Oklahoma - Not a Dust Bowl

[Long Mike]

For those of you who have read Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" and assume Oklahoma is still a desert dust bowl, I would like to provide you fishermen with a few facts.

Oklahoma has:

Over 200 man-made lakes, covering over 1200 square miles - over one million square acres.

Over 11,600 miles of shoreline. This is more shoreline than the Gulf Coast and Atlantic coasts, combined.

The entire Eastern half of Oklahoma is green and wooded, and is called "Green Country" by the Okies.

The State record for LMB is 14lbs, 11.520z.

The largest lake is Lake Eufaula. measuring 102,000 sq. acres.

There iis no more dust bowl in Oklahoma. These days, it's a sportsman's paradise. I grew up in South Louisaina, but I LOVE Oklahoma.

[RWHusker.]

We went through eastern Oklahoma on our way to Fork last year. Was breath taking and that comes from a guy who grew up in Montana 59 miles north of Yellowstone.

GO BIG RED

[Guest avid]

Oklahoma is a beautiful state LM.

You have every right to be proud.

I doubt if anyone under 40 even knows what the dust bowl means.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is one of the great American novels.

Fortunately the movie starring Henry Fonda is also one the greatest American films.

Either way.  This is a MUST read/view for anyone who wants to glimpse the dark side of American history.

the time period the great depression of the 1930's

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Hey LM I heard you live on the old Joad spread, any truth to that?

Is that the same Lake Eufala that Tom Mann used to fish ?

[RWHusker.]

LM, do you spend much time on Grand Lake?

[ring fry]

Eastern Oklahoma has tons of water (now).  Grapes of Wrath was and still is my favorite novel.  That being said, if Oklahoma wasn't there, it would be four hours closer to Fork for me!  ;D

[Sam]

I was lucky to go to ROTC summer camp at Fort Sill and then back to Fort Sill for advanced training when I was an office in the United States Army and I can honestly say that the country is beautiful in Oklahoma.

Being from south Louisiana we did not see many hills and it was amazing to me that the land was so beautiful and different from what I was accustomed - from rocks to trees to grass to ponds to lakes to hills and small mountains (small mountains to me) and the large farms that seem to stretch for miles.

And the rattlesnakes were B-I-G, too.  Really big. And I mean BIG.

Never did any fishing in Oklahoma as I was learning how to kill people and break things.

I did go to the state fair where I had a very good time and saw my first ice hockey game in Oklahoma City (we don't have much ice hockey in Louisiana). I am still a Flyers fan to this day and actually understand ice hockey which is more than I can say for my LSU buddies in Louisiana.

Did someone on this site say anything negative about Oklahoma?

I bet the fishing is good, too.

[Long Mike]

Muddy. oddly enough, there are two Lake Eufaulas.  One is in Alabama.  That's where Tom Mann hung out.

RWHusker, I spend most of my time on Lake Skiatook (12,000 acres) if I'm in my Tracker, or on a small municipal lake (110 acres) if I'm in my raft.  Both are within a thirty minute drive for me.

Sam, to my knowledge no one has posted anything negative about the Sooner State, but I've got a feeling that most people think the state is one big wheat and/or corn field.  That's why I chose to make my post.  BTW what part of South Louisiana are you from?  I grew up in Abbeville, if you know where that is.

[Sam]

Born and raised in New Orleans.

The uptown section by Audubon Park and Tulane.

I know where Abbeville is located.  In Lafayette Parish near New Iberia and Lafayette.

In the heart of Cajun country.

Good food and music. Especially the food!

[Guest avid]

Never did any fishing in Oklahoma as I was learning how to kill people and break things.

Man, some people get to have all the fun.  

[frogtog]

Sam you wouldn't happen to know what the last words of a Redneck is do ya. ;D

[burleytog]

I doubt if anyone under 40 even knows what the dust bowl means.

Think again old man...

[Long Mike]

Sam, Good Food, Good Music, and GREAT people.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Born and raised in New Orleans.

The uptown section by Audubon Park and Tulane.

I know where Abbeville is located. In Lafayette Parish near New Iberia and Lafayette.

In the heart of Cajun country.

Good food and music. Especially the food!

Ah I remeber the old days  THE MAPLE LEAF. Om Oak Street

Tipatina's om Napolean

Benny's Blues Bar on Gen Taylor

You know these places Sam?

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Sam, to my knowledge no one has posted anything negative about the Sooner State, but I've got a feeling that most people think the state is one big wheat and/or corn field.

I get that feeling as well whenever I am somewhere and tell people I am from Kansas.  I can just see the wheels turning in their head, picturing what my life must be like back home.  I mean ..... I ride my horse to work just like everyone else :  Now I admit, the tourist attractions are few in far between, but I have never been any place else in the country I would even consider living.  I love where I live .... just like everybody else I am sure.  Check out this list last year.  It just so happens where I live is #6 on the "Best Places to Live"  

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2006/

As Dorothy says .... "There's no place like home" : ;D

[Taliesin]

I doubt if anyone under 40 even knows what the dust bowl means.

Hmm... not sure about that Avid.

But then I am from Oklahoma, enjoyed my Oklahoma History classes and am just shy of 40.

Oklahoma is where I learned to fish. So many farm ponds... So little time...

Oklahoma is the only state with such a wide variety of terrain. The panhandle is almost desert, NE has mountains (small ones), the SE has swamps (complete with native alligators), with plains in the center, and woods scattered across the state.

Yeah, I'm from Oklahoma even though I have spent less than 1/2 my life there (Air Force dad and I followed his footsteps.)