October 19, 2006

The fall striper run has started!!! Now is the time to enjoy some of the best striper fishing Lake Texoma offers. Fishing was slightly below average during the first half of September. Limits were being caught only on around 75% of the trips. We fished 213 fishermen in September and cleaned 1,551 stripers. This does not include the stripers that were caught and released. Some of our customers only want to catch and release fish. From the first thru the sixteenth of October we have already fished 221 fishermen and cleaned 1,906 stripers. Do the math, October and November are great. Several catfish were caught, also. Pictures of our customers’ catch for September thru October the 16th are posted on www.tinker.net. We apologize if your picture does not get posted. Some of the time we have a camera problem and don’t get pictures good enough to post.

With over four inches of rain this month raising the lake level and cooling the water, bait fishing large feeding schools of stripers on structure is super. The rains have added some much needed oxygen to the water and the stripers are more active.

We are leaving the dock at 7:30 AM for our morning trips. Daylight Savings Time begins October 29th. This will make daylight earlier and our departure times will move back to 6:30 AM. It will be getting dark before 6:00 PM. With the shorter daylight hours our afternoon trips will begin around noon or earlier. Our guides will only be fishing one trip a day so everyone will be able to get plenty of time on the lake. The bottom line is that you can depart about any time you want to for trips in November and catch limits of stripers. The early morning bite is preferred my most hardcore fishermen. The late bite is super during the full moon and customers always catch more and larger stripers in the afternoon and early evening. You can take off a little early from work and drive to Texoma for a very productive afternoon striper trip and stay the night with me free and fish the next morning at a discounted price.

As of 8:00 AM, Thursday, October 19 the water pool level was 613.22 feet, a one foot rise since my last report September 6th. The normal annual pool level is 617 feet. The water temperature is 72 degrees. This is 13 degrees cooler than it was on September 6th. The Corps of Engineers is going to generate on one unit from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM thru Friday. Sunrise this morning was 7:34 AM and sunset will be at 6:47 PM. There are 12 hours and 3 minutes of visible light. The moon will be full on November 11. Yesterday’s low was 47 degrees and the high was 73 degrees.

The forecast for Friday and Saturday is for lows in the 40’s and highs in the 70’s. It will be clear and sunny with 10 to 15 MPH southerly winds. Sunday should be partly cloudy with the lows in the 50’s and highs in the 60’s and a 10 to 15 MPH north wind.. The next three days will be partly cloudy and warming to the 70’s during the day. There is a slight chance of precipitation forecast for Wednesday afternoon.

Our guides furnish tackle, bait and friendly instruction for you. Tinker’s private boathouses are always available for our guests to fish for catfish, striper, perch, crappie and bass before or after the guided trip. Everything is furnished except food, drinks, licenses and rain gear.

Our bedrooms are comfortable, clean and fully furnished with private entrances and baths. All types of outside cooking facilities are available for your use. The game room has pool, card and domino tables, plus dart boards, washer boards, stereo and TVs with DVD, CD, VCR and surround sound.

Open Dates:
We have one or more days open Monday thru Thursday during the rest of October. On Sunday, October 29 we have three boats available with free lodging on the 28. Every Sunday thru Friday has at least two boats available for November. We have one boat available on Saturday the 4th and 11th. There are 4 boats available on Saturday, November 25th. Occasionally, we have late cancellations. We always fish on the holidays. Please call our toll free number to make sure we have an available boat on the day you can fish.

We have received several phone calls and emails about our Christmas Gift Certificates since my last report. Purchase your personalized Christmas Gift Certificate before November 30, 2006 and receive a discount for each fisherman. Don’t forget that special fisherman this Holiday Season. Call early; the certificate can be used on any available date before December 31, 2007.

Winter Specials from Tinker's Striper Guide Service

As a valued customer and friend, you are invited back to Lake Texoma for a relaxing day of striper fishing. Reserve a room, boat and guide with a deposit before November 30 to receive one of our unbelievable winter specials. These specials are for December, 2006 and January and February, 2007 only. Two fishermen can fish for only $225. 00; three fishermen only $275.00; four fishermen in one boat only $350.00. For the Best Deal of all, five fishermen in one boat can fish for $400.00. You can stay over night FREE at Tinker's with any of these winter specials. Everything is furnished except food, drinks, and license and rain gear. At these prices, we will fill up fast. Call us soon.