patterns for Striped Bass and Smallmouth Bass.
I have been following activities of Red River Fly Fishers club activities lately (yeah Jerry – I’m gonna join) I am reminded that I need to give back some lessons learned fishing Lake Texoma, IMO the best Striped Bass and Smallmouth Bass lake in the country!
My Lake Texoma journey spanned some 20+ years, sometimes as many as 100 trips a year. It’s been almost 6 years since I have fished the lake, but some things never change – such as seasonal patterns, lake structure and access. I am familiar with the zebra mussel and blue/green algae problems. You veterans know about these things, but it may be helpful for FF unfamiliar with the lake.
I always looked forward to striper fishing the marinas late January/February.
When the boathouses are covered with birds, the marinas are full of shad and big fish are hungry! The tin roofs of boat docks act as solar panels and water is warmer by a couple of degrees than main lake, especially Eisenhower Marina. Good for small boats and yak fishermen – just watch out for north winds – dangerous.
Start fishing at end of ramp cove - 9 and 10 wt rods are necessary to horse big fish out of the cables and structure
Big female stripers are headed mid lake for pre spawn and are in the rocky main lake points and bluffs – dangerous waters for small boats. I like a Teeny 200/300 flylines for structure fishing – rocks eat full sinking lines. My choice of flies is ~4-5 inch white and chartreuse Spinster and Clouser shad patterns – Deceiver type streamers should work as well.
March and April are good Smallmouth months if you know the bedding areas.
I don’t fish these spots heavily but pre spawners share the same areas as stripers – they follow the shad, which choose warmer shallow water. The chartreuse spinner blade Spinster is a killer Smallie fly.
My preference is always fly-fishing but sometimes conventional gear is required to detect subtle grabs due to lethargic stripers in cold water. For strictly fly rodders, the spinner blade on a Spinster works well to trigger strikes. My fishin’ Lady ALWAYS out fishes me in the winter time with bucktail jigs and plastic split tail trailers!
I’m going to try to make the Saturday morning Red River Rendezvous event, so if OK with Jerry, bring your Texoma Lake map and I’ll mark my favorite high percentage” seasonal spots.
I’m getting fishin’ fever!
George
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