Guides
Haydn (Williams Guide Service / fishgrand.com) estimates 250–300 guide trips this year — mainly Crappie, winter Paddlefish snagging, occasional night bowfishing. Off this week putting up trail cameras; about four trips next week starting Saturday/Sunday, then winding fishing down for deer.
Crappie
Picky lake-wide — Lance Lutke (Lance's Guide Service) said the same. Even big wads yield two or three fish, then move on. Plenty of fish on Live Scope; eating a lot of shad. Last year this window was some of the best fishing of the year; the last two–three weeks have been tougher. Friend report: Patricia Island area, Crappie in 30 feet that took hard work; any wind makes staying on them tough.
Hunting
Archery opener was October 1. Dry; deer sign concentrated around water. Bucks shed velvet, not grouped up, shifting into pre-rut spots — scrapes and rubs already. Oklahoma bucks often start acting up around October 20; by Halloween they're making mistakes; peak rut roughly November 7–14. Pre-rut scrape/fight period is the most fun. Congrats to friends on the Washita Mountains lease in southeast Oklahoma who took two bears with archery — short list in Oklahoma.
Dealers / sponsors
fishgrand.com for Haydn; VIPGrandLake.com for Patricia at VIP Skin Care / Luxury Skin Care on Monkey Island; fishlucke.com (L-U-C-K-E) — Jimmy Houston Red Man spinnerbaits, original Scroungers, Lucky Bugs, swimming minnows. Tell area dealers you appreciate them stocking Fish Lucke.