MUSKOGEE, Okla. – The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southwestern Division is set to wrap up the regular season at the Arkansas River, which is a big change from the usual reservoirs. Taking out of Muskogee, anglers will have a lot of water to fish on a fishery that is currently on a high – big bags are more common now than they’ve ever been on the river.
What to expect
Launching from Three Forks Harbor in Muskogee, anglers can fish there or make a lot of other decisions. Pros could lock down to the popular Kerr Reservoir or go up either the Arkansas or the Neosho River. Plus, they could also lock out of the Muskogee Pool in the other direction, away from Kerr, heading up the navigation channel on the Verdigris River, which runs all the way up toward Tulsa.
According to Rodney Copeland, who lives in Sallisaw, near Kerr, where to fish is going to be a huge factor in the event.
“There are going to be some who lock down,” he said. “There are going to be some that lock up, maybe as far as two locks up. And with recent events, that Muskogee Pool is fishing well enough that I don’t know if you need to lock up or down to have a good finish. But if you want to get away from the pressure, you can run as far as you want to run.
“I think it’ll be spread out,” he added. “You’re going to have a lot more time to fish if you stay in the Muskogee Pool, and there’s plenty to fish there. With the amount of time you give up to go other places, I think at the end of the day you’ll have a few guys who went up do well, and a few guys who went down do really well.”
Wherever anglers choose to fish, expect them to be putting the heat to summertime bass with some fun stuff.
“Junk fishing, power fishing, is what I enjoy,” said Copeland. “Usually, there’s not a finesse situation going on. There are big bass here; this river is really showing out. If it lines up the way that I hope it does, we’re going to see some 20-pound, or close to 20-pound bags. Big river, big fish, big event – it’s exciting.”
Baits to bring
As far as what you need to get bit, simple stuff should put plenty of fish in the boat.
“It’s going to be a power fishing river tournament,” said Copeland. “It’s going to be a swim jig, spinnerbait, flipping, frog kind of deal. And, it’s no secret, the BOOYAH Mobster Swim Jig will be a player in this event.”
What will it take?
From a weight perspective, you can count on some quality fish hitting the scale.
“It’s phenomenal. It’s been fishing great the past several years – it has really come on,” said Copeland. “Somebody is going to have a 20-pound bag one day and back it up. This river, 13 or 14 pounds a day used to be excellent. It’s going to take more than that and has in the past few years.”