As of October 8, 2024, the fishing scene at Lake Texoma is looking promising, especially with the onset of cooler weather.
### Weather and Water Conditions
The water temperature is around 75 degrees, and the lake is currently 1.51 feet below pool. The weather forecast shows a high of 84 degrees and a low of 59 degrees, with clear skies expected. This cooler weather is starting to trigger the fall fishing patterns, making it an excellent time to be on the water.
### Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise today is at 7:34 AM, and sunset will be at 6:53 PM. These twilight hours are crucial for catching the big fish, especially stripers, as they tend to feed actively during these times.
### Fish Activity
The striped bass fishing has been excellent, particularly in the shallows during the early morning hours. As the water cools, stripers are seeking refuge in these shallower areas where the water temperature drops first. Yesterday saw several big stripers caught using topwater lures and live bait. The fish are starting to slow down and feed more aggressively, making it a prime time for both surface and live bait fishing.
### Types and Amounts of Fish
Striped bass are the main target, with many anglers reporting catches of big fish on topwater plugs and live bait. Crappie fishing is still a bit slower due to the warm temperatures, but they can be found in brush and structure in 12-18 feet of water near points and creek ledges. Catfishing remains great, especially for channel catfish on shad and prepared baits near humps in 15-20 feet of water.
### Best Lures and Bait
For striped bass, topwater plugs like Berley's Choppo and big surface lures are highly effective in the early morning. Live bait on ledges in 25-40 feet of water near river channels and creeks is also producing excellent results. For crappie, minnows and jigs are the go-to choices. Catfish are biting well on shad and prepared baits.
### Hot Spots
One of the hot spots is the shallows where the stripers are staging each morning. Areas near river channels and creeks, especially where the water is cooler, are prime locations. Another good spot is around the ledges in 25-40 feet of water, where live bait can be very effective.
### Additional Tips
Stealth is key when fishing in the shallows, as too many boats can spook the fish. With the children back in school, lake traffic has slowed down, making weekdays the best time to fish. If you must fish on weekends, be prepared to work a bit harder to find the fish.
Overall, it's a great time to be fishing at Lake Texoma, with the cooler weather setting off the fall fishing patterns and making for some thrilling surface action.