James Allen

Windy one day, dead calm the next.

When the wind blows, bait catching is easy but when it is calm, it gets harder. Only using big Threads but those big females are having a harder time being in the tank for 8 hours.

Everything is working right now. When the wind blows I've been drifting flats in the 18-10ft range. Just letting baits drag across the bottom.

When it is calmer, I'm anchoring on the river ledge in 30-50ft of water and waiting for them to come by. Sometimes they will come by and leave but return in a few minutes. Other times, they just stay packed under the boat till we've had enough. Much better fish being caught this week than earlier this month. I'm seeing fish in all stages of spawn with some already finished. It also seems those "done" fish are the ones with the most baits in their bellies. It looks like the great May fishing is getting off to an early start this year. Thank Goodness. I've only done one lure trip since 2007 so I don't have a clue what is going one there. Bait rules.

Yesterday's group got down to their last 20 live baits but since we had only been out a little over an hour I suggested they cut up the rest and try for some catfish. We went to cut shad right off the bottom. Only got 2 catfish but the sandies loved it. Pulled 43 Sand Bass on cut baits.

I'm fishing mostly main lake areas now and haven't been up around the river inlet in a couple weeks now. Maybe those fish are still in the spawning mode. The ones I'm getting out in the big waters are finishing up. Or maybe they never planned on doing it in the first place. Either way, they are hungry.

Fish Species: Striped Bass, Sand Bass
Bait Used: live Shad
Tackle Used: Abu Garcia baitcaster
Method Used: drifting and on anchor
Water Depth: 35
Water Temperature: 60
Wind Direction: North
Wind Speed: 25
ran low on live bait so a bunch of these came on cut bait
ran low on live bait so a bunch of these came on cut bait

About as good as it gets for April
About as good as it gets for April


Do you want to leave a comment? Login or register now to leave a comment.


No comments so far

James Allen

About The Author: James Allen

Company: Blue Water Striper Guide Service

Area Reporting: Lake Texoma

Bio: I've grown up fishing on Lake Texoma. Since Stripers have replaced Sand Bass as the species of choice on this lake, I've targeted them exclusively. I am a member of the Catfish Bay Guide Association and fish out of Catfish Bay. I offer services that most guides on the lake don't, like completely removing the red line from the fish. I am family oriented and have fishing set ups that are very user and new comer friendly.

5809166298
Click Here For Past Fishing Reports by Fishing Guide James Allen