Seasonal Striper Strategies: A Year-Round Guide to Texoma

Lake Texoma, renowned as one of the best striper fishing destinations in the U.S., offers year-round opportunities to hook into these powerful fish. As a Texas fishing guide, I’ve spent countless hours on these waters, observing the seasonal patterns of stripers and refining the most effective strategies. Here’s your guide to targeting stripers on Texoma throughout the year:

Spring (March – May): The Spawning Run

Spring is prime time for striper fishing on Lake Texoma. As water temperatures rise above 50°F, stripers migrate up the Red and Washita Rivers, driven by their spawning instincts. While they don’t successfully spawn in the lake, their activity and aggression levels peak during this period.

• Strategies:
  • Live Bait: Live shad, a primary food source for stripers, are highly effective.
  • Artificial Lures: Jigs, topwater lures, and crankbaits work well due to the stripers’ aggressive feeding behavior.
  • Target Areas: Focus on the Red and Washita Rivers and nearby creek channels.

Summer (June – August): Deep Water Action

As the lake heats up, stripers move to deeper, cooler waters. Consistent action can still be found by adapting your techniques.

• Strategies:
  • Downriggers and Deep Jigging: Use downriggers or vertically jig with heavy spoons to reach stripers in deeper areas.
  • Early/Late Fishing: Target sunrise and sunset when stripers move to shallower waters to feed.
  • Look for Birds: Diving seagulls often indicate schools of shad, and stripers are likely nearby.

Fall (September – November): Prime Time for Big Stripers

Fall is another excellent season, with stripers actively feeding as they prepare for winter. The “fall turnover,” a mixing of water layers, triggers a feeding frenzy.

• Strategies:
  • Follow the Baitfish: Stripers chase schools of shad, so watch for water movement and bird activity.
  • Points and Drop-offs: Focus on these areas as ambush points for stripers hunting baitfish.
  • Topwater Lures: Early mornings and late evenings can be productive with topwater plugs.

Winter (December – February): Challenging but Rewarding

Winter fishing can be more challenging due to colder water temperatures, but it can also be very rewarding, especially for larger fish.

• Strategies:
  • Slow Presentation: Stripers are less aggressive in cold water, so slow trolling or using live bait is often more effective. Dead stick fishing, presenting a lure with minimal movement, is a go-to technique.
  • Target Deep Water: Look for fish near submerged structures, ledges, and creek channels where they seek stable temperatures.
  • Use Electronics: A good fish finder is essential to locate schools of stripers in deeper lake areas.