Striper Allstars

STRIPED BASS WON’T win any statewide popularity contests in these parts, but there are a handful of Texas lakes where Morone saxatilis kicks butt, takes names and grabs plenty of attention along the way. Anyone who has ever caught one of the saltwater transplants cracking the double digits will surely agree with the allure. The striper is one rough customer, widely known for its brute strength and territorial disposition. This tenacious fish might be described as a piscatorial cross between Dick Butkus and Mike Tyson wrapped into a silvery stick of dynamite tipped with a really short fuse.

That fuse tends to become particularly short during late spring. That’s when warming temperatures spur their metabolism and spark violent feeding frenzies on hapless schools of shad. In some cases, it’s not uncommon to see virtual blood baths unfold in the shallows as marauding schools of stripers drive the succulent bait fish to the surface and gobble them up at will.

Stripers rarely hold anything back when they pin a group of shad against the surface. Sometimes the attacks are so vicious that it sends the succulent bait fish cartwheeling in a last second dash for safety. Venture onto any reputable striper lake over the next 30 to 45 days and there’s a good chance of cashing in with a topwater plug or any number shad imitations.

So, which Texas impoundments offer best opportunities for getting in on late spring’s striper fishing bonanza?

To learn more, we reached out to regional and district fisheries biologists with the Texas Parks and Wildllife Department.

Here are our Top Five striper lakes for 2021:

NO. 1: TEXOMA

SIZE: 75,000 ACRES

LAKE RECORD: 35.12 LBS.

COMMENTS: This is a five-star impoundment that supports one of the few self-sustaining striper fisheries in the U.S. Oklahoma biologists jumpstarted the population with generous stockings from 1965 through ’74. Since then, the fishery has carried itself on bountiful spawning runs that occur each spring in the free-flowing Washita and Red Rivers that feed into Texoma.

The striper factory cranks out mega numbers of eating-size fish, but it’s also one where trophy hunters have good shot of connecting with fish in the 14- to 17-pound range, or quite possibly one more than 20, according to Dan Bennett, TPWD’s district supervisor based in Pottsboro.

“Intensive angler surveys completed in 2019 and 2020 estimated that Texoma striper fishermen catch just over a million striped bass each year and take home about half of those fish to eat,” said Bennett.

Those anglers spend a boat load of dough in the process. Economic studies indicate striper fishing pumps around $20 million annually into local businesses.

Amazingly, the fishery is able to maintain that type of output with no outside help from annual stockings, which is necessary to carry some other Texas lakes.

“Catch rates in nets indicate that striper abundance is currently more than 10 times what we see in lakes where stocking is required to maintain the fishery,” Bennett said.

As earlier mentioned earlier, late spring is a great time to catch stripers on topwater plugs. Bennett says the action is generally best early and late but overcast skies may spark a midday bite.

“The fish will school and voraciously feed on spawning shad along shallow shorelines,” Bennett said. “They can be caught just about anywhere. However, good areas to find them are from the dam west to Preston Peninsula along the Texas shoreline, in the shallows around the islands mid-lake, and around Caney and Soldier Creek.”

Anglers may retain 10 per day. There is no minimum length limit, but only two stripers or hybrids may be retained each day. Culling of striped bass and hybrid striped bass is prohibited on Texoma.

NO 2: WHITNEY

SIZE: 23,500 ACRES

LAKE RECORD: 39.69 POUNDS

COMMENTS: According to TPWD fisheries biologist John Tibbs of Waco, Whitney continues to benefit from increased inflows from the Brazos and Nolan rivers. This has helped maintain a near constant level, bolstered vital threadfin shad populations and reduced the threat of golden algae blooms.

“Those factors combined with an aggressive approach to stocking, and even some natural reproduction over the past few years, has resulted in an incredible striper fishery— as good or better as at any time in the past,” Tibbs said.

Tibbs said Whitney produces good numbers of box-size keepers in the four- to eightpound range, but anglers do connect with 15- to 20-pounders on occasion. In 2021, the biologist says anglers can look for a lot of stripers just making it to legal size (18 inches).

He added that some of the best fishing usually occurs from mid-lake at the Katy bridge to the dam. Spring hotspots worth a look include the mouth of Cedron Creek, Bee Bluff, Walling Bend Park island and main lake areas near Whitney and Towash Creeks. Anglers can retain five fish, 18-inch minimum length limit per day.

NO. 3: POSSUM KINGDOM

SIZE: 15,588 ACRES

LAKE RECORD: 34.19 POUNDS

COMMENTS: TPWD Fisheries biologist Robert Mauk says Possum Kingdom has benefited from increased water levels and flows the past few years, resulting in natural reproduction and recruitment, so stocking has not been required. The lake also maintains a bountiful threadfin shad population to help keep the stripers fat and sassy.

Mauk said the lake currently has good numbers with many fish in the 16- to 20-inch size class. Fish upwards of 12 pounds are reported on occasion, but not often.

Soaking live shad is a highly preferred tactic on Whitney, though success can be had on slabs, jig/swimbait combos and topwaters.

“Following working birds is the easiest technique to locate the fish,” Mauk said.

“Broadway, the Peanut Patch, and north of Costello Island are the most popular places to target stripers, but they can be found anywhere in the reservoir.”

Mauk said there are quite a few reputable guides available for those who don’t own a boat or know the lake very well. An added bonus is fishing the Brazos River tailrace below the dam. This is a great option when the winds get up, or for anglers having trouble locating biting fish on mainlake.

Mark says the tailrace bite can be outstanding at times, particularly for larger fish upwards of 20 pounds. The state record 53-pounder was caught there in 1999.

Anglers may retain five striped bass/hybrids per day, 18-inch minimum length limit.

NO. 4: BUCHANAN

SIZE: 22,211 ACRES

LAKE RECORD: 27.80

COMMENTS: TPWD fisheries biologist Patrick Ireland says the scenic Hill Country impoundment near Burnet is typically big on numbers but light on size. While recreational anglers frequently box limits of three- to five-pounders along with an occasional double-digit fish exceeding 10 pounds—which rarely show up in TPWD’s sampling efforts.

“A 15- to 20-pounder be considered a ‘big’ fish for Buchanan based on our sampling and creel data,” Ireland said.

Ireland said guides and weekenders alike typically have the best springtime results trolling with inline spinners, spoons, swim baits, Rat-L-Traps or soaking live bait. Topwaters also can produce outstanding results, especially during the early morning hours.

“The most important tactic is to look for baitfish and do not sit on an unproductive area for too long,” Ireland said. “Move on until you locate the stripers.”

NO. 5: CANYON LAKE

SIZE: 8,308 ACRES

LAKE RECORD: 38.12 POUNDS

COMMENTS: Located north of New Braunfels, Canyon is fed by the cool, gin-clear waters of the Guadalupe River. Likewise, the Comal County experiences moderate fluctuation and maintains excellent water clarity over the course of the year.

Despite being characterized as a low-productivity reservoir, Canyon is able to maintain an abundant forage base of gizzard shad to feed what is arguably the best trophy class striper fishery in the region. According to Ireland, Canyon is best known for producing larger fish as opposed to big numbers.

“Generally, stripers provide a popular catchand-release fishing opportunity at Canyon as guides and angler reports showcase the availability of quality and trophy-sized fish,” he said. “A big Canyon striper is a10- to 17 pounder.”

In late spring, Ireland says topwaters produce some explosive strikes with the best action coming during low light conditions. Spoons and assorted crankbaits also produce large fish.

“Trolling with in-line spinners and crankbaits is another popular method,” he said. “Of course, using live bait such as shad or large minnows is always a popular method to target these fish. From March to May, big swim baits such as red fins are great, too. From February through April, stripers can often be found concentrated in the river portion of the reservoir. At other times of the year, productive locations are variable and likely dependent upon forage abundance.”