Illegal Bathtubs Removed from Lake Hudson

Lake Hudson — It is no secret that lack of rains and inflows into the Grand River system worked to keep both Grand Lake and Lake Hudson below normal elevations most of the last six months. As of press time, there had not been a "significant" rainfall in the Grand River watershed since October 2005.
However, the lack of rains and lower lake levels did help to reveal a few secrets beneath the waters of Lake Hudson. Bathtubs, along with old tractor tires, plastic barrels and other makeshift "fish houses" were located and pulled from the lake in mid January.
The bathtub "roundup" was team effort involving the Grand River Dam Authority’s Lake Patrol and Ecosystems Management Departments and game wardens and fisheries department personnel from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
On a cold and gray Friday morning on the shores of Lake Hudson, they used trucks, pickups and trailers, at least one ATV and a lot of elbow grease to pull the tubs and tires from the mud. By the end of the roundup, GRDA Lake Patrol Chief Bruce Smith estimated at least 75 bathtubs — put in place for "noodlers" to catch flathead catfish — were now bound for the scrap heap.
So, why bathtubs? "They cut a hole in one end of the barrel or bathtub and then place it upside down in the mud," said Smith. "The flatheads then swim in there and nest. Later on, whoever put the tub in the water will come back and stick their hand in there for the fish to bite. Then they’ll pull them out."
And According to GRDA Superintendent of Ecosystems Management Dr. Darrell Townsend, Ph.D., the "trapping" of flatheads is the main issue. "Actually, these bathtubs make a great habitat for flathead to spawn in," he said Townsend, "but there’s not a lot of sport involved to noodling fish this way. That is really the main reason they are illegal."
Flatheads, which may grow to as much as 50 pounds, are predator fish and prefer to catch their food alive. Thus a noodler’s arm inside a bathtub is irresistible to the fish. "The old saying ‘fish in a barrel’ definitely applies to this illegal method," said GRDA Fishery Coordinator Brent Davis, adding that "there are other, more sporting ways to catch flatheads, and many fishermen are having success with these methods."
"Together with the ODWC, we’re just encouraging all fishermen to play by the rules when they visit GRDA lakes."
With five trailer-loads of bathtubs and tires collected — on the first day alone — it was apparent the fish houses were quite popular. According to Smith, items were collected near the Lake Hudson horseshoe bend area, in the mouth of Spavinaw Creek, at the back of Wolf Creek and in other mud flat areas.

In Photo: GRDA Lake Patrolman Steve Henry (left) and GRDA Ecosystems Compliance Officer Charlie Floyd load one of the illegal bathtub "fish houses" removed from Lake Hudson mudlfats in mid January. A total of 75 bathtubs were removed from the lake by GRDA and officials with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.