Posted by Tinker's Guide Service (66.220.128.66) on February 21, 2003 at 14:08:56:
Lake Texoma Winter Fishing Report
Thursday, February 20, 2003
Water pool level: 614.22, normal annual pool level is 617 feet.
Water temperature: 46 degrees. Water clarity: clear.
Generating from 6:00 to 8:00 AM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Today was partly cloudy with a light north wind, low 44 degrees, and high 49 degrees. February precipitation has been 1.14 inches. The extended forecast is for cold mornings with afternoon temperatures rising to the lower 50s and occasional rain.
Jug line fishing the river channels with cut shad or prepared bait is producing catches of 15 to 60 pound blue cats. Rod and reel fishing from the bank near Rock Creek (Red River) is also producing some large stringers of blue and channel cats. This is also an ideal spot to jug line. Several reports of good catches have been reported just outside of Catfish Bay on the Washita arm of the lake. Using your sonar, locate large schools of shad near the river channel in 35 to 45 feet of water. Anchor your boat as close to the channel ledge as possible. The catfish are coming up on the ledge to feed on the schools of shad. Danny King’s Punch Bait is working very well in this situation.
Black bass fishing continues to be good and getting better with limits over 19 pounds being reported. Shad colored Fat Free Fry’s are working well. Any shad colored crankbait seems to be catching bass along rocky banks, mouths of coves and in marinas. When the shallow water begins to warm the cold blooded bass will run in and out of the shallows. Making a long cast will be the key to fishing the bass when they are running into the sunshine. Check out your boat and fishing gear and get on the water. Spring is almost here and bass fishing should only get better.
A great way to land a big striper is fishing live shad 30 feet deep in 35 to 50 feet of water. Stripers are feeding on the upper ends of the lake where the rivers come into the lake. Our stripers are already forming roe and milt, staging for an early spawn in the mouths of the Red and Washita rivers .Sassy shad are working well west of the islands east to TI Point. This is a good time of the year to start your fishing trip around 10:00 a.m. or later.
Christine Flores from Mesquite, Texas won the free fishing trip plus lodging for two at the Mesquite Sports Show. She and the family came to Lake Texoma to fish February 10, 2003. They left the dock around 10:00 am. The best action started in the afternoon when a 19.1 pound striper was landed by Christine. They ended the day bringing 17 silversides to the cleaning table, except for the big’un, which will go on the wall. Guide Roger Hill had the couple drift fishing live shad in the area west of the Willis Bridge.
The Brent Mills party from Fritch Texas landed 32 stripers to 10 lbs. 11 oz. on Wednesday, February 19, 2003. They were drift fishing live shad with guide Roger Hill.
Report submitted by: Tinker’s Striper Guide Service, http://www.tinker.net
To see pictures go to: http://tinker.net/fishpics03/fishpics01.html