logo
Login Subscribe
Google Play App Store
  • News
    • Obituaries
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinion
  • Sports
  • E-edition
  • Calendar
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisers
    • Form Submission
    • About Us
    • News
      • Obituaries
      • Lifestyle
      • Opinion
    • Sports
    • E-edition
    • Calendar
    • Archives
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Advertisers
      • Form Submission
      • About Us
Poor Conditions cited in Trout Stocking delay to Dec. 1
News
October 31, 2024
Poor Conditions cited in Trout Stocking delay to Dec. 1

Oklahoma’s trout stocking season that normally begins Nov. 1 each year is being delayed this year, said Richard Snow, assistant chief of Fisheries for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Trout stocking is now tentatively set to begin Dec. 1, 2024, at ODWC’s six seasonal trout fishing areas. But the stocking delay for the seasonal areas won’t affect the state’s two year-round trout fisheries at the Lower Mountain Fork River and the Lower Illinois River, where conditions allow trout stocking to continue as usual. Several factors contributing to higherthan- normal water temperatures have combined to prompt biologists to delay trout stocking this year, Snow said:

• Unseasonably warm daytime air temperatures are forecast to stretch into November, which likely will keep water temperatures higher than normal later into the season.

• Ongoing drought conditions across most of the state have lowered water levels in most waterbodies, which allows the sun to heat water more quickly than normal.

• ODWC’s trout fishing areas are more susceptible to wider water temperature fluctuations because they are smaller bodies of water.

Trout do not survive very long when water temperature is around 70 degrees F or higher. These cold-water fish thrive at water temperatures from 45 to 60 degrees. They will begin to be stressed in water above 60 degrees.

ODWC doesn’t produce trout in its four state fish hatcheries. But to offer state anglers an opportunity to catch trout, ODWC buys trout from hatcheries in states to the north and brings them to Oklahoma for stocking.

The costs of maintaining a put-and-take stocking program for this non-native species have risen greatly over the past decade. This year, ODWC will spend about $7 for each pound of trout it stocks during the season, and each trout stocked usually weighs a little more than a pound.

“We basically would be throwing money away to begin stocking them Nov. 1,” Snow said.

Seasonal trout stocking sites for 2024 are Sunset Lake in Guymon; Lake Watonga/Boecher Lake; Lake Carl Blackwell Turtle Pond; Robber’s Cave State Park; Medicine Creek; and Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.

For more information on ODWC’s trout stocking program, go to wildlifedepartment. com/fishing/resources/ trout-information. Sign up for ODWC’s Weekly Fishing Report email at wildlifedepartment. com/fishing/fishingreport.

McIntosh County Democrat wins Sequoyah Award
A: Main, News...
McIntosh County Democrat wins Sequoyah Award
June 12, 2025
The Oklahoma Press Association presented its Better Newspaper Contest Awards during the OPA Annual Convention June 6-7, at the Grand Casino Hotel and Resort in Shawnee. The top award a newspaper can r...
this is a test
Fink inducted into OPA Half Century Club
A: Main, News...
Fink inducted into OPA Half Century Club
June 12, 2025
Managing Editor Jerry Fink of The Eufaula Indian Journal and the McIntosh County Democrat was inducted into the Oklahoma Press Association Half Century Club on Saturday, June 7 at the Grand in Shawnee...
this is a test
Preliminary set for 2 suspected of killing Eufaulan
A: Main, News...
Preliminary set for 2 suspected of killing Eufaulan
June 12, 2025
Two Muskogee men charged with killing a Eufaula resident were ordered to appear at a preliminary hearing in district court at 10 a.m., Thursday, July 3. Suspects Kyren Omari Boulware, 19, and Michael ...
this is a test
2 dead, 4 injured in pileup
A: Main, News...
2 dead, 4 injured in pileup
June 12, 2025
Two people from Marshall, Texas were killed, and four others were injured in a harrowing four-vehicle pileup on U.S. 69 half a mile south of the Muskogee City Limits at about 2:20 p.m. on Monday, June...
this is a test
A: Main, News...
Commissioners getting an increase in road spending
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
June 12, 2025
Rep. Tim Turner, R-Kinta, announced some good news and some bad news at the Monday morning Monthly County Commissioner meeting. First, the bad news, at least for those who oppose wind turbines in the ...
this is a test
A: Main, News...
Old Settlers Day, a Checotah tradition this weekend
June 12, 2025
Don’t miss Old Settlers Day this Saturday. This family tradition in Checotah is one of old friends, new friends and lots of good ol’ fashion family fun. Always the second Saturday in June, the town ho...
this is a test
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
A: Main, News...
Celebrate Flag Day, June 14
June 12, 2025
Bring us your tattered and weathered flag. Observe as our local Boys Scouts and DAV members honorably retire it. Starting at 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Free Cookout, Games and Raffle At Veterans Park, 114 N Broa...
this is a test
A: Main, News...
Juneteenth Celebration set for June 21
June 12, 2025
CLEARVIEW - The ending of slavery in the United States, celebrated annually on or around June 19, will be celebrated on Saturday June 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The celebration will take place at th...
this is a test
Bridge dedicated to World War II veteran
News
Bridge dedicated to World War II veteran
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
June 12, 2025
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation recently honored the late veteran William “Bill” Antrum Fox Jr. by naming a bridge after him. The William A. Fox Jr. Memorial Bridge is on SH 9 East at Nine M...
this is a test
Jefferson Highway keeps on rollin’
News
Jefferson Highway keeps on rollin’
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
June 12, 2025
Long before Route 66, there was the Jefferson Highway. Route 66 was a federally funded, 2,448-mile highway that crossed the country going east and west from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, Californ...
this is a test
News
Checotah Class of 2005 Reunion
June 12, 2025
Let’s celebrate our 20-year reunion together! Join us for a fun class reunion weekend! It will be a weekend of laughter and memories you’ll cherish forever! June 13 -15 Marvel Resort, Gore, OK For mor...
this is a test
Facebook
Twitter
Tweets
Twitter
Tweets

MCINTOSH COUNTY DEMOCRAT
300-A S. Broadway
Checotah, OK
74426

(918) 473-2313

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 Mcintosh Democrat

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy