Wondering what people's limits would be with a boat like mine? It's a 17ft modified V bass tracker we with a 40hp Mercury 2-stroke. Heading down to Texoma the end of April. I am used to fishing the small local lakes 40-300 acres. Not sure what it would be like out on BIG water in a 20mph wind?

I would not suggest taking on big water in 20+ on Texoma in that boat. It can be done but it would be an absolute beating. In a big south you can fish the state park end of the lake and never see a white cap. High port is another good option in a big south wind, great fishing right there in the marina and in close proximity. In a big north you can go launch in Soldier creek and have enough to fish for days without ever having to cross big water as well. The ramps in platter are also a good option for wind blowing either direction, plenty to fish in and around that area too. Long story short, in big winds just trailer instead of crossing the big water sections of the lake.

Thanks! Staying in a cabin at Cedar Mills. I will research out the different ramps based off of windows direction. I will really keep an eye on the weather leading up to the trip and hopefully know where to launch ahead of time. Hopefully the weather will be good and I can just cruise wherever in the boat

You better be real careful even in a cove a big yacht can come by and kick up a huge wake that will swamp you. Even when the big lake is calm the big boats can make huge wakes. I was fishing with my sea eagle foldcat on the point just outside of caney creek when a big yacht came out of that cove. It kicked some some huge wakes that would have totally swamped my tracker 175. Lucky for me my little toy boat just rode right over them. When I saw the huge wakes, I thought I was going swimming for sure. Be careful, the big boats are not watching out for you and the jet fleas will buzz you as well.

This is what I was fishing in


Texoma is the most fun lake to fish in TX in my opinion.

20 mph wind is not much fun on any lake but if it's a south wind you can find a lot of fishable water on Texoma out of the wind. Unless I am in a tournament I won't get on the lake in a 20+ mph north wind especially east of the islands. It's no fun in a big boat much less a smaller one. May - September it's less about wind and more about boat traffic and rollers coming off yachts or ignorant wake board boats.

Big water and 20 MPH wind is combination I avoid with a 21" bassboat.

Stay in that arm of the lake , Fish back south in those coves on the west side , they get a lot of wind break

Couple of good catfish restaurant up there , Catfish Platter across Willis Bridge and BG's in Kingston , BG's is a all u can it place . These places only open Thurs. , Friday And Saturday , open at 4

No. There is no scenario I would get out anywhere on texoma other than maybe in the marina in that craft in 20mph winds. That’s 22’ + fiberglass center console territory, and even then you better be a good boat driver. Rough water and aluminum boats don’t mix well. And in late April the wind is more than likely going to be blowing 15-20.

When I first moved to Texas my boat was similar to yours. A Tracker TV17 with a 50hp. Johnson. I never took it to Texoma, but I used to go to Ray Roberts a lot. One day I was fishing way in the back of Wolf Creek. When it was time to go I did notice the tops of the trees swaying. By the time I got to Wolf Island, I knew I had made a mistake not leaving sooner. The winds on the open lake were 25-35 miles hour from the south (which is really bad on Roberts). Waves were three to four feet and I had to go all the way down lake to Isle Du Bois State Park on the south side of the lake.

Obviously, I made it back, but it was a very slow and wet trip. Shortly after that I bought a BassCat Pantera II (19 foot boat with a 200 Merc. on it. I had a similar incident with the BassCat on Sam Rayburn several years later. Took several waves over the bow. Bilge working the whole way in. Sold that boat and got my first 20+ foot, wider BassCat Cougar. If it is too rough for that boat I'm staying on shore.

Where are you coming from? Kansas?

Sawyer, Ks. It's in South central ks

Had a lot of luck at Texoma with a firetiger crankbait

When I see posts concerning wind or weather, I always try and imagine what my father and his buddies did when a 17' boat was a monster big bass rig. I am 58 now and when I was a kid, a 55hp was a big motor. No GPS when foggy or raining etc. I know they didn't run big water in bad weather or stayed close to shore but that was a different type of fishing.

Not being critical but that generation was tough. He is gone now. He passed in 1999.

If you ever have the time, go back and watch the old Bassmaster classics on Youtube. I think the first one was on Lake Mead and they had stick stear boats.

I had a 20' center console that I had taken offshore multiple times. Only once on Texoma in April and a true northern front came in with 15-20 sustained and 25 gusts. It was all fine and good going with the wind or against the wind, but once I had to round the point to get to the marina, all heck broke loose. Even with self bailing and a pump, we still had ankle deep water in the boat.

Just keep an eye on the forecast, be prepared and always know what your escape plan is. Be sure your kill switch is attached to you PFD.

Thanks guys. Hopefully the wind cooperates. If I end up somewhere I that I can't get back in to my original launch spot. I am thinking I could either just beach boat and have wife come pick us up or hopefully I can get to another ramp and have her bring the trailer to it.