Arbuckle Lake

Friday Morning 04-01-11
I woke up really early. I was at dads by 0600.
I stopped on the way and got mom and egg mcmuffin..i got dad one too.
We headed off to the lake and we got Camp set up and on the water by 0930.

My buddy Carter had told me about 5 coves across from guy sandy boat ramp. We went to this locations first. Over Friday and Saturday we caught several bass weighing 2.25-3.25 lbs. We also caught a few sand bass.

I will start off with a map with locations and then appox time of day water temps and lure used.




I probably should have numbered the arrows but Since I didn't we will start at the top left. I added a numbered map later.. It should be down below..

Top left arrow. (1) Hung a huge fish on a skinny short sink style worm. It was early morning Saturday morning. He broke my rod.? Did not land the fish but cut my hand trying to save my reel he broke off my rod when she hit and o set the hook. (see Saturday below)
(2) Next arrow down. West side of lake in between points. Using a deep diving gray repalla lure dad caught a 3.25 black bass in deep water,
(3) Next Arrow down I was on the east side of the lake again, in between translation of sandy and rocky shoreline.
(4)(5) The other two is the coves in the guys sandy boat launch area. Just throwing a deep diving crank bait caught two in the coves here.
The next two in the central section of the lake both caught with worms, brownish pumpkin seed.
Next spot down was the cove on the south end of the lake with fish marker. Caught a decent fish off the cliff rock shelves.

Note the water temps were fluctuating from 58-61 degrees.. Almost half the fish were caught in deeper water.

It was a great day of fishing. Caught some good fish. Had some hood laughs and had some great conversations. Back at camp I grilled some steaks for dinner. These were the best seeks inhale ever eaten. Dad said he got them at homeland. They were more tender than any steak I have eaten. They were over an inch thick too.











Saturday was another beautiful day. Not much wind and the temp was perfect.
The water temp was better and the weather was absolutely perfect. Saturday plan was to get up and go do some bass fishing then go in eat lunch and get some minnows and try some crappie fishing. We had located several areas on the lake with brush that looked like they might be hood places to catch some crappie.

Saturday morning I woke up and started making some eggs and sausage. Dad love his sausage and eggs in the morning. I made some coffee as well. Even though I don't smoke anymore I still love my coffee






We Camped at the lake. The camp site was pretty close to the water. Where we stayed at if you needed to walk down to the waters edge you could but it was a steep walk.

My buddy Durell and his son came down that Saturday evening and they fished from the bank. I am pretty sure his sone caught some fish off the bank. I am not sure what kind of lures he was using, but it was productive fishing from the bank as well.






We launched the boat and sped around over to the west side of the lake I Have attached a numbered map now. Location number one. I was using a cheap jimmy Houston rod and real combo I bought at academy as a back up for the tournaments.
Dad and I were both laughing about how far I could cast with this stupid thing.
I had a pumpkin seed colored straight plastic worm on. Just past the small cove we headed north. There was a rock cliff with a small indention in it. I cast right into that hole. When my lure hit the water my pole slammed down, cracking my rod and breaking the cheap ass reel off of the rod. I barely saved the reel as I was grasping with everything I had in hopes of saving the reel, the string got mangled in my fingers and the line cut my finger.. Needless to say. By the time I got done with this calamity of errors, there was no longer a fish on the line.

That was the only bite we got for the first hour of the trip. We had started out with our jackets on. The weather was cool. About 100 yards or so north of where I lost my bog fish I decided to regroup. New lures and set up etc. Dad and I were no longer wearing our jackets so I was going to put them up. As I lifted up the rod box lid to throw our jackets in I heard a huge splash, I looked and watched as my iPod classic was sinking down below. I tried my hardest and was able to save the speakers but the iPod is surely gone with not a chance of recovery.

I sat there for a second. Dad was looking and asked what was that. I told him it was my iPod. He said damn those things are expensive aren't they. I said yes sir. I think $250 or so not counting the speakers and the other crap.. Then, we started laughing., I was laughing so hard I was almost crying with tears and everything. Holy crap. Even with the mishaps of this trip. The time that me and dad are able to spend together are worth every second.. We both laughed for a long time.

After we were done being skunked by the bass, of me I should say dad caught three before we headed in. (Pictures have been included.) we went to town to see if we could find some minnows. We ate carls junior then headed back to the lake and got some minnows. I have to include the story with this young man who helped with the minnows.
He looked to be 10 or so. He came out all happy like most kids watching cartoons on Saturday morning look.. I asked if he had minnows he said yes sir with a lisp. I said we need 3 dozen he said ok, dad said make that four. I am not sure how this young man plays a role as far as if the bait shop was his dads or grandpas, but I am sure the kid does not know what dozen minnows are. I am sure he put 6-7 dozen in the bucket. I gave hime a few extra dollars. Bur again me and dad laughed and laughed about that kid on the way back to camp. Just a funny story.

We had an awesome camping trip. The weather was in the 80-90's. We had grilled steaks the first night and grilled fish and grilled potatoes the second night.

We fished Saturday evening until 630-700. We had kept a couple of fish for dinner. I grilled the fish and we had an excellent dinner.
My buddy Durell from macomb came out. We visited for a while with him and then dad went to bed. I was not too far behind him.




Over night the wind came in strong.
We I got up Sunday morning the wind was still blowing like crazy. I made breakfast and we enjoyed the morning. Beautiful pink clouds for the morning. We opted to break camp down and head home.. It was a beautiful trip and I had a super great time.
What a great trip.

Location:Southern Oklahoma