By Lynn Burkhead, For the Herald Democrat
Calendar
June 7 — Monthly meeting of the Red River Fly Fishers in the Rec Hall at Eisenhower State Park. For information, including the night’s speaker and fly tying schedule info, visit www.rrff.org .
June 25 – Future Bass Trails Team Tournament out of Alberta Creek. For information,
call Joe Copeland at (580) 504-7320 or visit the website at www.futurebasstrails.com.
August 2 — Monthly meeting of the Red River Fly Fishers in the Rec Hall at Eisenhower State Park. For information, including the night’s speaker and fly tying schedule info, visit www.rrff.org .
Sep. 1 – Nov. 13 – Texas North Zone dove season first split.
Sep. 10-25 – Texas early teal season.
Oct. 1 – Nov. 4 – Texas early archery deer season.
Oct. 29 – Feb. 26 – Texas quail season.
Nov. 5 – Jan. 1 – Texas North Zone white-tailed deer general season.
Nov. 5-6 – Texas North Zone youth waterfowl weekend.
Nov. 12-27 – Texas North Zone duck season first split.
Dec. 3 – Jan. 29 – Texas North Zone duck season second split.
Dec. 17 – Jan. 1 – Texas North Zone dove season second split.
Notes
The annual Texas Free Fishing Day is scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, June 4, 2022, on public water all across the Lone Star State. For full information, visit the TPWD website at www.tpwd.texas.gov …In Oklahoma, this weekend marks the annual Free Fishing Days with free angling scheduled for Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5 in the Sooner State. For more information on angling possibilities north of the Red River, visit the ODWC website at www.wildlifedepartment.com … Did you know that the state of Texas offers numerous lakes and rivers with access to fishing throughout the state? To find those fishy spots, TPWD says to go to the agency’s Lake Finder page on the TPWD website (www.tpwd.texas.gov ), an Internet spot that can help anglers find lakes by region or alphabetically. Access to information and fishing tips on more than 150 lakes statewide is available, along with info on accessing flowing rivers across the state too…As the professional bass fishing season continues, it’s a weekend filled with tournament action including the soon to start Major League Fishing Pro Bass Tour on Tennessee’s Watts Bar Lake from June 4-9…Already underway this weekend on Tennessee’s Pickwick Lake is the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite Series event on the Tennessee River system lake. As of press time, Taku Ito had the unofficial BassTrakk lead at 20-12…
Fishing Reports
At Lake Texoma, water is stained; water temp is 73 degrees; and the lake is 0.14 feet above normal. Adventure Texoma Outdoors guide John Blasingame tells TPWD that striped bass are excellent right now with larger fish on points and ledges, and the smaller catches of “box fish” coming from shallow flats in 6-10 feet of water. The guide says Alabama-rigs are producing when the fish move off the banks and that the shad spawn is wrapping up…On the Oklahoma side of Texoma, ODWC reports good striper fishing near Denison Dam, Platter Flats, and Washita Point. The agency says that striped bass are good on live bait, live shad, and topwater plugs fished along river and creek channels, near the dam, main lake shorelines, and points. Blue catfish are fair on chicken liver, cut bait, dough bait, goldfish, live shad, punch bait, stinkbait, and sunfish utilized along river and creek channels, near the dam, around docks, near points, and out in the main river channel. Crappie are also fair on grubs, hair jigs, plastic jigs, minnows, nymphs, small panfish lures, and tube jigs fished around brushy structure, creek channels, coves, docks, rocks, and standing timber…At Lake Ray Roberts, water is lightly stained; water temp is 74 degrees; and the lake is 0.43 feet above normal. TPWD reports that blue and channel catfish are fair on cut bait and punch bait fished shallow on windblown points. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows fished in submerged structure and over main lake brush piles. Largemouth bass are good along grass lines for those using crankbaits and with some early morning topwater action. White bass are good under the birds for those using slabs and jigging spoons…At Lake Fork, water is stained; water temp is 75 degrees; and the lake is 5.66 feet low after repair work on the dam. Bass guides Marc Mitchell and Jason Hoffman tell TPWD that “Bass are good on points early in the morning with topwaters, and shad colored squarebills fished in 3-5 feet of water. This bite ends quickly, so transition offshore to a mid-range depth, 10-12 feet of water, on points and humps using Carolina-rigs with a 10-inch blue fleck worm and Flukes. Midday to the afternoon, continue with Carolina-rigs in 18-25 feet of water on drop-offs or on deep humps. Crankbaits in shad patterns are best, or chartreuse and blue-back will work (too) over deep water points in 18-23 feet (of water).”….Fork’s crappie bite continues to heat up according to guide Jacky Wiggins. He tells TPWD that “Fish are stacking up big time on lay downs and brush now in 10-20 feet of water. Also, we’re beginning to see some bigger fish loading up on timber in 18-28 feet of water. With the lake still low, the fish are in the same general areas as they have been in past years, but they (have) just moved out on the closest structure, about 5-7 feet deeper. Minnows are still producing really well with hand tied jigs also producing good.”…After heavy rains at mid-week, ODWC says that at the Blue River near Tishomingo, the elevation is still below normal, water temp is 74 degrees, and the river is murky. The agency says that largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass are fair on Flukes, soft plastic baits, and topwater lures fished around brushy structure, rocks, and shorelines. Bluegills and green sunfish are fair on crickets and worms fished around brushy structure, channels, near rocks and around shoreline areas. Channel catfish are good on punch bait, shrimp, and worms fished around brushy structure, in the main river channel, and around rocks… On the Lower Mountain Fork River near Broken Bow, the river elevation is normal, water temp is 58, and the river is running clear. ODWC says that rainbow trout are good on caddis flies, small nymphs and jighead flies, PowerBait, tube jigs, and worms fished along channel braids and seams…At McGee Creek near Atoka, ODWC says that the lake elevation is 0.5 feet above normal, the water temp is 80, and the lake is clear. The agency says that largemouth bass and spotted bass are good on crankbaits, jigs, soft plastic baits, and topwater lures fished along creek channels, in the shallows, and near standing timber. Crappie are fair on minnows fished along creek channels and near standing timber…At Lake Murray near Ardmore, ODWC says that the lake elevation is normal, water temp is 74 degrees, and the water is stained. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are slow on Alabama-rigs, crankbaits, jigs, minnow style swimbaits, and soft plastic baits fished around flats, main lake points, and weed beds. White bass are fair on jigs, minnows, and topwater lures fished in the main lake area…As summer vacation season picks up, down on the Texas Gulf Coast at Rockport, Damian Hubbs of Mathis Bait Co. tells TPWD that “Waders are finding good success on trout and redfish in the early morning on live bait and plastics. Redfish are great in 2-6 feet of water in sand pockets on menhaden. Drifting with soft plastics is also working well. Trout are good in 2-6 feet of water on live shrimp and soft plastics. Drum are good in 2-6 feet of water on dead shrimp.”…At Port Aransas, Capt. Doug Stanford of Pirates of the Bay Fishing Charters tells TPWD that “Trout are good in Aransas Bay along Quarantine Shoreline (for those) free lining croaker. Trout are good in the shorelines of Trailer Island in 5-6 feet of water, redfish are a few feet shallower biting cut mullet or croaker. Trout are good in front of Steadman’s Reef in Redfish Bay using croaker. Redfish are good in Ransom Island on cut mullet and menhaden.”…And finally, on the Lower Coast at Port Mansfield, Capt. Wayne Davis of Hook Down Charters tells TPWD that “Fishing (is) still good and (the) water is up. Back bays and flats are holding reds, and trout are out a little deeper. Flounder are still being caught near guts on soft plastics.”…
Tip of the Week
Looking for an exciting way to celebrate Free Fishing Day tomorrow in the Lone Star State? Then consider TPWD’s advice to head south to Athens and the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. “The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is offering free admission for everyone, and visitors will have a chance to catch a tagged catfish and win a prize,” notes TPWD in a news release. “Hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks are on sale beginning at 11 a.m. and available while supplies last. Visitors can watch the dive show at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., followed by hatchery tram tours immediately after each show. Visitors may bring their own fishing tackle or borrow gear from the TFFC.” For more information, visit www.tpwd.texas.gov .
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