Broken Bow Lake

Headed up to Broken Bow for the week. Never fished it before. Never fished for smallmouth before. Where do I start? What do I look for (rock piles, brush piles, ledges)? Moving baits or plastics? Not looking for specific spots or specific lures, but more of a general idea of what I should be doing. Any information is appreciated. Thanks!

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I’ve never absolutely hammered the smallies on Broken Bow, but the ones I have caught have been on the South End of the lake. Look for where the banks transition from chunk rock to more of a gravel rock. Had good luck on the wind blown points on deeper diving jerkbaits and small swim baits. Have been able to catch better quality largemouth further up the river arm.

My first trip there we never went more than two miles from the dam and caught Smallmouth, Largemouth, Walleye, and even a few Crappie. The lake is beautiful and reminded me a bit of Shasta in Northern CA. The friend I fished with knew the lake well but weather kept us close to our launch site. All four species mentioned were caught using a medium size Keitech swim bait with Revenge head grinding the gravel. When the wind let up a drop shot and 4" worm caught some fish also. Hope this helps you. I will never forget my first and only trip there because of the area and lake itself.

Caught a few Small Mouth down near the damn chunking a shaky head off some cliff rocks but spend more time up the river chasing Large Mouth. Run up to the camping area and you will find lots of great structure to fish any way you want.

Fish are moving right now. Jerkbaits around points and red wiggle warts or rock crawlers on windy banks. A-rig with white ice swimbaits. Fish any dark rock you see, should get better next week. Alot of fish out deep still. Watch your electronics. Been fish in the middle of creeks or deep draws under shad, swim the Arig through them. Should be some big fish caught the next couple weeks. Use light line..under 12lb test. Marina boat ramp could be good. Throw a small jig like a strike king bitsy bug in green craw (brown, green pumpkin/red) speed craw for trailer. PB&J works well too.Good jerkbait colors are clown or edgey bone.

Fantastic. Thanks all for the info. Just pulled into our cabin. This area is as beautiful as I remember it!

One more question.....suggestions for tackle shop on the Hochatown area? I normally don’t carry an a-rig, but I just might have to pick one up. Need to grab a license for me and the boy too.

Feeling like a kid in a candy store right now.

broutons outdoors will have them and license too. you can fish it on heavy line.The lake fishes different every day. Just because they didn't bite something todat doesn't mean they won't bite it tomorrow. With the water warming niddle of the day can be good.

Thank you sir. Truly appreciate the info.

LOVE LOVE Broken Bow. Based on just tips from great folks here on the board, I've always found a few fish to catch. AS above, small mouth I've caught were on the south end on chunkier rocks. Largemouth more up past the big S Bend area. The whole thing is fantastic scenery. Last time there in October a Bald Eagle flew so close to me I could see its eyes.

caught my PB largemouth there a few years ago(12-6). I always do well on the south end as well. My go-to is throwing a Texas rigged lizard on steep, chunk rock banks and stair-stepping it down. The key is to throw it right on the bank. Most of my hits come on the second or third hop. I generally use really small weights to keep from getting locked up in the rocks even though I may be sitting in thirty or more feet of water. I may be giving you bad info for this time of year though because I make most of my trips there in the fall. On the smallmouth, I've done well with small topwater baits early in the state park area and Cedar Creek. Once the morning bite subsides try fishing a weightless fluke in the same areas but fish it really slow. Keep in mind you'll be fishing really clear water so if it's sunny they'll be a little deeper than you're used to if you generally fish the DFW area lakes. Definitely key in on those transition areas where the chunk rock turns to gravel. Hope this helps you some. Good luck and enjoy some of the best scenery you'll ever have fishing in the south.

Well, how you been doing?

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