I live in OKC and am looking to head down to Denison Dam in the next week or so for a fly fishing trip. Seems to be a struggle to find much information on fly fishing for stripers in the red river. I don't have much experience fishing for stripers on the fly, or the Denison Dam area. If you could answer any of the below questions, it would be very helpful.

What is the best way to fly fish the red river below Denison Dam? We have a canoe w/ stabilizers and a hobie kayak to split between the three of us. Should we float it? Is wade fishing even an option? We will be targeting Stripers on the fly.

How far below Denison Dam do the stripers hold? Where is the best area to have a shot at consistent action?
Should we plan our trip around generation? I noticed that several people said they have the best luck during/after generation.
Should I focus on throwing clousers and streamers? Floating line, sinking, or sink tip?

Check out the bank fishing section.

I am by no means an expert at fishing below te dam but I grew up in Denison and fished it a bunch. Generating is best, with all the rain they may open the flood gates and that is where you will want to be. now as far as which side, the generators are on the Texas side. Most of the guys that are out there everyday fight for a place on the wall closest to the generators and cast as close to the outlet as possible. Flood gates are on the Oklahoma side and if they are running you will want to be right at that outlet, there will be a lot of people there if that is the case.

As far as using a Kayak the current will be too swift IMO. when the generators are off there are shallow pools left behind thcan be fished without a boat.

Might look here....
http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt...ison_Dam#UNREAD


but it's dead. needs lots of water for a couple weeks to be good
lots of dinks before after generations.
good luck & pray for a hurricane

Yea when it goes over flood gates its epic.If they are running alot of water you will want sink tip line.if not you can get away with wf floating all you need are clousers in an asortment of colors chartruse and white red and white grey and white and some bait fish style popers for surface action.

Oh and oklahoma owns all the water for the first stretch below the dam so you can be on the texas side wadding with ok. license from what i understand but i would check.

I'm in Austin now and haven't been in a while, but last year the thing to do was skip the damn and fish lake side at Eisenhower State Park if you had a way to get on the water.

You could pick up smallies, largemouth, and stripers along the rocks.

It's really close enough that you can do both.

Thanks Everybody for the info. Could anyone tell me if it is worth bringing a kayak or canoe? When they are not generating, are you able to get back to the dam area easily paddling, or would we need to float down and shuttle back to the top?

liteliner - we are getting dumped on up here in OKC, I hope you all are getting it down there.

Cheers,

G

Yes you can paddle back up that area of the red is very flat when they stop generating takes several hours to go down. Most of the stripers tend to hold at the top but having the mobility defiantly helps to move around a bit. There are also monster buffs and carp big blues small and largemouth. There is an island of rocks close to the top that when there is no generation make the river make a little snake fish will stack here if they are there. Good luck look forward to seeing how you do.

Here's the link to check the generation schedule for Denison Dam (Texoma)- 1 = 1 turbine, 2 = both turbines

http://www.swt-wc.usace.army.mil/power/hydropower.html#DENI
You'll have to scroll down - they have it broken down into 4 time periods.

2 turbines is all they have. Best low water is about 6 hours after they shut the turbines down. There's a rest area off 75/69 on the Texas side right after you cross the Red River going south (on your right). I don't know what their policy is about parking there and putting your kayak in the river there but it's not that bad a carry and the water looks great there when they are generating or at low stage. Even though it's on the Texas side, this shoreline area is in Oklahoma so your OK license is sufficient. (I know this from experience)

Thanks redfin, I wish they would post what is expected for tomorrow. I guess i'll just head down early and hope for the best.

Cheers,