Plan of Attack for Lake Texoma

[hoss]

Greetings, 

So I'm considering taking a day in the next couple of weeks to fish Lake Texoma area, mostly below the dam.  I've got my 8wt fly rod and assorted Clouser minnow patterns at the ready looking to get a few striped bass.  

I am needing recommendations for best approach and only have one day to spend so I want my time to count.  Any recommendations on fishing below Denison Dam area? I have my Oklahoma fishing license, and need to figure out if a Texas license is required. 

Are there any opportunities with a kayak to fish a wind protected cove for surfacing striped bass? 

Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated!       

[glitchmo]

So, I haven't been up in a few months so I'm not sure of current conditions.

Early in the summer, below the dam was amazing. Multiple bites per cast. But, then the lake stratified, the release water got anoxic and gross, and the fishing took a nosedive. Now that cold weather has come in, they lake may have mixed again and the fish in the tailrace might have moved back up. I'm not sure. If you're in the area its certainly worth a shot. If they're around you'll know very quickly, in my experience.

As far as practical advice: If they're not generating, there's a big pool a couple hundred yards below the dam proper. Anywhere in the middle of that is usually good, try to fish any water deeper than a couple feet. White/chartreuse is always good, I prefer to avoid the really heavy flies because the bottom is so rocky you'll lose a lot of gear. Wading is tricky, it's very rough and slippery, but the kayak is a good way to go about it. I've seen a bunch of dudes doing that. Just be respectful of waders. There's a rudimentary launch on the OK side -- don't get your truck stuck.

If they are generating, fly fishing is a lot harder. You'll want a sinking line of some sort, and try to find a back eddy near the main current line. There are a few on the TX side, but I'm not sure about the OK side.

As far as licenses go. Below the dam the usual understanding for Texans is that standing on the south bank you need a Texas license. If you're in the water or on the north bank, you need an OK license as well. Coming from the other side, I think if you stay on the northern part of the riverbed you should be ok, but it's tough to keep track of where the line technically is, and it's not marked. Safest is to have both, but OK only should be alright if you stay in the water/north bank.

On the lake itself, you should have either both licenses or the special Texoma only license (which does not work below the dam).

Generation schedule is on the SWPA website (usually). And is usually correct to +/- an hour.

I don't have any intel on kayaking in the lake itself.

[texasflycaster]

Kayaking the lake of Texoma is like kayaking an ocean actually. And couple that with the game of whack-a-mole chasing topwater striper - not a recipe for much success.It is pretty much accepted that the morning and to a lesser extent evening action is topwater. In between, you need electronics - good electronics - to drop depth charges on them, which is not too conducive to a fly rod.
Below the dam - what glitch says is dead on. I have had plenty of luck when the horn goes off to release and at best an hour of that. The fish are tuned to the release - literally.
THERE ARE MANY MORE striper in the lake than below the dam because there was no "flood event" to go over spillway or warrant epic releases. If you are a lake person, this is the best of times on Texoma.

[hoss]

Oct 31, 2019 12:42:57 GMT -6 glitchmo said:

So, I haven't been up in a few months so I'm not sure of current conditions.

Early in the summer, below the dam was amazing. Multiple bites per cast. But, then the lake stratified, the release water got anoxic and gross, and the fishing took a nosedive. Now that cold weather has come in, they lake may have mixed again and the fish in the tailrace might have moved back up. I'm not sure. If you're in the area its certainly worth a shot. If they're around you'll know very quickly, in my experience.

As far as practical advice: If they're not generating, there's a big pool a couple hundred yards below the dam proper. Anywhere in the middle of that is usually good, try to fish any water deeper than a couple feet. White/chartreuse is always good, I prefer to avoid the really heavy flies because the bottom is so rocky you'll lose a lot of gear. Wading is tricky, it's very rough and slippery, but the kayak is a good way to go about it. I've seen a bunch of dudes doing that. Just be respectful of waders. There's a rudimentary launch on the OK side -- don't get your truck stuck.

If they are generating, fly fishing is a lot harder. You'll want a sinking line of some sort, and try to find a back eddy near the main current line. There are a few on the TX side, but I'm not sure about the OK side.

As far as licenses go. Below the dam the usual understanding for Texans is that standing on the south bank you need a Texas license. If you're in the water or on the north bank, you need an OK license as well. Coming from the other side, I think if you stay on the northern part of the riverbed you should be ok, but it's tough to keep track of where the line technically is, and it's not marked. Safest is to have both, but OK only should be alright if you stay in the water/north bank.

On the lake itself, you should have either both licenses or the special Texoma only license (which does not work below the dam).

Generation schedule is on the SWPA website (usually). And is usually correct to +/- an hour.  


I don't have any intel on kayaking in the lake itself.




Thanks for the detailed response.  It's been on my list of things to do for awhile and this helps.  

[hoss]

Nov 4, 2019 9:38:37 GMT -6 texasflycaster said:

Kayaking the lake of Texoma is like kayaking an ocean actually. And couple that with the game of whack-a-mole chasing topwater striper - not a recipe for much success.It is pretty much accepted that the morning and to a lesser extent evening action is topwater. In between, you need electronics - good electronics - to drop depth charges on them, which is not too conducive to a fly rod.
Below the dam - what glitch says is dead on. I have had plenty of luck when the horn goes off to release and at best an hour of that. The fish are tuned to the release - literally.
THERE ARE MANY MORE striper in the lake than below the dam because there was no "flood event" to go over spillway or warrant epic releases. If you are a lake person, this is the best of times on Texoma.

Hey  Texas fly caster,  

Ha, I thought I recognized your name.  I've seen some of your fly fishing Youtube videos and fishing reports and I appreciate your contributions!    

[texasflycaster]

Hey hoss Drifter, Glad you like the YouTube Channel. Did you realize in my first few videos, the Lower Mountain Fork was one of the first places I went? That old video looks pretty primitive now! Technology moved so fast, I got into video pretty quickly and still try out new technologies all the time. I actually have a 360-degree video camera that is still ahead of its time! It has been so many years - and a lot of water under my bridge - since I have been to the LMF ... maybe the fish gods will get me there soon.

[hoss]

Here are the result of my trip a couple weeks ago. I arrived around 8:30 AM on a Saturday, and they were generating until about 11:00 AM. Not many folks catching including spin and bait guys. Started on the Texas side, not really confident at that point of how to fish it when generating. Did the clouser minnow type flies, no luck. There was one guy there, I think with 3 of his sons fishing. He recommended for me to check a spot on the lake side. Basically, an RV / campground site in a small cove area. The area was protected pretty well from the wind as it was long and narrow stretch of water. What I liked about it is that it would be well suited for kayak / canoe fishing. I did see a few fish (I assume stripers), on top chasing minnows. Good area to camp and fish, and close to the dam as well.

I returned to the dam around noon, they did stop generating so things were looking up as far as fishability. This time I went to the Oklahoma side, went further down river a bit. I began to wade out. A few carp caught my eye cruising along the short. I quickly switched out my fly and then more quickly spooked the carp. I every so often decide to torture myself, and catch one on a fly, or more accurately, attempt to catch. Back to my senses, I turned my attention back to the stripped bass.

The area I waded had more of a sand bottom, was easy to reach and had a good section of the river to myself. It was well below the dam but just above the pilings. The wind was blow enough to make getting line out almost a chore. A few casts into it I hook up to a decent fish. And my instincts take over and I trout set and in short order the fish shakes off the hook. Next up was one the broke my line, I came under gunned with 8 lb tippett. I did get one in, and this fish had another stripper following it as I brought it in. Anyhow I could occasionally get a glimps of what I assume were strippers.

Later in the evening, went back up close to the dam. Careful wading is required with the boulders and slippery rocks. The area closest to the dam was crowded but the action did pick up. I think the area has potential but could see how it could become overcrowded quickly. Met another fly fisher, he gave me several pointers and tips which was much appreciated. Worth the trip, maybe twice a year for me but I will make it again.

[hoss]

   

View from top of the dam

[troutbum54]

I would say you could go with a straight 20lb leader if you’re throwing a sinking line! Otherwise use like a 15lb to play it safe it the larger striper unless you’re using a 6wt that can protect the 8lb tippet! Even then I usually use 10lb since it helps with all the rocks you might hit

[glitchmo]

Well at least they came back up. I’ll give it another shot when I have a free weekend (never).

That big pool above the sticks is where I always fish. There are some big fish in there still, but they don’t bite very much.

I never fish less than 12, usually 16 or 20. They’re not line shy and it helps with casting.

[hoss]

Nov 19, 2019 14:16:58 GMT -6 troutbum54 said:

I would say you could go with a straight 20lb leader if you’re throwing a sinking line! Otherwise use like a 15lb to play it safe it the larger striper unless you’re using a 6wt that can protect the 8lb tippet! Even then I usually use 10lb since it helps with all the rocks you might hit

My only concern is getting snagged and then pulling on 20 lb test breaking my fly line or loop connection to my fly line.  What has been your experience with this?  

[troutbum54]

I mean usually the knot will break first but it just depends

[glitchmo]

Most fly lines have a core breaking strength around 30lb.

I use 20 all the time with no problems (yet). The one time I did manage to break a fly line it was with 8lb tippet, so.... shrug?

I might not run straight 20 off a 5 weight trout line, but anything designed for streamers it shouldn’t be a problem.

[troutbum54]

A 8 or 9wt fly line should be 30lbs+ and you can get away with using an weaker knot with 20lb! I mean as long as you aren’t using like a Bimini twist knot or any other that’s rated 100% you should be fine