Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
Butcher Pen Creek Resort
267 views
Skip to first unread message
jerryosage
May 18, 2014, 1:57:42 PM5/18/14
to
This is from 2002. We had went to Lake Texoma for a couple of weeks.
Home base was Buncombe Creek COE campground. We spent from early
morning until mid afternoon out and about, just poking around. We
would try a restaurant for a hearty breakfast, another for a light
lunch and return to camp. Then we would nap, wake up refreshed, fix a
nice supper and then fish until bedtime. We had a deal going -
fishing on the halves - half out catch for cleaning our half. It
worked great.
Bee is one of the places we wandered across. It was interesting
enough that we missed our nap that afternoon.
Jerry O.
~~~~~~~~~~~
May 2002
Butcher Pen Creek Resort @ Bee, Ok. N34 7.7234' W96 34.6986'
Butcher Pen creek enters Lake Texoma about a half mile south of where
the Washita River enters the lake. Butcher Pen Creek enters at a
little town called Bee. The lake has backed up the creek for about a
half mile and widened it to about 150'.
Bee is almost a ghost town now; its heyday is long past. There is
still a shadow of a town there, and a few people still live (exist?)
there. However, there are many empty, decrepit houses in various
stages of decay. They are slowly collapsing into a sea of waist high
weeds and grass growing in what were at one time probably well kept
yards. The remains of a few picket fences were visible in the weeds.
As we drove through the remains Mahoney said, "Bee is not a good name,
this place should be called "Copperhead Haven".
At the end of Butcher Pen Road, the main road into town from the
highway a couple of miles east, are the ruins of a fishing resort. All
that remains of the resort are the gravel roads, the boat ramp, and
the concrete slab floors of the Store, Bait shop, and perhaps twenty
Cabins.
At one time it was a popular destination. We met, and were talking
to, a couple, Bill and Janis, who were here bank fishing for catfish,
but only at night. �They are holed up all day, (tell that to the
Noodlers) and won�t start feeding �til the sun goes down.� They had
their travel trailer situated on the old store slab and had been there
for several weeks. This gave then a very large concrete patio, which
would be appreciated when it rained. They invited us to bring our
trailer over and join them on the slab. "Hell, we got plenty of room
and would enjoy the company, besides it's free and the fishing is
good."
Bill, who is in his late 70�s, told us about the resort in its heyday.
He spoke of coming here to this very resort with his family when he
was a child. Father, brothers, uncles, and cousins, in laws, with
their women folk and kids. The whole extended family came here and
took up residence in the cabins and camp sites for a couple of weeks.
Other relatives came in and they had a family reunion. Bill said that
not only were all the cabins full but that there were many campsites
scattered through the woods and people were everywhere. "It was
almost like the County Fair."
�We would come down here after we got the crops laid by and spend a
couple of weeks.� �We would get the neighbors to do the chores so
everyone could come down.� �We�d have five or six cabins rented and
more camp sites. It was a great time, home made ice cream, watermelon,
fried fish, Dutch oven corn bread and biscuits, beans, all kinds of
good stuff from our garden; late afternoon was a feast everyday.�
"There would be impromptu music and a dance nearly every night right
here in front of the store." "It seemed like nearly everyone played
some instrument and sang." "Even devout Baptists might get into the
mood of things and do a little back sliding come Saturday night. Have
a cup of shine and maybe even dance a jig or two, then pray it off
Sunday morning."
"One of my cousins met her husband here one night." Bill stared off
into the distance for a few moments, then said, "Damn, that was over
sixty years ago, they're both gone now." He was lost in thought again
for perhaps thirty seconds.
He shook his head and continued, "The fishing is good and a cool
breeze comes up about dark making sleeping easy, although we would be
up to check our lines every hour or so.� "Weren't no phones in those
days, least not around here so someone would run home every day to
check on things and take a load of fish back to friends and neighbors
and bring back provisions, ice, and a lot of watermelons."
While we were talking a couple of groups of local kids came by with
their fishing gear and took up spots along the bank below us. Thoughts
of Huck Finn came to mind, it seemed to fit.
In the hour that we continued talking, the kids had no luck. Bill
said that the fish wouldn�t bite until sundown. Occasionally we would
hear a boat pass by out on the Washita channel. Other than that, this
place was virtually deserted and very peaceful. Although, Bill said
that things would pick up just before dark when the serious catfishers
would show up to fish most of the night.
Mahoney and I excused ourselves and walked about 150 - 200 yards down
to the boat ramp. Along the way, our noses were assailed by a stench.
Upon looking for the cause, we saw the remains of several catfish
about three feet long that had been hung from a limb and filleted. Not
a nice thing to do, stinking up the area that way, but a testament to
fish in this area. Further along there were more hanging carcasses,
but most were desiccated well beyond the stinking stage.
As we arrived at the boat ramp four young men were loading a boat onto
its trailer. I asked, �Any luck?� One replied, �Not a thing.� They
were leaving empty handed. When I asked what kind of bait they had
been using one guy simply raised his hand and wiggled his fingers.
They had been Noodling along the banks of Butcher Pen Creek and the
Washita. They felt that it was a little early in the season, that we
needed more hot days to get the big fish to hole up.
Trader-historian James Adair was perhaps the first to leave a written
record of Noodling, when, in 1775, he described "a surprising method
of fishing under the edges of rocks" among Southern Indians.
"They pull off their red breeches, or their long slip of Stroud cloth,
and wrapping it around their arm, so as to reach the lower part of the
palm of their right hand, they dive under the rock where the cat-fish
lie to shelter themselves from the scorching beams of the sun, and to
watch for prey: as soon as those fierce aquatic animals see that
tempting bait, they immediately seize it with the greatest violence,
in order to swallow it. Then is the time for the diver to improve the
favourable opportunity: he accordingly opens his hand, seizes the
voracious fish by his tender parts, hath a sharp struggle with it, and
at last brings it safe ashore.�
Home base was Buncombe Creek COE campground. We spent from early
morning until mid afternoon out and about, just poking around. We
would try a restaurant for a hearty breakfast, another for a light
lunch and return to camp. Then we would nap, wake up refreshed, fix a
nice supper and then fish until bedtime. We had a deal going -
fishing on the halves - half out catch for cleaning our half. It
worked great.
Bee is one of the places we wandered across. It was interesting
enough that we missed our nap that afternoon.
Jerry O.
~~~~~~~~~~~
May 2002
Butcher Pen Creek Resort @ Bee, Ok. N34 7.7234' W96 34.6986'
Butcher Pen creek enters Lake Texoma about a half mile south of where
the Washita River enters the lake. Butcher Pen Creek enters at a
little town called Bee. The lake has backed up the creek for about a
half mile and widened it to about 150'.
Bee is almost a ghost town now; its heyday is long past. There is
still a shadow of a town there, and a few people still live (exist?)
there. However, there are many empty, decrepit houses in various
stages of decay. They are slowly collapsing into a sea of waist high
weeds and grass growing in what were at one time probably well kept
yards. The remains of a few picket fences were visible in the weeds.
As we drove through the remains Mahoney said, "Bee is not a good name,
this place should be called "Copperhead Haven".
At the end of Butcher Pen Road, the main road into town from the
highway a couple of miles east, are the ruins of a fishing resort. All
that remains of the resort are the gravel roads, the boat ramp, and
the concrete slab floors of the Store, Bait shop, and perhaps twenty
Cabins.
At one time it was a popular destination. We met, and were talking
to, a couple, Bill and Janis, who were here bank fishing for catfish,
but only at night. �They are holed up all day, (tell that to the
Noodlers) and won�t start feeding �til the sun goes down.� They had
their travel trailer situated on the old store slab and had been there
for several weeks. This gave then a very large concrete patio, which
would be appreciated when it rained. They invited us to bring our
trailer over and join them on the slab. "Hell, we got plenty of room
and would enjoy the company, besides it's free and the fishing is
good."
Bill, who is in his late 70�s, told us about the resort in its heyday.
He spoke of coming here to this very resort with his family when he
was a child. Father, brothers, uncles, and cousins, in laws, with
their women folk and kids. The whole extended family came here and
took up residence in the cabins and camp sites for a couple of weeks.
Other relatives came in and they had a family reunion. Bill said that
not only were all the cabins full but that there were many campsites
scattered through the woods and people were everywhere. "It was
almost like the County Fair."
�We would come down here after we got the crops laid by and spend a
couple of weeks.� �We would get the neighbors to do the chores so
everyone could come down.� �We�d have five or six cabins rented and
more camp sites. It was a great time, home made ice cream, watermelon,
fried fish, Dutch oven corn bread and biscuits, beans, all kinds of
good stuff from our garden; late afternoon was a feast everyday.�
"There would be impromptu music and a dance nearly every night right
here in front of the store." "It seemed like nearly everyone played
some instrument and sang." "Even devout Baptists might get into the
mood of things and do a little back sliding come Saturday night. Have
a cup of shine and maybe even dance a jig or two, then pray it off
Sunday morning."
"One of my cousins met her husband here one night." Bill stared off
into the distance for a few moments, then said, "Damn, that was over
sixty years ago, they're both gone now." He was lost in thought again
for perhaps thirty seconds.
He shook his head and continued, "The fishing is good and a cool
breeze comes up about dark making sleeping easy, although we would be
up to check our lines every hour or so.� "Weren't no phones in those
days, least not around here so someone would run home every day to
check on things and take a load of fish back to friends and neighbors
and bring back provisions, ice, and a lot of watermelons."
While we were talking a couple of groups of local kids came by with
their fishing gear and took up spots along the bank below us. Thoughts
of Huck Finn came to mind, it seemed to fit.
In the hour that we continued talking, the kids had no luck. Bill
said that the fish wouldn�t bite until sundown. Occasionally we would
hear a boat pass by out on the Washita channel. Other than that, this
place was virtually deserted and very peaceful. Although, Bill said
that things would pick up just before dark when the serious catfishers
would show up to fish most of the night.
Mahoney and I excused ourselves and walked about 150 - 200 yards down
to the boat ramp. Along the way, our noses were assailed by a stench.
Upon looking for the cause, we saw the remains of several catfish
about three feet long that had been hung from a limb and filleted. Not
a nice thing to do, stinking up the area that way, but a testament to
fish in this area. Further along there were more hanging carcasses,
but most were desiccated well beyond the stinking stage.
As we arrived at the boat ramp four young men were loading a boat onto
its trailer. I asked, �Any luck?� One replied, �Not a thing.� They
were leaving empty handed. When I asked what kind of bait they had
been using one guy simply raised his hand and wiggled his fingers.
They had been Noodling along the banks of Butcher Pen Creek and the
Washita. They felt that it was a little early in the season, that we
needed more hot days to get the big fish to hole up.
Trader-historian James Adair was perhaps the first to leave a written
record of Noodling, when, in 1775, he described "a surprising method
of fishing under the edges of rocks" among Southern Indians.
"They pull off their red breeches, or their long slip of Stroud cloth,
and wrapping it around their arm, so as to reach the lower part of the
palm of their right hand, they dive under the rock where the cat-fish
lie to shelter themselves from the scorching beams of the sun, and to
watch for prey: as soon as those fierce aquatic animals see that
tempting bait, they immediately seize it with the greatest violence,
in order to swallow it. Then is the time for the diver to improve the
favourable opportunity: he accordingly opens his hand, seizes the
voracious fish by his tender parts, hath a sharp struggle with it, and
at last brings it safe ashore.�
Janet Wilder
May 18, 2014, 2:20:31 PM5/18/14
to
On 5/18/2014 12:57 PM, Jerry Osage wrote:
> This is from 2002. <snipped>
Wonderful!
More, please.
--
Janet Wilder
Way-the-heck-south Texas
Spelling doesn't count. Cooking does.
---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.
http://www.avast.com
> This is from 2002. <snipped>
Wonderful!
More, please.
--
Janet Wilder
Way-the-heck-south Texas
Spelling doesn't count. Cooking does.
---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.
http://www.avast.com
Lone Haranguer
May 18, 2014, 8:33:34 PM5/18/14
to
>
I had never fished for catfish until spending time at Lake Corpus
Christi in the winter of '88-'89. I heard all the local lore
about how to fish for catfish but the more experience I gained
the more I found that the lore was worthless. Channel and
Flathead catfish may bite better at night but Blue cats will bite
well all day long. Also they are not limited to bottom feeding.
Most of those I caught were between 7 AM and Noon. Float fishing
was done in the middle of the afternoon. I had about 20 16 oz
bottles equipped with 12-18 inches of mono filament and a hook.
I'd find a shallow bay with a light breeze blowing and start
tossing bottles. Bait was strips of squid. You could fill a 5
gallon pail with Blue cats in an hour or two. The people I took
along on these jaunts said they had never had more fun fishing.
The custom of hanging cat fish to skin and "bleed out" was
another bit of lore that was a waste of time. I skinned and
filleted catfish the same way as I would a walleye or a bass. To
get the blood out I would put the fillets in a bowl and hose them
as they rolled over.
The most important thing to insure good flavor is to keep the
fish alive until cleaning time. I made a lot of converts among
the fisherman in our campground.
LZ
jerryosage
May 19, 2014, 12:53:33 AM5/19/14
to
On Sun, 18 May 2014 19:33:34 -0500, Lone Haranguer
<linu...@gmail.com> wrote:
>Channel and
>Flathead catfish may bite better at night but Blue cats will bite
>well all day long.
Fishing with trot lines and jug lines over the years I haven't seen
<linu...@gmail.com> wrote:
>Channel and
>Flathead catfish may bite better at night but Blue cats will bite
>well all day long.
much difference - well maybe flatheads.
One morning a few years ago we were catching Crappie at a depth of 6'
in 15' of water. All of a sudden the Crappie were gone and we caught
5 blue and 2 channels in about 20 minutes using the same bait -
minnows, and at the same depth.
Lone Haranguer
May 19, 2014, 7:44:38 AM5/19/14
to
25' down, suspended in 50 feet of water. Not aggressively
feeding but couldn't resist a delicacy like tiny fathead minnows.
I was a total amateur to catfish fishing but I had fished for
other species since I was 5. So I tried new methods until I had
success every day. Soon the neighbors called me "Mr. catch &
clean" because I had fish to clean every day. I had plenty of
campers that loved catfish but didn't fish.
Lz
jerryosage
May 19, 2014, 12:57:52 PM5/19/14
to
On Sun, 18 May 2014 13:20:31 -0500, Janet Wilder <not...@notreal.com>
wrote:
>On 5/18/2014 12:57 PM, Jerry Osage wrote:
>> This is from 2002. <snipped>
>
>Wonderful!
>
>
>More, please.
I can do that. It will be a few days.
I'm just starting to build a new house for my adopted grand daughter
(there is blood kin and then there is Spirit kin) and I'm acting as
the General Contractor. Even here in Oklahoma getting started is a
hectic time. And we are just getting started.
We had been looking at houses to buy. Places in her price range were
crap and/or overpriced. Usually both. She saw a couple she liked - I
saw a lot of problems - my job, that was why I was tagging along.
Long story short. "Tell me what your Dream Home be?" She was
surprisingly conservative. That is one of the things that I like
about her - she is level headed and has realistic expectations.
"OK, let's build it, I have the perfect lots, we'll put two together
for a big yard." Construction should start within a month.
Jerry O.
wrote:
>On 5/18/2014 12:57 PM, Jerry Osage wrote:
>> This is from 2002. <snipped>
>
>Wonderful!
>
>
>More, please.
I'm just starting to build a new house for my adopted grand daughter
(there is blood kin and then there is Spirit kin) and I'm acting as
the General Contractor. Even here in Oklahoma getting started is a
hectic time. And we are just getting started.
We had been looking at houses to buy. Places in her price range were
crap and/or overpriced. Usually both. She saw a couple she liked - I
saw a lot of problems - my job, that was why I was tagging along.
Long story short. "Tell me what your Dream Home be?" She was
surprisingly conservative. That is one of the things that I like
about her - she is level headed and has realistic expectations.
"OK, let's build it, I have the perfect lots, we'll put two together
for a big yard." Construction should start within a month.
Jerry O.
Janet Wilder
May 19, 2014, 1:10:41 PM5/19/14
to
MaxD
May 19, 2014, 1:49:01 PM5/19/14
to
mrs.bu...@gmail.com
Jan 21, 2015, 2:24:55 PM1/21/15
to
We just bought a house out there in Butcher Pen (Bee) and the story you have shared brightened my mood. Ive heard horror stories (as a child) of how awful that place was and that no one should go out there at night alone, especially girls. But now that Im 32 and married with a son, those stories dont seem to bother me so much now. We have officially moved into our home out there in the sticks and couldnt be more content. We have met the neighbors, all whom are as friendly as all get out. Everyone out there watches each others place, lets you know if your water is leakin, or if a strange vehicle has turned around in your driveway. We love being 5 mins away from a fishin hole. The looks of the resort is long past beautiful, it sits for the most part lifeless, deserted and sometimes trashed. This will be our first summer at the new house and we can not wait to do some of that "night fishin"
Thank you for sharing your story! Its nice to know the background, history, of a place where you plan on raising a family! The travels on the road to our place isnt much on looks but once you get there, you would see why we love it!
Thank you for sharing your story! Its nice to know the background, history, of a place where you plan on raising a family! The travels on the road to our place isnt much on looks but once you get there, you would see why we love it!
j.ca...@gmail.com
Dec 9, 2018, 2:40:48 PM12/9/18
to
Your detailed story is nice but to set the record straight for anyone who goes here looking for decaying houses and hidden picket fences... dont. Most of those houses are still occupied, most of the residents are armed to the brim, and the town is infested with drugs beyond belief. It's not a cute little abandoned place you wanna go wandering around to site see.
Jerry Osage
Dec 9, 2018, 4:38:24 PM12/9/18
to
On Sun, 9 Dec 2018 11:40:47 -0800 (PST), j.ca...@gmail.com wrote:
>Your detailed story is nice but to set the record straight for anyone who goes here looking for decaying houses and hidden picket fences... dont. Most of those houses are still occupied, most of the residents are armed to the brim, and the town is infested with drugs beyond belief. It's not a cute little abandoned place you wanna go wandering around to site see.
>
I don't believe I said that the town of Bee would be a sight-seeing
>Your detailed story is nice but to set the record straight for anyone who goes here looking for decaying houses and hidden picket fences... dont. Most of those houses are still occupied, most of the residents are armed to the brim, and the town is infested with drugs beyond belief. It's not a cute little abandoned place you wanna go wandering around to site see.
>
destination - we were passing through. What I said, back in May of 2014,
was:
"Bee is almost a ghost town now; its heyday is long past. There is
still a shadow of a town there, and a few people still live (exist?)
there. However, there are many empty, decrepit houses in various
stages of decay. They are slowly collapsing into a sea of waist high
weeds and grass growing in what were at one time probably well kept
yards. The remains of a few picket fences were visible in the weeds.
As we drove through the remains Mahoney said, "Bee is not a good name,
this place should be called "Copperhead Haven"."
Jerry O.
Jerry Osage
Dec 9, 2018, 4:50:22 PM12/9/18
to
>Your detailed story is nice but to set the record straight for anyone who goes here looking for decaying houses and hidden picket fences... dont. Most of those houses are still occupied, most of the residents are armed to the brim, and the town is infested with drugs beyond belief. It's not a cute little abandoned place you wanna go wandering around to site see.
>
Thanks, and an update is welcome. That was written in 2002 and posted in
>
2014.
--
Jerry O.
0 new messages