Thanks! Was hoping for more but fished yesterday and only caught gar.

Denison Dam Fishing for Gar... by Chance Anyone?

Fished Denison Dam Saturday morning. Initially, planned to bring a Switch Rod to fish Clousers in the runs, pockets, and pools before they started generating power.

Quick check of the real-time hydroelectric data and the planned schedule showed two generators online for 24 hours Friday and into Saturday, and possibly Sunday.

Adjusted to surf casting gear and fished Shad and Chicken Livers... no strikes when fishing a bottom rig. Action was all with Shad fished 2' to 4' from a float.

Fished from sunrise to 2PM in the afternoon... No Striped Bass. It was all Gar that were biting this round!all fish caught and release were Gar. Looked like the Striped Bass were not wanting to bite this round.

Do check back will add details on the float rig we used in the video. Float used was the... Launcher Float size 5", 1-3/4OZ

Fun times!

very nice sir

Enjoyed the video.
Looks like you had some fun with those gar.
Wish you could have got one of the larger ones in.
Did you get the shad with your cast net there or bring them from somewhere else?
Stay Safe.

They were definitely biting for us on the Texas side wall. Key to success was getting distance into the flat water and work it in with some action.

Thanks Ocelot... big ones did pull hard while they were on the line. Cast net there for live bait, else purchased frozen.

Good to know... brought jig and fluke rigs but stuck with bait this round.

FYI... follow up video on the fishing rig we used. May be of interest to some.

Good to know....
TPWD answers our question about Shad! Can I catch shad with a cast net from one lake, freeze them for later use at another lake?

We like using Shad for bait but at times cannot purchase them because the local bait store is out of stock. This is why we like to catch our own plus it saves us money – cost of the cast net and time and effort to catch them, etc…

However, due to restrictions related to aquatic invasive species and the transfer from one body of water to another, we have followed Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) regulations that limit using Shad for bait to the same body of water where they were caught.

Our understanding was the same body of water limitation was for live, fresh, and frozen shad. For clarification, we contacted Texas Parks and Wildlife Department via their online “Submit a Question” form.

Looks like we can catch Shad from one lake, remove any of the water with the fish, using a net to move the fish from one container to another so no water is transferred from lake to lake!

The easy fishing season on Oklahoma side is here. You will need 3-7” shads or sunfish frozen or live (live always a plus) 30lb line to pull fishes up the wall ( may need net for bigger fishes). # 2-5 hook. No weight or float needed. People hit limit in 1-2hrs last couple days . Make sure you come one hour earlier than generator schedule to hit the fast bites . Bring 3-7” shads , #2-5 hooks, rod with 30lbs line Stand closest to the dam on OK side. make sure call or check online for generators open time to make your trips worth. Not sure if i can add link for schedule here but you can google it. They will bite 24/7 when the water smell bad.

How about Texas?

TX good for first 1.5hour with 5-6” pencils(top water) while they’re on their way coming up then supper slow. Meaning if the schedule open at 1pm you hve to be there at 12:15 .

I tried this morning and hooked several gar that got my blood pumping. Couldn't land any and by the time I hooked into a striper it broke off probably from the Gar chewing on my braid. Only landed a Drum but no one else there was catching anything. Granted they weren't generating at the time so that was probably why.

How do I read on the schedule when they are going to release water? I just see current condition?

Not sure if i can post address here. Go there and click on dates , next day schedule will post after 4pm . The phone # in the site too. https://www.swpa.gov/generationschedules.aspx Make sure you there 1 hr earlier than schedule to hit the hottest time. On my way home with the limit . I use 30lbs braid and have to have mono leader.

Thanks!

Also after I stopped getting bites I hiked around the low water to find a weighted float if I could and found a couple top water lures that had been modified by drilling holes and putting in weights/rattles. Does everyone do that?