Fishing Report
 

March 9, 2004
Water pool level: 612.47, normal annual pool level is 617 feet.
Water temperature: 52 degrees.  Water clarity: stained.
Generating Schedule: 6:00 AM till 9:00 AM

This morning at 6 AM it was a cool 49 degrees. Sunrise was 6:44 AM and sunset will be 6:30 PM.  The forecast for Wednesday is partly cloudy skies with a high of 68 and a low of 40. There is a 20% chance of showers Thursday with the high around 56 degrees.

Spring break is here.  Many families are scheduled to fish with us during the next two weeks.  I want to thank all the parents that are introducing their children to the clean healthy sport of fishing.  I am starting my 24th year at Lake Texoma and many of the young fishermen that started fishing with me when they were in grade school are out of college and still fishing.  There is no better way for a family to get together and share those fishing values that you learned from your dad.  Families that play together stay together.  Nothing is more wonderful than teaching children to fish and watching that unmistakable smile on their faces when they catch a “Big Fish”.  Mom too, can enjoy a day of the fun.  Get the family together and come to the lake.  

This is the time of the year to get your boat and fishing gear ready for spring fishing.  Safety is always first.  Be sure and check your personal flotation devices and make sure they haven’t hardened, have tears in the outer cloth or broken straps.  Also be sure your fire extinguisher gauges are in the green.

Have your boat ready before you go to the boat ramp for launching.  Be sure the batteries are charged and there are no dead cells.  Check the bow and stern lights, bilge pumps and all electronics.  If you left a lot of gas in the tank when you put it up for the winter, I would advise using an additive or draining the old gas out and re-filling with fresh fuel.  Moisture can form in the tank during storage and after gas sets for several months the fuel will loose octane.  Both of these conditions can be harmful to engines with electronic ignitions and engines that require a medium to high octane fuel.  Don’t forget to check and/or change all engine fluids, lower unit grease and pump oils.

No one wants to pull the boat out of storage for the first time of the year and get two miles down the road and “BOOOM”, a flat trailer tire.  Tires that have set for many months will sometimes harden and crack.  Check them before towing your boat. It is a good rule of thumb to check and clean all axle bearings and put new grease on them.  Don’t get a ticket….. All trailer lights must be working and your trailer tag must be up to date.

Sound like a lot to do?  Well, a good qualified marine mechanic is your best bet.  He will know all about getting your boat and trailer ready for the coming season.  Don’t wait until it is too late to schedule your maintenance.  There are several experienced marine mechanics around the lake, but there are several thousands of boats and trailers to be serviced in the spring.  The better mechanics and marinas always get backlogged in April and May with service requests.

Relieve your headache and worries. Hiring a fishing guide has many advantages.  They furnish the boat with all the safety equipment, rod reels, tackle and bait. There is nothing for you to buy other than a Lake Texoma Fishing License, food and drinks.  You will be able to step on a clean and safe striper boat and spend your time enjoying a successful fishing trip.  Your guide will give you friendly instructions and tips on how to fish, where to fish and what baits to use.  And yes, the guide will clean and bag your fish at the end of the day.

Since my last report the lake has risen over two feet and the water temperature has warmed six degrees.  Spring is just around the corner.  The female fish are forming roe and the males are full of melt.  It will not be to long until the spawn will be here.  Then look out, all the stripers have empty bellies and are feeding like crazy to fill the void.

But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.  Right now the inflow of muddy water from recent rains on the two huge watersheds is pushing the fish towards the main body of the lake.  The fish are very healthy, heavy and easy to catch.  Gladiator lures, cohos, sassy shad and live shad are producing great catches of the silversides.

Each year during Spring Break I offer a special for the children.  With each adult paying regular price, two children 17 and under can fish for the regular price of one child. Stay free the night before or after the trip with Tinker.

Four or more fishermen can fish during the month of March for $95.00 each.  Stay free the night before or after the trip with Tinker.  This is a savings of $60.00 over our regular price of $440.00 for four fishermen.  It is a savings of $90.00 over our regular price of $660.00 for six fishermen.

These discounted specials are good for weekdays and weekends with availability.  They cannot be used together or 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.

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/fishpics03.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.