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TROUT FISHING
IN MEDICINE PARK
October 31st - April 30th
Load up your family and your fishing gear
and catch the Big One in Medicine Park!
Medicine Park Economic Development Trust Authority (MPEDA) announces its
big "No Limit Trout Tournament" for the fourth season. It will take
place the October 31st and November 1st.
Fishing Permit and Oklahoma fishing license are required. For more
information call 580-529-2825 or 580-574-1101
Once again, on both days, cash and prizes will be offered for the 3
biggest fish. The Big Fish last year weighed over 5 pounds. A list of
this year's prizes will be posted on the medicinepark.com website.
Don't miss this opportunity to catch trophy trout from your lawn chair.
Along approximately 1/2 mile of handicapped accessible sidewalk, fish to
your heart's content. (Medicine Creek also offers fine bass and catfish
all year round).
The brown trout can tolerate slightly warmer waters than the brook trout
and have taken over some of the fisheries formerly inhabited by the
brookies. It is much more wary than other trouts which help ensure its
longevity in waters where other trouts get fished out.
When brown trout fishing, look for quiet water with lots of cover. Logs,
under cuts in the bank, rock shelves, overhanging trees and brush are
some of the brown trouts favorite hiding places. The larger they get,
the more wary they become and are more inclined to feed at night under
the protection of darkness.
When thinking about successful brown trout fishing techniques, no single
technique stands out from the rest. Many different flies can be used to
get the fish to bite, but tailoring yourself to the specific seasonal
feeding personalities of the browns increase your chances of hooking
fish and hooking them consistently.
As with all other trout groups, winter
browns are a group less prone to chasing fast moving presentations and
flies fished with erratic movements.
Cold air and water temperatures will
produce lackadaisical feeding behavior in fish so getting your fly in
the strike zone is a necessity. Some say Nymph fishing is probably the
best technique to utilize during the cold winter months seeing as it is
a quiet presentation that covers lots of water. Nymphing is excellent
for repeatedly placing your fly in the strike zone with minimal effort.
Depending on the body of water, you will be fishing in cold water more
often that not, a floating line coupled with long leaders will be most
productive. Heavily weighted nymph flies and an indicator system are a
necessity to get down deep and attract attention from fish while still
allowing the angler to detect light takes. Bead flies are a good idea
for these types of fishing conditions because they have a little more
weight than standard nymphs plus extra flashing to get those lazy fish
feeding.
Brown trout feed on worms, minnows,
insects and crustaceans. Dry fly fishing for pan-sized browns is a
favorite technique as they rise well to these crafty presentations.
Larger browns tend to feed more on flesh and favor nutritious
crustaceans, worms or small fishes. When fly fishing for large brown
trout try wet flies which mimic the local natural baitfish.
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Weather
and Sunlight
Heavy rain, as with all other trout species, can be a very important
variable in the size and number of fish you catch. As the level of the
body of water increases and the clarity decreases due to rain, browns
will be drawn out of their tight cover to feed on drowned insects. This
pattern of moving out from cover will make it very hard for fly anglers
to target fish simply because fish could be feeding anywhere throughout
the river.
During
the spawn, the rising water will allow lake-run fish to travel safely up
small creeks and rivers to their upstream spawning grounds. While rising
rivers help bring spawning fish upstream, dropping water levels will
hold lake runners in deep holes providing ideal fishing conditions. If
you are looking to catch lunker brown trout with any success, you have
planned your fishing trips around these rising and falling water
conditions in fall. Ideally fishing for browns is best if you can reach
the river 1-2 days after a light rain, or 3-4 days after a heavy rain.
The water level should be just starting to drop and have a slightly
tinted color.
The amount of sunlight on the water is not as important to brown trout
fishing as other species of trout. If you present these freshwater
predators with the right fly they will take it regardless of the
conditions or water levels. With that in mind do not forget that fish
are very quick at picking up shadows on the water and spook easily so
when the sun is high be sure to keep out of the rays and be aware of
casting your shadow on the water. When fishing remember to always start
your day off downstream of where you want to end up and work your way
upstream. By fishing upstream you will be approaching the fish from
behind and not kicking river bottom sediment into the holes that you
want to fish.
This feisty fish will provide exciting fishing. It can be a strong,
ferocious fighter and a challenge to any experienced fly fishing
enthusiasts.
During the regular trout season (November 1 through April 31 annually)
there is a limit of 3 trout per day per person. Oklahoma State and Town
of Medicine Park fishing permits are required. You may acquire a Town
fishing permit from the Town Hall in Medicine Park and other locations
throughout the town.
If you are not required to have a state license, a town fishing license
is not required. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by a licensed
adult.
The town fishing permit is $5.00 per day. A 7-day permit costs $15.00
and the annual town permit is $25.00 and is good for one year from the
date of issue.
For more information call Town Hall at (580) 529-2825 or (580) 574-1101.
Applications for Medicine Park Fishing Permits are available on line at
medicinepark.com as downloadable Word files. You may open the files on a
printable page and turn them in or mail them to Town Hall.
Permits may be obtained by mail or in person at the Medicine Park Town
Hall during regular business hours. All permit fees are used for
stocking Medicine Park Fishing areas.
Check
out: www.medicinepark.com  |
Click Cover - For Current Full Fall/Winter Issue
in 3D
Format.
(photos courtesy medicinepark.com
and Michael Fahrion)
IMAGES OF AMERICA SERIES
"MEDICINE PARK,
OKLAHOMA'S FIRST RESORT" COMING
SPRING 2010
Published By
Arcadia Publishing |
