus IMHO…

“I was real excited. But I was nervous until they had all weighed in,” said Bozeman, who came from fifth place Saturday to secure the title in the 15-18 age group.

With the victory, the Tenoroc High School junior earned a trip to the Junior Bassmaster Southern Divisional to compete against anglers from six states.

And if he should win the divisional tournament, Bozeman would advance to the Junior Bassmaster World Championship next year.

Bozeman joins Colby Cotterill, Kyle Fox and Zack Howlett of Lakeland as juniors to win Florida state championships during the past few years.

Bozeman is already thinking of a future in the sport of competitive bass fishing.

He has his own website, dustinbozemanfishing.com, complete with a blog, photo gallery and his sponsors.

And he fishes out of a 2009 Legend bass boat with a 250-HP Mercury Optimax that his dad, Martin Bozeman, bought from Elite Series pro Chris Lane of Lakeland.

Winning the state title looks good on his resume.

“It gives me a lot of publicity and stuff like that I can add to my website,” he said.

Bozeman, one of 10 Lakeland Junior Bassmasters in the state field but the only one to place in his age group or the 11-14 group, is riding a hot streak, having won the club tournament on Lake Toho the previous weekend.

In the state championship out of Lake Toho, he started with 9.36 pounds the first day, but came back with 14.63 pounds on Sunday to win by just 6 ounces.

“I caught them in open water Texas-rigging a 6-inch junebug Razor Ouzo worm,” Bozeman said.

The personal-best 11.80-pounder came flipping a black/blue flake blue-tip Ouzo Ouzee stick-bait on Lake Kissimmee.

So he started both days on Kissimmee, but to small avail and won the event on Lake Toho.

“I’ve been catching all my fish in Kissimmee, but Toho was on this weekend,” he said.

His prize package included a rod, reel, tackle package and gift cards.

Bozeman is also a member of the new Bartow High School Yellow Jackets Fishing Team. he and teammate Michael Boswell finished in the top third at the 2011 TBF High School Fishing World Finals July 21-23 on Lake Dardanelle at Russellville, Ark.

Bozeman also teamed up with Chris Maxwell of Winter Haven to win the big Bass Bash. he won an Xtreme Series tournament on Lake Kissimmee in January, and he has won a couple of Lakeland Junior Hawg Hunters tournaments.

Bozeman competed as a co-angler in the Bassmaster Southern Open on the Kissimmee Chain earlier this year, finishing 34th.

“I was the youngest one fishing that,” he said. “It was awesome. I got to meet Casey Ashley and pre-fish with him.”

Ashley is one of the up-and-coming pros on the Bassmaster Elite Series, and that’s where Bozeman would like to be one day.

“I’d like it. I’d like to do it professionally if I could, but if not, maybe guiding, something like that,” he said.

SEINES FOR TILAPIA AT LAKE PIERCE?

There has been a meeting at Lake Pierce to discuss commercial fishing for tilapia, and it looks like it’s going to happen.

Thomas Fish Co. from Eagle Lake will reportedly conduct a trial run with large seine nets in the area of the lake with a mud bottom, which is where tilapia are likely to be but not gamefish.

BASS TOURNAMENTS

Mike Bedenbaugh weighed in 23.60 pounds for first place in the Winter Haven Lunker Lovers tournament Sunday on the Kissimmee Chain. Michael Teate finished second with 23.12 pounds while Jay Morgan was third with 20.09 pounds. Van Soles placed fourth with 19.32 pounds. David Harris netted the largest bass at 9.87 pounds.

Bobby Wooten won the Camp Mack Open Saturday on the Kissimmee Chain with 17.05 pounds. Jeff Crandon took second with 16.80 pounds, followed by Larry West with 15.15 pounds. Chris Maxwell’s 8.30-pounder was good for huge-bass honors.

Martin Dukes and Pete Smith mounted a 16-pound, 10-ounce stringer for first in the Sunday Open Series tournament on Lake Reedy. Willard Combee and Jack Alward finished second with 10 pounds, 11 ounces. Bill Bledsoe and Bobby Stone were third with 9 3/4 pounds. Troy and Howard Tucker brought in a 5-pounder for huge-fish honors.

Monte Goodman and David Crews won the Ron’s Tackle Box evening tournament last Thursday on Eagle Lake with 12 pounds, 3 ounces. Ismael Garcia Jr. and Ismael Garcia Sr. took second with 11 pounds, 3 ounces, and the younger Garcia netted the largest bass at 3 pounds, 6 ounces. Willard Combee and Jack Alward had 10 pounds, 11 ounces for third.

[ Del Milligan's freshwater fishing column appears Thursdays in The Ledger. he can be reached at del.milligan@theledger.com or 863-802-7555. Milligan's blog, Central Florida Fishology, can be found at theledger.com home page. ]