FISHING TEXOMA

STRIPED BASS

When you hear the label, "STRIPER CAPITOL OF THE WORLD",
you know what rules in Texoma. Since introduced in 1969, the
striped bass has put Texoma on the map. Due to natural
reproduction, abundance of food and an environment conducive to
saltwater gamefish, stripers flourish. Texoma has the right
structure to give these migrating warriors plenty of room to
roam, so pinpointing a favorite spot is next to impossible.

Most guides keep a keen eye on electronic graphs to locate
schools and anchor on top of the school. Live bait is usually
dropped down and the action is usually hot and heavy. Shad, both
Gizzard and Threadfin are abundant, but a cast net and a bait
tank are essential. Shad can be finicky and a round tank works
best. Boat livewells with corner tend to promote crowding and do
not work well. Anti-foamer and bait saver will also extend shad
life.

Lures are effective and anyone can throw one. Cast nets are
only effective if you have obtained the skill to throw one.
Lures commonly used on Texoma are: a 2 ounce slab chartreuse and
white is a proven producer, the Prune Picker slab made by Ron
Ludwig is the most popular & available at Willowville Store.

For trolling use Red and Gold Devil Horse, Storm Thunder
Sticks in deep divers and bombers work well. Down Riggers are
used by many fishing for stripers and prove deadly when run
through suspended fish. Jig tied inline succession is a good
choice for downrigging.

Sea gulls migrate to Texoma in Mid-September by the
thousands. This is an event cherished by local fishermen. A
good day fishing has been attributed to a flock of diving gulls
on many occasions. The gulls swarm over areas where stripers
are feeding to pick up the wounded shad coming to the surface.
When the "birds are workin'" you know the stripers are close by.

In summer when the water warms up and fish are moving
fast...top water time is here! Early morning and late afternoon
feeding frenzies can erupt anytime or anywhere. Some of the best
places to find top water action are Platter Flats area, the
Islands, Soldier Creek, and Preston Point. You can be assured
there will be plenty of action, so if you like to fly fish,
opportunity knocks!

SMALLMOUTH BASS

Texoma boasts the state record smallmouth. A local
fisherman who held the previous record caught a 7 pound 8 ounce
trophy. Smallmouth have done well since a stocking program was
established in the early eighties. Early spring is the best time
to catch a trophy. Rattle traps thrown around rock points and
ledges are effective ways to catch smallies.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Due to the lack of visible cover, Texoma can be a hard
lake to read. There is little standing cover and no downed
logjams or flooded timber to relate to. Bass relate to cover and
at a glance Texoma is void. The art of reading your fishfinder
is a vital key to catching bass here. The bottom structure holds
the secret to catching bass here. In winter when water cools
your best action will come on steep ledges working Pigs and Jigs,
worms rigged Texas style or spoons vertically jigged are
effective ways to catch fish. All marinas have deep water
structure so concentrating on them will also pay off.

CATFISH

Catfish come in large sizes on Texoma, with the largest
being the Blue Cat. These monster fish are hunted with every
technique known to man. Practices range from "noodling"- poking
your arm in a hole thought to contain a catfish and hoping you
can agitate it enough to latch on- to spear fishing. Both are
legal methods in Oklahoma not in Texas. A good many catfish are
taken in more conventional methods. Big cats are more active
when the water temperature reaches 53 degrees or warmer. At this
time bank fishing at night with a surf rod and cut bait is a
favorite of locals. Flats adjacent to steep drops are key target
areas for big blues. Flatheads are more susceptible to live bait
around rock ledges and structure. Creeks are key areas for
channel cats with stink bait and nightcrawlers.