I know you all probably can't offer specific help, but I'm wondering if there are any general improvement guidelines or thoughts you might share about fishing on Choke.

I live in SA and fish Choke, Amistad, and Falcon. I fish Choke most often. However, even though I fish Choke most often, I usually have a much tougher time at Choke catching either numbers or size...and I can't figure out why.

For most people, I know it's been tough lately, and it seems it's been a little tougher over the past year or so, and I also know there are some big fish being caught as of the last year or so...many SALs have been donated. But, with all that said, I find Choke a tough lake to fish.

Is it just the others are "easier" some how? Is there a general approach to fishing Choke that is different than other South Texas lakes? Anyway, just looking for ideas.

Thanks,
Perry

I hope you get good response to this question, because I have wondered the same thing many times.

I think Choke is tougher to fish now. It has been really tough for the last couple of years. There have been some really big fish caught from Choke but it comes down to a few people have had some good fish. Most days there are not very many people that are having a good day on the lake. When a big fish or two at any lake is publicized, a lot of folks tend to think that the fish are just biting everywhere. Thats just not the case most of the time.

There are a lot of fish being caught at Falcon now. I was down there last week and talked to several people that had only caught a few fish.

I personally think Choke was fishing better when the water level was closer to normal level. The lower it gets, the tougher the fishing gets to me.

I moved to San Antonio in 2006. When Choke was low in 2006-2007 I absolutely killed them there. I would catch 30-45 fish each trip in the spring and 20-30 each trip in the fall. In 2007 they were pulling some share lunkers out of it on a regular basis and some one caught a 45lb stringer in a tournament there (basschamps I think). Next thing you know there are almost twice as many boats fishing Choke as the previous years. I think the extra pressure on the lake has brought the numbers down. Unlike some of the premier bass lakes in this state, only about 33% of the shoreline out there, mostly on the north side produces quality fish in numbers and size. I just dont think it can handle the pressure on it that Falcon or Amistad can. I've never fished Lake Fork, but I've heard a lot of similar comments about the increased pressure on Fork having a massive effect there as well. I know in talking to some of the old timers in LaGrange that this happened to Fayette County. I can still catch fish at Choke Canyon, but nothing like the first 1.5 years I was here. The lake being low may have an effect this year, but based on my experience in 06-07 I think it has more to do with the increased pressure. Choke is less than half the size of Amistad and less than 1/3 the size of Falcon so the pressure on those lakes is less noticeable. I think the key for out there now is to try something that most folks aren't...ie...different color or retrieve method. Everyone throws Watermelon red...if your not catching on watermelon red within 30 min to 1 hour go to something different. I Agree though, the bite at Choke has gotten harder to find.

It happened to Alan Henry two years ago, and watch what happens to O.H. Ivie over the next couple years.

I agree with Hoosier Daddy. Choke Canyon is a great lake but has changed over the past few years. I lived in Austin and San Antonio from 2005-09 and fished Choke alot. When we first started going, it was amazing. You could catch tons of fish and many were large. We were new to the lake and still did good, almost too good. My cousin caught one over ten and two days later we went back an caught 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 pounders off the same spot. Another guy we knew and fished with caught one of the Choke sharelunkers. But as time went by, it seemed to get tougher even though we were getting better.

But, I think the pressure and the changing water levels have taken a toll. I actually think the low water levels back in 05 and 06 made it easier because it reveals a lot of the structure and concentrates the fish. Also the shallow water exposed the grass sooner. We when first start going in 05 there didn't seem like as many trucks in the parking lot. Now, everyone knows how good it is. But, like Hoosier said only parts of the lake are really good for fishing. It reduces the overall fishable size of the lake especially as the fish move and the temperature changes.

Overall, the good fish are still there and there are still good days but you just can't do it as easy as before. Look over on the reports board and see how good the guy and his two boys did.

Funny you guys say the dropping water levels are the problem, the best years I had there are when the water level was 12 feet low. The Possum was a true creek and you couldn't even see the 99 bridge! This lake fishes small which is what I hate about it, so in return the fish get a tremendous amount of pressure and therefore get a little smarter. I think this lake is turning into a offshore lake, meaning finding humps, channels and the tanks/dams. These fish are obviously way less pressured. I totally agree with HoosierDaddy, but here is a tip from a old Choke pro named Elroy Kreuger: The biggest bass at Choke are the Florida strain and they will go/live in the clearest water they can find! O.K. where is that you ask? Answer, always around the dam/four fingers, which is the heaviest pressured part of the lake! The florida's are also more finicky to baits and weather changes.

But when all else fails, throw 8" Zoom lizards.

I don't know if keeping fish may be an issue but every time I stop by the 99 bridge to check things I see and talk to people that have limits in the cooler. I saw an 8 and 2 6's in one cooler. Ok I'm a release guy but on occassion I will keep 2-3 2/3 #'ers for a fry. It just works on me to see an 8 frozen stiff in a cooler.

I fished Choke from 89-96 ..
still have my biggest stringer ever out of that lake .
But was skunked many times ..
I think that is called "fishing "

I think part of the problem as well is all of the tournaments. They pull lots of big fish out of their natural areas and release them at Calliham. Well when this happens during the spawn, they just took thousands (maybe millions) of babies away from the lake because the females are now miles away from their beds. I love this lake and will continue to fish it 20-30 times a year, but I look forward to the next hot lake pulling fisherman away from it and moving them somewhere else. Now that I'm a cop with Mon-Tues off, I actually enjoy it a little bit more because the crowds are far less. However, my normal fishing holes just got pounded 1-2 days prior. I agree with Grout-scout, that the open water structure may be the key on this lake now. Thank god for technology on that, because finding some of these tank dams without them would be impossible. In time I hope the pressure will subside and the fishing will pick back up again. Either way I love being on this lake. The gators and occasional mountain lion are awesome to view while I'm fishing.

I can tell you my best luck by far last year on Choke came during some of the hottest days of the summer in the middle of the week when very few if any fisherman were on the lake. Kind of like deer hunting with a few hundred 4 wheelers turning up the dirt around you. Not going to see too many deer I would think. So indeed, the bass do feel the pressure and react to it. I also think TPWD should show us a little love down here as they do some of the Lakes in East Texas. Stockings starting from the year 2000 to present show a combined bass stocking for lakes Sam Rayburn, Fork, and Toledo Bend at a whopping 17,715,000 +/- a few. That's more bass that were poured into those 3 lakes than all the other major lakes in Texas combined.

I don't know what you guys consider "tough"... But the last couple years have not been tough by my standards at all! Last year it was on fire IMO. Best lake I fished all year, and I fished Falcon, Lake Austin, Rayburn, Ray Roberts, etc, etc...

Haven't been this year, and have heard from reliable people it is tough, but if it was "tough" last year, I can't wait till it picks back up.

one way to find them is to have been there when the lake was 20+ feet low. same with falcon, only more so. my 5 years in the area coincided with the low levels and the poorer fishing. i had lots bof waypoints and good structure to walk on back then.

i fished choke through the late 80,s and early 90,s when the bass were still wild,theres definately a difference from the pressure these days.i have more luck fishing 12 foot or deeper with larger baits when im lucky enough to be there

Soooo true about the spring tourney's. Thank God, Falcon is super hot right now! Can you imagine all the extra traffic that would be at Choke. Too far for me though.