January striper fishing out on big Lake Texoma is right where it should be...big fish on structure & big schools in the creeks and river channels. This is the month where they can move up in creeks and rivers. It is also the time the can pile up in deep water sometimes so thick it looks fake on the Humminbird. In all my time on the water year after year one thing that is for sure...the fish do what they want when they want! Things do tend to repeat but not on any kind of predictable schedule. Mid month will be my 26th anniversary and I still remember being really nervous about taking the charter and what my dad “bill” said to go do...go throw sassy shad and yellow roadrunners up by slick em. Well off we went and...we caught!!! It wasn’t a big numbers day but it was large fish up to 14 pounds with a pretty hefty average. Great first guide trip!
A question I get asked often is when is the best possible time to go and catch fish...whenever you possibly can! Okay Most the time in the cold months I prefer to start fishing around nine or ten in the morning so we fish in the warmest part of the day. Even better if you can hit some majors and minors in the solunar table. The solunar table can be proved wrong especially in the warmer months due to metabolism but in the colder winter months I pay a lot more attention to it. Good idea to be fishing during the major if you have one that day but a minor can also be very productive.
Big schools of striped bass have moved north and west in the lake doing their pre-spawn staging cycle but are still spread out in many areas. ANY spots on the lake can be holding some fish. Still large flocks of seagulls to help locate fish as well and we all hope for warmer weather so they might hang around longer. The amount of bait in the big lake is ridiculous and has the stripers super fat and healthy.
In January I prefer finding big fish on underwater structures such as rock piles,ditches,points,small flats and stump patches using super flukes,sassy shad and bucktail’s. Rarely will I use a slab spoon this time of year. I use a lot of 1/2 ounce jig head weights in colder months. It allows you to move the bait “present” a whole lot slower as everything drastically slows down when the water dips down this cold like 50 degrees and on down. I’m always instructing “coaching” my clients to “fish” that lure. One example is when fishing stump patches and rock piles reel over the structure not thru it or...snagged!! There are times when a long slow steady crawling retrieve will out catch other techniques but More often than not it starts stops twitches cadences can really trigger vicious bites!
Lots of fish being caught in the Deepwater dead sticking and live bait fishing as well for Those anglers out there who prefer that style of vertical fishing.
The mud and debris in the creeks and rivers has pushed some of the fish out into the open water this week.I have been fishing open deep water and every day they seem to be in a different place.Give us a call 903-786-4477 or visit us at www.striperexpress.com if you are interested in a charter

Solid post and solid fish. Good job.

Stellar , fat healthy side liners .

Nice report there

Excellent post. Thanks for the information.

Awesome report and nice fish!

Thx!! Was somewhat slower yesterday but good today...won’t be any fishing tomorrow

Great report Chris and big healthy fish too👍

Great post and good fishing chris!

Thx! Couple of slow days last weekend but Sunday improved and Monday was even better. Hope all the rain didn’t hurt the bite. Headed out 10:30 Going to be cold but hopefully a good day

Looking good!!! Be seeing you Saturday 😃

Good report Chris. thank you.