Fishing Report
 

January 17, 2004
Water pool level: 611.35, normal annual pool level is 617 feet.
Water temperature: 49 degrees.  Water clarity: clear.
Generating Schedule: No generation on Saturday or Sunday.

This morning was warm with an overnight low of 52. Sunrise was 7:31 AM and sunset was 5:42 PM.  The high today is expected to reach the middle 60s. Winds were out of the south at 5 to 10 mph. There is a chance of showers Sunday.  Monday will be partly cloudy with cooler temperatures and a north wind.

The lake is as low as it has been since 1957.  The water temperature has dropped five degrees in the last forty days.

On Friday, January 16, a 121.5 pound blue catfish was caught by an angler fishing from the shoreline in Hagerman Wildlife Refuge.  Details on the length, girth, bait and who caught the fish were not available when I wrote this report. More information about the catch will be in my next report.  TPWD transported the live catfish to Abilene, Texas Friday night to be put in a large holding tank.  The catfish will most likely be a new Lake Texoma rod and reel record blue catfish if it gets certified by TPWD.

The large stripers are moving towards the Red and Washita Rivers.  They are in very large schools feeding on the plentiful shad.  You can catch them on live shad or artificial lures.  The shad run back and forth from the shallows to deeper water.  Watch your sonar.  When you locate the schools drift your baits thru them.  It will be a sure catch.  This time of the year the wind is usually blowing enough to keep you on a good drift.  When the wind lies a good trolling motor is great to keep you moving.

Don’t forget about the size limit on Lake Texoma.  You can have in your possession ten stripers per fisherman.  Only two of the ten can be twenty inches or longer.  DO NOT keep over two twenty inch stripers per fisherman.

A lot of anglers believe that their two big fish must be over twenty inches long.  This is not the case.  If a fish touches the twenty inch mark on your ruler the game wardens count it as a big fish.  Not understanding this has gotten many fishermen a ticket.  The game wardens have no leniency on the measurement.  A twenty inch striper may weigh as little as four pounds.  I always save a slot for a larger trophy striper.  It takes an eight pound or larger female striper to have a successful spawn.  The future of our fishery depends on the female stripers growing to eight pounds or larger. 

Our anglers are still landing more and more double digit stripers. Afternoon fishing has been super for both striper and catfish. Many of our anglers prefer afternoons when the temperature is much warmer than early in the morning.

On January 11, 2004 Chip Barnett and Mark Whitley from Georgetown, Texas caught several large stripers fishing with guides David Escamilla and John Harris.

On January 13, 2004 Marvin Grant, Richard Zimmer and Byrd Zimmer from Trenton, Texas and Huey Smith from Dallas, Texas caught a limit of nice Texoma stripers fishing with guide Roger Hill.

The Chris Gilroy Party of four from Frisco, Texas brought a limit of stripers and a couple of sand bass to the cleaning table January 16, 2004.  They were guided by David Escamilla.

This time of the year remember to always wear layers of clothing, insulated boots and have wet weather gear available in case of showers.   If the wind is high, a hooded rain suit makes a great wind barrier.  Don’t let the cold weather keep you off the lake.  When you are catching fish at this time of the year, you will never notice the weather.

To see pictures of these catches and other fish caught this month by our customers, click on the following link.   http://home.texoma.net/~tinker/fishpics04/fishpics01.html

Go to http://www.tinker.net, to read testimonials sent in by our customers and see pictures of the fish they caught over the last year.  Links to both are on the right side of my home page.
 

Three or four people can catfish or striper fish during the months of January and February for $340.00. Stay the night free with Tinker. This is a great savings of $100.00 over our regular price of $440.00 for four fishermen.  It is a savings of $35.00 over our regular price of $375.00 for three fishermen.

Five or six people can striper fish in one of my boats during the months of January and February for only $440.00.  This is a huge savings of $220.00 over our regular price of $660.00 for six fishermen.  It is a savings of $110 over our regular price of $550.00 for five fishermen.  Stay over night free with Tinker.

These three discounted specials are good for weekdays and weekends with availability.  They cannot be used with any other discounts, promotions or gift certificates. Tinker’s Striper Guide Service reserves the right to change or cancel any or all of these specials at any time.