| Tuesday,
August 25, 2003
Water pool level: 614.83, normal annual
pool level is 617 feet.
Water temperature: 84 degrees. Water
clarity: clear.
Generating Schedule: one unit 6 AM till
9 AM and 5 PM to 10 PM.
Today was hot with the low this morning 73 degrees and a light east wind.
The high yesterday got up to 98 degrees. The extended forecast for
the coming week is for lows in the middle 70s and highs in the upper 90s.
There is a chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms all week.
Sunrise was 6:50 AM and Sunset will be 8:07 PM. The total rainfall
for August has only been 2.95 inches.
Our water temperature has only risen one degree over the past three weeks
and the lake level has dropped 3 feet. The stripers are exceptionally healthy
for this time of the year and the twenty inch+ fish we are catching range
from four to eight pounds.
The stripers are moving fast in the 84 degree water. They will not
stay under the boat for long. This past weekend live bait was working
best. The best place for us to catch stripers was on the table top
and the Oklahoma flats. When the stripers are hitting artificial baits
try Striper Swipers, Zara Spooks, Pencil Poppers or burning silver spoons
or slabs across the surface for topwater action. When you find the
stripers suspended in 30 to 80 feet of water 4” sassy shads and chartreuse,
1.5 ounce slabs work well on the larger fish.
Today was a treat for our guides. No trips were scheduled.
Guess what the guides did? You’re right, they went fishin’.
When we got out on the lake, everyone wished we had customers with us because
the larger fish were schooling and feeding on top for three solid hours.
Any type of topwater lure that made noise worked great. When the
fish went down we would throw .75 ounce Kastmaster spoons and let them
sink for a five count and reel them in at a medium speed. As soon
as a striper was hooked, look out, the whole school would be under the
boat. Some of us put live threadfin shad on a single circle hook
with an eighth ounce weight above a swivel and thirty inch leader and cast
out about 20 feet. This free-line technique worked great. Most
of our seven and eight pound fish were caught free-lining five to six inch
threadfin shad. Our boat was throwing 20”+ stripers back before 8AM
and most of them were over five pound stripers. Drags were singing,
arms were beginning to ache and reels were getting hot during the feeding
frenzy. It was mostly catch and release the rest of the morning.
It was getting hot by 10:00, smaller fish were hard to find, so we decided
to come in a little short of our limit of under 20” fish. Everyone
had a blast. Smoke will be bellowing from our smoker’s stack tonight.
If you haven’t tried it, leave the skin on the side of the larger fillets,
put them skin down on the smoker with a little butter, lemon juice and
your favorite seasoning for about forty-five minutes. You will be
surprised how delicious striper can really be.
The Oklahoma City summer show winner of a free fishing trip for two plus
lodging was Lanny Smith, Norman, Oklahoma. Congratulations Lanny!!!
Each time you fish with Tinker’s be sure and register for the free drawing
at the boathouse. The next boathouse drawing will be December 31,
2003. Our next exhibit will be at The Collectors Gun, Knife, Coin
and Gift Show at the Hunt County Fair Grounds Exhibit Buildings in Greenville,
Texas September 13th and 14th. You are invited to come by our exhibit
trailer to see our many mounted fish, talk to the guides, get outstanding
show discounts and register for a free fishing trip.
August and September Special
If you would like to try the summer fishing, I have a deal for you.
Get the family or your best friends together and come fish in August or
September for only $300.00 for a boat load (up to six fishermen)*.
Now is also the time to start planning your fall fishing adventure.
October, November and December weekends are already being scheduled fast
at our summer exhibits. Call 1-888-846-5377 to schedule a date for
exciting fall fishing.
*Special promotions and reduced prices are not available on holidays and
weekends.
The August and September promotional price can not be used with any other
discount.
|