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Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? #12105344 02/21/17 09:23 PM
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metalruch1 Offline OP
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I have been fishing the North Texas area off and on for over 20 years... I have never caught a Smallmouth... I would love to mark that off my fishing bucket list...

Any pointers from you guys on tactics and or locations to try out?

I don't want your spots, but rather what to look for and target...And what types of lures or plastics and techniques to use...


Thanks in advance for the replies!

Last edited by metalruch1; 02/21/17 09:23 PM.

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Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: metalruch1] #12105360 02/21/17 09:31 PM
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Really only have about 4 choices on lakes where you may be able to target them

Wheeler Branch
Grapevine
Texoma
Bridgeport


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Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: metalruch1] #12105367 02/21/17 09:38 PM
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metalruch1 Offline OP
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Grapevine surprises me...Thanks Fish Killer...Any tactics that you would recommend?


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Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: metalruch1] #12105374 02/21/17 09:43 PM
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Nathan_Flovin Offline
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Texoma is your best bet

Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: metalruch1] #12105382 02/21/17 09:48 PM
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HDVS Offline
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Texoma for sure. Fish the rocks and points around Eisenhower with a crankbait or drag a green pumpkin tube on a jig head around and u should find one pretty quick right now.

Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: metalruch1] #12105387 02/21/17 09:49 PM
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The term "targeting" smallmouths to me is a tough one for Texas. Lots of lakes with a large enough population to "catch some" but in my opinion Texoma is the only lake in Texas(barely) to go and specifically target them...with expectations of catching a bunch. Next closest "target" lake to me in Texas is Belton. I have lucked into a few through the years at Wheeler Branch, Ray-Bob, Grapevine, Stillhouse... Does it need to be a genuine Texas Smally? If not drive a few miles over the border to Lake Murray and easily catch more SMB than LMB. Speaking of "borders" the biggest concentration and size I have ever seen and fished was the Devils River which is a tributary of the Rio Grande on the Mexico border. Honestly, past these couple choices in Texas I find SMB fishing in Texas just a "[censored] shoot" .

Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: Nathan_Flovin] #12105388 02/21/17 09:49 PM
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Originally Posted By: Nathan_Flovin
Texoma is your best bet


For me, Wheeler Branch would probably be your best bet, but now that they don't allow bass boats (only yaks/canoes)

Everytime I have been down there I would catch 2-3 bass fishing. Great top water bite out by the rock pile



Last edited by Fish Killer; 02/21/17 09:53 PM.

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Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: Nathan_Flovin] #12105393 02/21/17 09:53 PM
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I caught this guy on Ray Roberts this weekend. I should've had my scale with me.....lol It was a toad. However, this was my first smallmouth on ray roberts.

Last edited by davetexas22; 02/21/17 10:06 PM.
Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: davetexas22] #12105422 02/21/17 10:07 PM
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davetexas22 Offline
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Finally got the picture added. Yeah, would probably have a better chance on Lake Murray in Oklahoma or Texoma than Ray Roberts for darn sure.

Last edited by davetexas22; 02/21/17 10:14 PM.
Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: metalruch1] #12105444 02/21/17 10:22 PM
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TyBU Offline
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That looks like a spotted bass in that photo. Heck of a fish though.

Last edited by TyBU; 02/21/17 10:23 PM.
Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: TyBU] #12105454 02/21/17 10:27 PM
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Yeah, I actually have a better picture of it on my other phone that shows the bronze.

Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: metalruch1] #12105486 02/21/17 10:46 PM
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Go to Texoma and fish the bluff walls with jerk baits and crank baits in shad patterns, you will catch plenty.


See you on the lake and have a great day!
Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: Bass Buster1] #12105502 02/21/17 10:55 PM
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beeflover Offline
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watch some of seth fiedlers/josh douglas webinars on you tube some very good stuff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt0VKcDgENQ

Last edited by beeflover; 02/21/17 10:59 PM.
Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: metalruch1] #12105569 02/21/17 11:57 PM
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topconmm Offline
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Take the drive up here to Murray and you will find them on any point.

Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: metalruch1] #12106411 02/22/17 02:16 PM
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metalruch1 Offline OP
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Davetexas22...That's a chunk! Thanks guys for the info. I do need to go up to Murray...I love that lake...I just never think about going up there...


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Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: metalruch1] #12106465 02/22/17 02:52 PM
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Belton has a great population of smallmouth. It and the Devils river are home to probably the best smallie populations in Texas - just not exactly north Texas.


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Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: metalruch1] #12106476 02/22/17 02:58 PM
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Lake Murray is not a bad drive from DFW area and they are plentiful in that lake.

Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: metalruch1] #12106759 02/22/17 05:20 PM
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AdvTX Offline
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I really want to catch some Texoma smallies the only place I've ever caught them is at the Devil's river. Would the cold front this weekend shut them down? Would anyone shoot me a PM with any helpful info I would greatly appreciate it.

Last edited by AdvTX; 02/22/17 05:20 PM.

The day after catching a lot of fish is still a good day.



Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: AdvTX] #12106950 02/22/17 06:50 PM
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Originally Posted By: AdvTX
I really want to catch some Texoma smallies the only place I've ever caught them is at the Devil's river. Would the cold front this weekend shut them down? Would anyone shoot me a PM with any helpful info I would greatly appreciate it.


I'm headed over there tomorrow to try and beat the front. I was planning a trip this weekend but after seeing the weather coming in, I think I will try it tomorrow.

Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: topconmm] #12106958 02/22/17 06:55 PM
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Originally Posted By: topconmm
Originally Posted By: AdvTX
I really want to catch some Texoma smallies the only place I've ever caught them is at the Devil's river. Would the cold front this weekend shut them down? Would anyone shoot me a PM with any helpful info I would greatly appreciate it.


I'm headed over there tomorrow to try and beat the front. I was planning a trip this weekend but after seeing the weather coming in, I think I will try it tomorrow.


Smallies for me usually come the first hour of light early in the morning

Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: metalruch1] #12107262 02/22/17 09:45 PM
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Trickster Offline
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I have had decent luck on Texoma using following. Catch one nearly every trip. Once the sun gets up it gets a little tougher for me.
Bandit 200 crankbaits in a craw pattern and Strike King perfect plastic caffeine shad in Smokey shad. Drag and pop the caffeine shad around the rocks.
http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_Ki...page-SKPCS.html

Last edited by Trickster; 02/22/17 09:46 PM.
Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: metalruch1] #12107416 02/22/17 11:18 PM
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metalruch1 Offline OP
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Trickster...Thanks for the detailed info. Seems like the consensus is Texoma in N Texas and Murray in Oklahoma... So I need to hit up both soon. Thanks Fellas!


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Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: metalruch1] #12107535 02/23/17 12:49 AM
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If you come to Murray, let me know and I'll help you out. I live a few minutes from the ramp


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Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: metalruch1] #12107576 02/23/17 01:10 AM
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metalruch1 Offline OP
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Mike...I will take you up on that. Thanks brother! When is the best time to get up there? Now, or in a month or so when it gets a little warmer?

Last edited by metalruch1; 02/23/17 01:11 AM.

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Re: Targeting Smallies here in North Texas....Help? [Re: metalruch1] #12107713 02/23/17 02:15 AM
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Thad Rains Offline
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There used to be some in Lake Whitney, but it had a fish kill and do not know what happened to them then. Look at the Texas records and you will see that Ron Gardner has most of the bigger smallies caught in Texas. Hope this helps. OH, I would go to Texoma and fish the rock bluffs, or the dam. Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains


Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains
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