I am wanting to try Texoma over the next few months for the first time. I live in Midlothian( south of Dallas). Looking for suggestions on where would be a good place to launch near a good place to try to start learning the lake for the first time. I have fished Richland Chambers, Whitney, and Cedar Creek extensively for many years. I have a 20 Nauticstar CC. Also, wondering what bait you would suggest trying to start in this area. Thank you in advance for any info.

I'm in the same position . We want to go fish Texoma for the first time this weekend and we are trying to figure out where to launch and buy bait . This Covid-19 stuff makes it hard to tell which launches are effected .

Catfish Bay, and Briar Creek both offer good spots very close to the ramp, as does Eisenhower. Catfish Bay Marina has bait, and there are tons of bait stores on the roads into Texoma. I'm sure there are other ramps, and Marinas that also have what you're looking for, just know those three for a fact. Was there Friday and had a blast, caught three over 8 lbs, some nice box Sandies, and some dinks too. For what it's worth, you can't even tell anything is affected by Covid on the Oklahoma side.

I suggest you hire a guide for your first trip to Texoma. There are many great guides on the lake that will share their years of experience with you. Stripper express who features weekly fishing reports on this site will teach you how to catch with lures. Look back at his weekly reports at the info he shares with everyone . John Blassingame is also a great lure guide. There are many guides that use live bait if that is what you prefer. The point is Texoma is a very big lake and a lot to learn. You may drive here for the first time and luck into some fish or go home skunked . Hiring a guide will save you a lot of time on your next trip, it will give you confidence, and keep you from damaging your boat in the hazard areas.
I also suggest you go months back in this web site and read all the great posts and videos. Their are many great contributors on this site who spend hours sharing their experience.
Ok if this doesn’t work for you just put in at Lowe’s Highport after you buy some bait at one of the bait and tackle shops on the way. Come out of the marina look for birds or other boats and follow them. Only use your trolling motor when approaching other boats that are on a school of fish.

Lots of good places to launch on Texoma. Lakeside is one that I use if I'm fishing mid lake, Isenhower if I'm on the south end, and catfish bay or willow springs on the north. If you want to use bait I suggest you catch shad instead of buying bait. You will have better success on the natural forage. If you want use lures, the top water bite is on about whatever kind of poper, walking, or prop bait you want to throw. Just look for the splashes its kinda hit and miss and you have to be in the right place at the right time to find them on top. The easiest way to catch them and learn the lake is to troll with A-rigs or umbrella rigs. Look for the creek and river chanel ledges around the 25 to 30 foot mark.

I focus on smallies there, but often divert to the linesiders for a change of pace.

The best ramp is the one that ain't getting hammered by the wind, but for the most part I use the ramps at the southeast corner, with the one by the dam preferred.

My preferred baits are soft plastic jerkbaits on jigheads, Fin-S-Shad for a smaller profile and the largest Zoom Flukes for larger. They can be fished from the bottom to the top. A walk the dog retrieve on top works exceptionally well when appropriate.

I favor single hook baits. Having pulled too many treble hooks from people, hats, clothes, dogs (no cats yet, I'm glad to say), and whatnot, I shifted more to jigheads, weightless, and TX rig soft plastics. Often, while others are wrestling with getting treble hooks out of a fish, I've already thrown again and caught another one.

Jimmy Houston's great Caught Me.... book tuned me into the concept of having a bait in the waiter and in the strike zone the highest percentage of the time possible in this numbers game we call life.

Until winter pattern sets in i launch in Little Mineral normally Light House. Drawback to Light House is limited parking. Grandpappy is another ramp in Little Mineral. Loes has a nice ramp but too far from where I get bait this time of year. Although there is normally bait around the slips. I might go Thursday depending on wind. With lake down 3.5' I might have to change my normal bait catching strategy.

What area of the lake did you fish? What was you bait of choice? Water depth? It looks like Catfish Bay is south of the Hwy. 70 bridge. Where were you from the Hwy 70 bridge?

for first timers, I would say ALWAYS look at the weather/Wind for the coming days... Texoma is a huge lake and can get some Huge waves.. Safety first, as well, the lake is down a good bit, so watch out for Shallow water around the Islands, etc. have fun, but be safe...

1. I recommend getting a guide, John Blasingame or Striper Express if you want to go artificials, Josh (southern wind), if you want to use bait.
2. Catch bait don’t buy it at lakeside, and in the backs of the coves, fish 3-4” have worked best for me. Make sure you keep your bait alive.
3. I recommend a thumper and a splasher.
4. I have a you tube channel mostly dedicated to catching Striper on Texoma which shows some of the techniques.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi602ZTsxnkaVwT0wq3OgCA
5. Pm or text me 972 689-4245, will probably be on the lake most weekends and have a few friends out as well. We try to help each other catch fish!

Tomorrow was a toss up between Texoma or Fork with the wind forecast. I think the morning will be ok so Texoma wins. I have not been on the lake in a while but it sounds like north side is producing. Plan is to get some bait and head to the OK side west of Washita point.

That will be a good option. Slow drift across the point and on the ledges should produce!

May need to get the drift socks out. Will probably start around Mac creek.

Fair warning, the North end had quite the boat show going on last Friday. Tons of boats out there fishing.

They were there today along with the dinks. When the gulls went to work in Mac creek you could almost walk across the boats.