Striped Bass Are Attracted to a Dam’s Strong Current

Right now, Lake Texoma provides one of the best locations to target tailrace stripers (and some other big fish). Both Texas and Oklahoma sides offer access to the tailrace; be sure to have a valid fishing license for the state in which you’re fishing.

This tailrace is rocking during reservoir releases or when hydroelectric power is generated. The additional flows attract striped bass upstream into the tailrace area to feed on shad and prey fish passing through the dam from the reservoir. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Tulsa District office) provides real-time data detailing tailrace conditions online, and Southwestern Power Administration posts daily schedules about when to expect generation.

Find boat or kayak access along a short stretch of sandy bank on the Oklahoma side of the river (Oklahoma license required).

Remember that stripers face into the current, so cast up-current and retrieve down-current. Look for current breaks, seams or eddies where fish congregate to increase your catch rate. Fish use those areas to ambush their prey.

Be aware of dam releases, with conditions too dangerous for wade fishing.

Fly-fish for stripers with 6-weight (or heavier) rods.

Use medium-heavy to heavy rods and reels with good drags. Spinning or casting rods work but need heavier line because these big tailrace stripers pull hard. A good starting point for many anglers is a 7-foot (to 7.5-foot) casting rod with 20-pound fluorocarbon line. On spinning gear, use 30-pound braid to a 20-pound fluorocarbon leader.

At the end of your line, use large streamers for fly casting, and soft swimbaits, flukes and topwater lures for conventional gear. Shad-colored lures predominate, but adding a rainbow trout-colored swimbait or a touch of pink in your streamer may increase your bait’s appeal in certain areas. Another option is cut or whole shad.