I believe now is a better time than ever to get to know your favorite watering hole by hiring a guide! All area and for that matter regional lakes are at dangerously low levels. These lakes are very different from just say last spring / summer to what they are now! With spring fever hitting fisherman that haven't been spending little or no time on the water are in for a rude awakening.. And a lot of your boat repair shops are licking there chops!! Pretty sure there going to be pretty busy in the coming months. So I think you can spend a lil now on a guide and save bunches later on boat repairs. Most.. to.. all guides will show you the NEW levels (the do and dont areas) that seem to be the 'new' norm....at least as for as we can see! Everyone be super safe on all your spring and summer fishing trips! See ya out there.....

If you have not been to Texoma lately you will not believe it when you see it. I think its more dangerous than Tawakoni.

Great Thread WhipLash and true! I am lucky! I have the best pro staff on Planet Earth! These guys can help

Lake Tawakoni

http://www.tawakonifishingguide.com

http://www.joereadsguideservice.com

Lake Texoma

http://www.texomaguide.com

http://www.striperexpress.com

Lake Ray Hubbard

http://www.jvguideservice.com

Cooper Lake

http://fishingcooperlake.com

Cedar Creek

http://bigcrappie.com

Valid points Terry! We pulled that sailboat off a sandbar last week and the guy said it was the first time he's ever been stuck. There's going to be a first time for many if we aren't diligent...

Really scary, I dry docked my 23ftr there because I thought tex wouldn't have the same problem as all my area lakes down here. I dont know that lake well enough to feel comfortable scooting all over chasing stripers but yes we went out with chris of striper express a couple weeks ago and it helped alot

Guide trip to figure out the new " norm" is a real $$ bargain compared to the cost of repairs that can be had from a split second decision! Lots of junk on the bottom that's is real close as the water level continues to recede. I put a new aluminum prop on my boat last week with a repaired spare on board. Luckily nothing more serious than that since it was an aluminum prop. Hopefully we will have a wet rainy spring and summer! Fishing should get real good in the up coming weeks. Everyone be careful!

The Doctor is in! Well said Terry.

I found a rock last week now boat is in the shop with a bent prop shaft

Good advice.

If you are gonna go out on Texoma on your own, stay in the river channel. Don't cut across any point.

It's sort scary to see some stumps out there now that are only just below the surface during "normal" conditions. Yikes.

Good advice Axman!
Some folks have a fancy GPS depth finder on their boat but don't know the shallow water features and alarms or how to use them. I posted this a week or so ago on another thread to help those boaters that own a GPS fish finder. If this helps even one boater better prepare to navigate Texoma and saves a propeller or two ... that is a good thing. FYI....

If your depth finder has a GPS feature and you have a Navionics Lake Map Chip for Lake Texoma installed or equivalent I recommend doing the following.
Increase the "Shaded Area" on your GPS Lake Map:
With your unit turned on, hit the "Menu" bottom and search -> or <- for the term "Shaded Area" this is your shallow water color indicator. As Texoma is currently 9 feet low change this number to 19 feet so it will show you the water which is currently only 10 feet deep. Do the math. As you drive your boat, watch your screen closely as this newly shaded area will keep you boating safer on this great lake. Good luck fishing ... stay in the river channels as much as you can for safety. Despite the cold water temps the big fish are biting.

Good prescription from the Doc

Hey Dr. Whiplash,
Your good point in starting this post was to remind folks that when low water conditions are this dangerous chose to hire a Professional Fishing Guide! It could save a "weekend" boater a lot of money! Damaging your boat on a shallow shoal or a stump sitting just below the surface line. Towing fees, fiberglass work, motor repair are all more expensive than 3-4 guided fishing trip fees. Plus you learn more in one guided fishing trip about a lake, the current techniques, where to fish, what to fish and how to fish than you do on 10 trips on your own.

I noticed we have a large number of new TFF readers lately as spring warms up the passion in us all to go fishing. Just so you know the rates charged by most local Guides range from $75 to $150 a charter (that is $13 to $25 an hour per person). Most guides will fish you 5-6 hours and prefer to have 3-5 anglers fishing in the boat so they can actually cover their costs and put food on the table for their kids. So call a few buddies in your family or at work and put a date together for a fun Guided Striper trip now. Weekends fill up quickly and well in advance so "Plan ahead" now!

MagicWand I could not have said it better!! My point exactly.. Thanks for your words of wisdom Was out on Tawakoni for just a bit on Saturday and it is slowly changing