Page 43 - Nov/Dec 2021 Outdoor Oklahoma

though she says she doesn’t feel qualified.
One day, she advised a group of men, befud- KELLY BOStIan
dled as they’d caught nothing for hours. She
walked up and started catching fish after fish.
“I got to feel big-headed for a little bit,” she
said. “That was when I got the idea for the
Fish Like A Girl sticker.”
When she’s at Scotty’s at Blue River these
days, she’s on a first-name basis with just
about everyone. The same goes for the crowd
on the Lower Illinois River any given weekend.
Clary is a good friend, as is the couple she met
that day on the Mountain Fork.
“There are so many people that I love and
that are (like) family now, and I only knew one,
Jason (Bryant), a year ago,” she said. “The
greatest thing I’ve gained from fly fishing is last-
ing friendships. I’m blessed beyond measure.”
That’s a mighty catch. Papa surely would
be proud.
(Kelly Bostian has been an outdoor editor and
writer for 35 years at newspapers in Fairbanks,
Alaska, and Tulsa, Okla. He now operates KJB
Outdoors, writing articles about conservation
and outdoor recreation.) Bridget Norris Kirk fishes for trout on the Lower Illinois River.

Try Your Skills Fly-fishing for Trout

Many anglers in Oklahoma look in 2021: three trout per day of any Residents of the state’s two
forward to these cooler months size. But anglers may catch and largest urban areas can also get in
of the year for some rewarding release as many trout as they wish on some trout fishing at Close to
seasonal trout fishing. Going after each day. Home Fishing locations. Veterans
some rainbows and browns is also Around Nov. 1, the Fisheries Division Pond in Jenks is a trout stocking
the perfect way to hone your fly- of the Oklahoma Department of site. And new this year, Edwards
fishing talents, or develop some if Wildlife Conservation stocks trout at Park and Route 66 Park are trout
you’ve never tried the technique. six designated seasonal trout fishing stocking sites in the Oklahoma City
Trout anglers are reminded that areas across the state, in addition to area. These Close to Home Fishing
new daily harvest limits are in effect the two continuous trout stocking sites areas will be stocked from Dec. 1 to
at the Lower Illinois River Feb. 28, 2021.
tODD BEntOn/rEaDErS ShOWCaSE 2014 Perry CCC/Lake Perry license while fishing. In addition,
Trout anglers must carry a
and the Lower Mountain
resident or nonresident fishing
Fork River.
The seasonal areas are
trout anglers at the Oklahoma City
Close to Home sites must have an
Park, Robbers Cave,
Oklahoma City fishing permit, and
Blue River, Boecher Lake,
Medicine Creek and
Sunset Lake in Guymon.
at other seasonal sites.
Trout fishing regulations, including
Regular stocking will municipal permits may be required
continue at these sites daily and size limits, restricted areas
until March 15 or March and site maps, can be found in
31, 2022. This year, the current Oklahoma Fishing and
stocking was moved Hunting Regulations found online at
from Watonga Lake to wildlifedepartment.com, on the Go
Boecher Lake at Roman Outdoors Oklahoma free mobile app,
Nose State Park. For or in print across the state wherever
more details, go to www. hunting and fishing licenses are sold.
wildlifedepartment.com/ — Don P. Brown,
fishing/trout-information. Communication Specialist

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