As of November 16, 2024, Lake Texoma is offering some exciting fishing opportunities, despite the transitioning fall weather.

First, let's talk about the conditions. The water is slightly stained with a temperature of around 65 degrees, and the lake is currently 2.68 feet below pool level. Sunrise today is at about 6:54 AM, and sunset will be around 5:06 PM. There are no significant tidal changes to worry about on Lake Texoma, as it is a freshwater lake.

Fish activity is quite vibrant, especially for striped bass. Yesterday, anglers reported good catches of striped bass using live shad in 40-60 feet of water, with the fish suspended around 30 feet down. Although the warm temperatures have reduced surface feeding, topwaters can still be effective early in the morning, particularly on main lake points and the backs of coves. Keep an eye out for diving birds, as they often mark feeding schools.

For catfish, chunked up gizzard shad drifted along the bottom in 50-60 feet of water has been productive. Smaller fish are stacked on the ledges in 30-40 feet of water. Crappie are fair on boat docks and brush piles in 8-12 feet of water, with jigs and live minnows being the best choices.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing is good along the bluffs, with live shad and swim baits working well in the backs of rocky coves.

If you're looking for hot spots, consider the areas around the Washita River and the Red River. These areas tend to have good concentrations of striped bass, especially where the river channels intersect with the main lake. Another spot is the vicinity of Eisenhower State Park, where the bluffs and rocky coves provide ideal habitat for bass and other species.

In terms of lures, swimbaits and slabs are excellent choices for striped bass, especially when fish are deeper or when surface action is observed. For crappie, chartreuse paddle tail jigs and minnows are recommended. For catfish, cut shad and prepared baits like punch bait are working well.

Overall, Lake Texoma is in a great fall pattern, with plenty of fish to be caught. Just remember to move frequently if you're not getting bites, as the fish can be scattered across the lake.