GRAND LAKE
Situated near Grove in northeastern Oklahoma an hour from Tulsa is 46,500-acre Grand Lake.

Fishing Grand in the summer can be a trying proposition because the numerous yachts that traverse the lake can kick up some rough water. But the good news is that during the winter months, the huge, deep lake is virtually void of large boats and actually receives little fishing pressure. Except for a few die-hard guides who -- like Ivan Martin (918-257-4265) -- fish it year ‘round, the lake’s all but vacant and yields some great winter creels.

Martin, an expert on the lake who specializes in crappie, white bass and largemouth bass, has been guiding for 20 years. Headquartered at Martin’s Landing on Monkey Island, Ivan operates a sport shop and motel and books fishing trips year ‘round.

“Most people think the only crappie fishing on Grand in the winter is done on one of the lake’s 10 heated fishing docks,” he said. “The fishing docks are good, but actually there is some great crappie fishing on the open water.”

Martin notes that the crappie will move and congregate near ledges in 20 to 30 feet of water. Ivan prefers to use artificial baits only and is partial to using 1/8- to 1/4-ounce jigs in chartreuse, white, and red, white and blue.

Ivan suggests that anglers target Honey Creek, Elk River, Duck Creek and Drowning Creek. He advised that access to these areas is almost limited to boats only, but added that there’s public bank access at the Horse Creek Bridge.

Though white crappie are the main species at Grand, Martin says, black crappie are starting to make their presence known. Grand anglers may take a combined creel of 15 crappie daily with a 10-inch minimum length.

LAST CAST
Well there you have it: a sampling of some of the state’s top winter crappie holes. Though my list is not exhaustive, it represents a sampling of some of the best February hotspots for crappie in the state.

Keep in mind that February can have some unseasonably mild days and yet also feature near-blizzard conditions, so dress appropriately when fishing outdoors. Caution is in order also when fishing, because a fall into any cool-water fishery could produce hypothermia, which can be deadly in short order.

So when you get happy feet this winter, why not hoof it over to some of the state’s top crappie waters, and you, too, can catch a mess of Soonerland slabs. A word of caution is in order here, though: Crappie fishing is highly addictive -- and it can take a lifetime to recover!

Find more about Oklahoma fishing and hunting at: OklahomaGameandFish.com