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Prophets & Outlaws Gilley ’ s ( Choctaw Casino ) Durant , OK
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Grant Event Center ( Choctaw Casino ) Grant , OK
Earl & Them Club 60 West Bar ( Wyandotte Casino ) Wyandotte , OK
Wink Burcham The Hunt Club Tulsa , OK
Bridge to Grace / Seasons After / Gears Oklahoma City Limits OKC , OK
The Blue Dawgs Mid-American Grille Pryor , OK
Wanda Watson Pepper ’ s Grill Tulsa , OK
A Night of Worship W / Bethel Music & Housefires : Featuring Bill Johnson Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall OKC , OK
Kyle Sherman Red Brick Bar Norman , OK
Cash O ’ Riley & Chloe Johns The Fur Shop Tulsa , OK
Jamey Johnson The Joint ( Hard Rock Casino ) Tulsa , OK
Another Alibi The Vanguard Tulsa , OK
The Moody Dudes : A Garage Band Salute to the Summer of Love Tulsa PAC Tulsa , OK
Raised Right Men Palladium Sports Lounge ( Winstar Casino ) Thackerville , OK
Boz Scaggs & Michael McDonald Global Event Center ( Winstar Casino ) Thackerville , OK
Gone fishin ’: Free Fishing Weekends offer freshwater opportunities
By Bill Edgar
TAHLEQUAH , Okla . - To tell you the truth , I am not much of a fisherman .
Granted I ’ ve been fishing , and I have many great memories of fishing for catfish in the rivers , ponds , and lakes around Seminole County with my grandparents . My earliest , and probably fondest , fishing memory was when I hooked a huge carp in the North Canadian River ; we fought and fought until it leaped out of the water and snapped my line . My grandmother laughed as “ sh ** fire ” slipped from my 7-year-old mouth .
But as fond as those early memories are , they never inspired me to become a pro-bass fisherman with a big collection of poles , tackle , and a high tech bass boat . Still , once every few years I get the urge or opportunity to go fishing . I head down to the store , buy a cheap rod and reel , some lures and bait , and always catch a story .
June is a great time of year for fishing . The weather warms enough to enjoy the water , but it ’ s not yet blisteringly brutal like Ozark summers can become . There are lots of good reasons for a fishing trip in June . In Oklahoma , the state Wildlife Department holds Free Fishing Days on June 1-2 , where you can fish in all the area lakes and streams without a fishing license . Oklahoma was the first state to offer this to its
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residents over 30 years ago . Arkansas has since followed suit and offers a Free Fishing Weekend June 10-12 for residents and non-residents , so you Okies who want a second chance can slip over the border for another freebie .
Of course , children always make the greatest fishing stories . Every child should experience catching a fish , and anyone under the age of 18 can fish without a license in Oklahoma and Arkansas . Catching a fish can be challenging , which can make it hard for an impatient kid . But in Oklahoma there are several small “ kiddie ” ponds where a catch is all but a guarantee . Greenleaf State Park , Honor Heights Park , and Keystone State Park all have kiddie ponds that are limited to kids 16 years or younger . Of course , you can also fish right off the back of a whale at the world famous Big Blue Whale Park on Route 66 in Catoosa . How fun is that ?
If you ’ ve been fishing a while and are ready to step up your game , then perhaps you can give tournament fishing a try . Tulsa Kayak holds a Bassathon every Wednesday night throughout the summer where anglers can break out their kayaks and try for a chance to win a gift certificate to the Tulsa Kayak store . For more information , contact Tulsa Kayak and talk with Ben Harris ( 918 ) 298-4577 .
Not only is fishing a challenging sport it can also be for a good cause . Hero ’ s on the Water is a nonprofit that helps wounded veterans get out on the water and cast a line . There is a Northeast Oklahoma chapter and a Northwest Arkansas chapter . On June 24 , the Oklahoma Chapter will be holding an event . Contact Heroes on the Water through the Northeastern Oklahoma Chapter ’ s Facebook page .
Fishing can be a lot of things ; it can be relaxing , exciting , aggravating , and often times amusing . I ’ m proof that it doesn ’ t always have to take a lot of skill , and it ’ s fairly inexpensive to get into . So load up the kids , grab the Princess poles and head out to the water . You may not always bring home a mess of fish , but you can be sure to bring home great memories .
To find a body of water near you , visit www . travelok . com and www . arkansas . com .
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