Lake Texoma Weekday Morning Striper Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Lakes/Reservoirs/Ponds Fishing
Four-hour weekday morning charter targeting striped bass and white bassCaptain provides quality tackle, bait, and fish filleting services includedQuieter weekday waters with experienced guide assistance for all skill levels
Beat the weekend rush and get out there when the fish are really feeding. This four-hour morning charter on Lake Texoma kicks off at 7:00 AM sharp, right when stripers and white bass are most active. Captain Zach McClendon knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he'll put you on fish whether you're a first-timer or you've been chasing bass for decades. We're talking about a proper fishing trip here – not some tourist boat ride. You'll be working productive structure and open water on a spacious 24ft bay boat, with all the quality tackle and fresh bait you need to make it count. Plus, we'll clean and fillet your catch at the end so you can take home dinner. Weekday mornings mean fewer boats, calmer water, and fish that haven't been pressured all weekend long.
Lake Texoma is a striper factory, plain and simple. This massive reservoir sits right on the Texas-Oklahoma border and holds some of the best mixed-bag fishing you'll find anywhere in the region. Captain Zach runs a clean 24ft bay boat that can handle up to three anglers comfortably, so you're not elbow-to-elbow fighting for space. The early morning start isn't just for show – that's prime time when the water's still cool and the baitfish are moving shallow. We'll target main lake points, creek channels, and wherever the fish are showing on the electronics. The weekday timing is clutch because you're dealing with way less boat traffic, which means the fish are more cooperative and you can actually hear yourself think out there. Captain Zach's been guiding these waters for years, so he knows exactly where to find the schools when they're moving and how to adjust tactics based on what the fish want that particular morning.
We're talking serious fishing here, not just throwing lines in the water and hoping for the best. The boat comes rigged with quality electronics to locate schools and structure, plus all the rods, reels, and terminal tackle you need to get the job done right. Depending on conditions and what the fish are doing, we might be throwing live shad, working jigs vertically over structure, or casting topwater when the bite gets hot. Captain Zach runs a mix of techniques – sometimes we're trolling to cover water and find active schools, other times we're anchored up and working specific spots where the fish are holding. The 24ft bay boat gives us the range to hit different areas of the lake quickly, from shallow flats to deeper channel swings. All your tackle, bait, and terminal gear is included, so you don't need to worry about bringing anything except your fishing license. The captain provides everything from heavy spinning gear for big stripers to lighter setups for white bass when they're schooling up.
Striped bass are the main attraction here, and Lake Texoma grows them big and aggressive. These fish can range from schoolie-size at 2-3 pounds all the way up to genuine trophies pushing 20 pounds or more. Stripers are most active in early morning and late evening, which is exactly why this 7 AM start time works so well. They're ambush predators that follow schools of shad, so when you find the baitfish, you'll find the stripers. What makes them so exciting to catch is their initial run – when a good striper hits, it's going to peel drag and test your skills. Spring and fall are peak seasons, but these fish bite year-round if you know where to look.
White bass might be smaller than their striped cousins, but they make up for it with pure aggression and numbers. These fish school up tight and when you find them, you can catch them as fast as you can drop a line. They typically run 1-2 pounds on Lake Texoma, but they fight way above their weight class. White bass love to chase shad in open water, and when they're feeding on top, it looks like the water's boiling. They're most active in spring during their spawning run, but they provide consistent action throughout the warmer months. What anglers love about white bass is the fast action – when the school is hot, everyone on the boat stays busy.
Channel catfish are the steady producers when bass fishing slows down. Lake Texoma holds plenty of channels in the 2-8 pound range, with bigger ones mixed in for good measure. These fish are most active in warmer weather and bite well on cut bait, live shad, or prepared baits. They're not flashy fighters, but they're excellent table fare and provide reliable action when you need to put some fish in the cooler. Channels are structure-oriented, so we target creek channels, rocky points, and timber where they like to hold.
Blue catfish are the heavyweights of the catfish world on Lake Texoma. These fish can grow massive – we're talking about specimens that can hit 30, 40, or even 50 pounds if you're lucky enough to tangle with a true giant. Blues prefer deeper water and stronger current, so we target main lake areas and the dam region when going after them specifically. They're powerful fighters that will test your tackle and your endurance. Most blues you'll encounter run in the 5-15 pound range, but the potential for something truly special is always there.
Flathead catfish are the apex predators of the catfish family, and Lake Texoma holds some real monsters. These fish are primarily nocturnal and prefer live bait, especially live sunfish or small bass. Flatheads are solitary hunters that like heavy cover – think fallen trees, rock piles, and deep holes with structure. They can grow enormous, with fish over 50 pounds caught regularly. What makes flatheads special is they're one of the best eating fish in the lake, despite their intimidating appearance. They fight differently than other catfish too – more bulldogging power
Set out early on Lake Texoma aboard our freshly restored 24ft Bay Hawk center console, powered by a reliable 200HP Suzuki. This fishing machine is dialed in for chasing stripers and white bass in the productive morning hours when the fish are feeding hard. With GPS and radar to locate schools, plus a fish finder to mark targets below, we'll put you on the fish efficiently. The wireless trolling motor keeps us quiet when working structure where the big ones hide. Clean deck space gives you room to fight fish properly, while the icebox keeps your drinks cold and your catch fresh. Guide Zach McClendon knows these waters inside and out, and he'll have you rigged with quality tackle and the right baits for conditions. Whether you're new to striper fishing or looking to improve your technique, this boat gets you to the best spots on the lake while avoiding the weekend boat traffic.
Ictalurus FurcatusBlue catfish are the giants of Texoma, commonly weighing 10-40 pounds with some monsters pushing 60+ pounds. They have slate-blue backs, white bellies, and straight-edged anal fins that distinguish them from channels. These bruisers patrol deep river channels, dam areas, and creek mouths in 25-50+ feet of water. They're most active during cooler months when they move up to feed aggressively. What draws people to blues is the trophy potential - they're the largest catfish species in North America. They fight like freight trains with powerful runs that test your tackle. The meat quality is outstanding, especially from fish under 20 pounds. Unlike other cats, they often suspend in the water column following baitfish. Spring and winter offer the best action when they're feeding heavily. Local secret: use fresh cut skipjack or large live shad in the main river channel during low-light periods.
Ictalurus PunctatusChannel catfish are abundant in Texoma's deeper holes and creek bends, averaging 2-8 pounds with some reaching 15-20 pounds. These whiskered bottom-dwellers have forked tails and olive-colored bodies with scattered dark spots. They hang around structure like fallen trees, rocky ledges, and creek channels in 15-40 feet of water. Summer nights are prime time when they move shallow to feed. What people love about channel cats is their reliability - they bite consistently and put up a solid fight with their bulldogging runs. The meat is sweet and firm, perfect for frying. They're not picky eaters, going after everything from cut bait to prepared stink baits. Best part is they're active year-round, though summer evenings really turn them on. Pro tip: use fresh cut shad or chicken liver on a Carolina rig and let it sit still on the bottom near cover.
Pylodictis OlivarisFlathead catfish are solitary predators that can reach 20-60 pounds in Texoma's waters. They're easily identified by their flat, shovel-shaped heads and mottled yellow-brown coloring. These fish prefer deep holes, undercut banks, and logjams in the main lake and creek arms, usually 15-35 feet deep. Summer nights are when they really turn on, moving shallow to hunt. What makes flatheads special is they only eat live prey - no stink baits here. They're incredibly strong fighters that use their broad heads and powerful bodies to bulldoze toward cover. The meat is considered superior to other catfish - firm, white, and mild without any muddy taste. They're the ultimate challenge for catfish anglers because of their selective feeding habits. My best advice: use live bluegill, bass, or large shiners on heavy tackle near woody structure after dark.
Morone SaxatilisStriped bass are the main attraction here on Texoma, running anywhere from 3-15 pounds with occasional fish pushing 20+. These silver fish with dark horizontal stripes are aggressive predators that follow the shad schools. You'll find them in deeper water around structure like creek channels, points, and humps, typically 20-40 feet down during warmer months. Early morning and late evening are your best bets when they push baitfish to the surface. They're strong fighters that make long runs and put serious bend in your rod. The meat is excellent - firm, white, and mild flavored. What makes them special is their unpredictability; they can be finicky one minute and aggressive the next. Spring and fall offer the most consistent action when water temps are in the 60s. My go-to tip: watch for bird activity and use live shad near the thermocline when surface action slows.
Morone ChrysopsWhite bass are schooling fish that run 10-18 inches and typically weigh 1-3 pounds. They're silver-white with distinctive dark horizontal stripes along their sides. In Texoma, you'll find them in open water chasing shad, especially around points and creek channels in 15-30 feet of water. Spring and fall are prime times when they're feeding aggressively near the surface. Early mornings are particularly productive - that's when you'll see birds working over feeding schools. These fish fight hard for their size and make excellent table fare with white, flaky meat. They're perfect for beginners since they bite readily and travel in groups. Once you find one school, you can often catch several. Here's a local tip: when you see them busting baitfish on top, throw small white jigs or spoons right into the commotion and hang on.
Lake Texoma