Summertime, summertime, sum... sum... summertime. Yes, today is the first day of summer and several things will happen today.

We will not notice but today will be the longest day of daylight.

Then after a few days, we will notice our daylight time getting shorter. I know with summer comes the heat.  

We could start seeing the triple digit temperatures anytime and I hate it. One good thing about the hotter weather, it sure makes for a good garden season —  until everything burns up.

We can only hope Mother Nature will be nice and not pelt us with baseball size hail and just rain on our parade.

Please keep that bad stuff away and bring on a slow soaking rain. We also welcome summer for the homemade ice cream, juicy watermelon, sweet cantaloupe, and not to mention red hot sunburns.

We only have three months until fall and the beginning of school.

Hush my mouth — we are just starting to enjoy summertime.  

What a great Father’s Day weekend. I hope all the dads, fathers and those that fill in for dads had a fun filled Sunday.

Judy fixed a Father’s Day lunch, which my father Bruce stopped in and shared with us. Had nice gifts and cards from my son Mike and his family, along with my daughter Dana and her family.

It was nice to see many fathers taking their kids out fishing on Father’s Day.

Many of our customers got out to enjoy some fishing time with their families this Father’s Day weekend.

Sure could use some rain. Fishing below Fort Gibson Dam has been slow. With the turbines off and the water not running, most fish will go to another water supply.

Stripers, sand bass, bass, crappie, catfish and spoonbills will seek cooler water just to stay alive.

Anglers, too, will not come out if there is no turbines because there is no fish. So, that means I have a slow report.

Although some anglers do come on out and fish, wading or walking to the island using light tackle with a spinner lure has been a great way to catch some sand bass. Crappie, catfishing, or snagging for spoonbills has been slow.

Did hear of several anglers using shrimp to catch several nice catfish on the lake side of Fort Gibson Dam.

No boat needed to catch these catfish. Sequoyah Bay, Oklahoma 51 Bridge or near Wildwood are a few areas where anglers are catching catfish from the bank.

Maybe when my grandkids come down, I will take them for a fishing trip. That would be nice for a future article.

Mr. Crappie Bait and Tackle will be selling fireworks this year. A firework stand should be in place any day.  

We will offer great deals on fireworks. Have a blast with Mr. Crappie Bait and Tackle.

As mentioned, summer is here. Please take plenty of water or fluids to keep from dehydration. Know the sign of heat related problems.

Take plenty of bug spray. The ticks, mosquitoes and wasps are a real threat this year.

Don't let one of these pesky bugs cause you or any family member any illness.

  Till next time — be safe and good fishing... Keep the line tight.