More information about the lake record fish program can be found on an easily-operated search feature available at wildlifedepartment.com, the Web site of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The feature allows those interested to view a wealth of lake record fish information, ranging from weight of the fish to the kind of bait and the brand of rod and reel used to catch it.

The Wildlife Department's Lake Record Fish Program continues to grow. Since last year the program has doubled in size and there are now 28 lakes currently enrolled in the program.

The Lake Record Fish program recognizes anglers who catch a fish that qualifies as a record setter for the lake in which it was caught. Though the program was established as a way to serve anglers and recognize significant fish, it also serves as an indicator of trophy fish production in the state's lakes.

Anglers who catch a potential record from a participating lake should contact designated business locations around the lake that are enrolled as lake record keepers, or vendors. The lake record keeper may then enter the fish into an automated database via the Internet. Once it has been determined that an angler has landed a record fish, the media is notified and the public will be able to view information about the catch on the Wildlife Department's Web site at wildlifedepartment.com.

All past and current state record fish are registered in the Lake Record Fish Program as records for their respective lakes.

Species eligible for spots in the lake records book include blue, channel and flathead catfish and largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass in addition to crappie, paddlefish, striped bass, striped bass hybrids, sunfish (combined) walleye/saugeye and white bass. Minimum weights are set for each species included to avoid a rush of potential yet easily broken records early in the program's inception.

For more information about the new Lake Record Fish Program or for contact information for lake record keepers, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.

News Source: Oklahoma WD - Jul. 27, 2009