Lake Texoma Fishing Guides
What Kind of Fishing Does Lake Texoma Offer? Lake Texoma is best known for year-round striped bass fishing, but anglers also catch white bass, blue catfish, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass. Located on the Texas–Oklahoma border near Denison and Kingston, the lake offers guided fishing with live shad and artificial lures. Steve Buckley launches from Highport Marina in Pottsboro, Texas, while Aaron Sharp launches from Alberta Creek Marina in Kingston, Oklahoma. Find their phone numbers and website links below.
Where Is Lake Texoma?
Lake Texoma sits on the Red River along the Texas–Oklahoma border, near Denison and Pottsboro, Texas, and Kingston, Oklahoma. The Red and Washita rivers feed the reservoir, creating river channels, flats, rocky shorelines, and open-water feeding areas.
Choose your guide’s departure marina before booking lodging. Staying near your launch makes an early fishing trip easier, especially when your guide leaves before sunrise.
What Makes Lake Texoma Striper Fishing Special?
Lake Texoma supports a naturally reproducing striped bass population—something relatively few freshwater reservoirs offer. Flowing water in the Red and Washita rivers provides conditions needed for successful spawning and helps keep striper eggs suspended as they develop.
Natural reproduction and an abundant shad population support a fishery anglers can enjoy throughout the year. Stripers move with baitfish, water temperature, and changing lake conditions, so guides adjust their locations and presentations with the season.
Live Bait Fishing for Stripers
Live threadfin and gizzard shad are staples of Lake Texoma striper fishing. Guides may drift, anchor, or use their trolling motors to hold the boat over feeding fish.
Live bait is a good option for families and beginners because anglers can learn the presentation quickly. Experienced anglers enjoy it too, especially when stripers are feeding aggressively beneath the boat.
Striper Fishing With Artificial Lures
Lake Texoma also offers opportunities to catch stripers on artificial lures. Productive choices include:
- Topwater plugs: For stripers feeding near the surface.
- Swimbaits: For casting to feeding fish or working points and shorelines.
- Slab spoons: For reaching schools holding beneath the boat. Slab Spoons are the most popular Freshwater Striper Lure.
- Soft-plastic flukes on jigheads: For winter deadsticking and other presentations.
If casting lures is your priority, mention it when you book. Your guide can explain which presentations fit the season and current fishing conditions.
Want to learn more about fishing with artificial lures? Steve’s guide to Lake Texoma striper lures covers lure choices for targeting striped bass.
What Else Can You Catch on Lake Texoma?
White Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass
White bass, often called sand bass or sandies, provide fast action when schools gather around baitfish. Small slabs, spoons, swimbaits, and surface lures can all produce. Spring spawning movements also draw white bass toward tributaries.
Hybrid striped bass may be encountered, but Texoma’s signature fishery is its naturally reproducing striped bass population. For a guided trip with Buckley or Sharp, striped bass are the primary attraction.
Blue Catfish and Channel Catfish
Lake Texoma offers both fish-fry catfishing and opportunities to target large blue catfish.
Anglers looking for eating-size fish can target channel cats and smaller blue cats with cut shad and other natural or prepared baits. Spring through fall provides opportunities for these outings, with locations and techniques changing as the water warms and cools.
The approach changes when trophy blue catfish are the goal. Anglers select locations, bait sizes, and tackle specifically for larger fish. Cooler months are a popular time to target trophy blues using fresh cut shad around productive feeding areas.
If a big blue is your main objective, book a catfish specialist and discuss releasing trophy fish before the trip.
Smallmouth, Largemouth, and Spotted Bass
Rocky shorelines, points, riprap, and bluffs provide habitat for smallmouth bass. Largemouth and spotted bass add more options around shoreline cover and offshore structure.
These trips differ from a typical open-water striper charter. Anglers interested in black bass should look for a guide who specifically targets them.
Crappie
Lake Texoma crappie gather around brush piles, submerged timber, docks, and other cover. Minnows and small jigs are standard choices.
Spring brings shallow-water opportunities, while fall and winter can concentrate fish around deeper cover. A crappie specialist can help you find productive structure and fish the right depth.
When Is the Best Time to Fish Lake Texoma?
The best season depends on how you want to fish.
- Spring: Live shad and swimbaits are productive options as stripers move through river arms and feeding areas.
- Summer: Early starts help anglers fish before the strongest heat. Live bait, slabs, and surface-feeding activity provide opportunities.
- Fall: Cooling water and schooling baitfish can create exciting casting, slab, and topwater fishing.
- Winter: Deadsticking soft plastics is a popular striper technique. Trophy blue catfish also attract anglers looking for a different challenge.
Wind, water conditions, and bait movement influence each trip. Tell your guide what kind of fishing you enjoy so you can choose a suitable date and approach.
Planning your trip? Aaron’s complete guide to striper fishing on Lake Texoma explains seasonal patterns, bait selection, and fishing techniques.
Meet Lake Texoma Fishing Guides
Moe’s Tackle Shop supplied fishing lures to Lake Texoma anglers and guides during its years in the tackle business. Those relationships remain part of this website today.
Steve Buckley and Aaron Sharp offer guided striper fishing from opposite sides of the lake. Contact them directly to discuss available dates, group size, preferred fishing methods, and departure details.
Meet Steve Buckley — Buckley Striper Guide Service
Steve Buckley offers guided striper fishing from Highport Marina in Pottsboro, Texas.
A full-time Lake Texoma guide since 2002, Steve offers both live-shad fishing and artificial-lure presentations. His trips welcome families, friends, beginners, and experienced anglers looking to spend a day pursuing stripers with a knowledgeable local guide.
Whether you want to drift live shad, cast swimbaits, or plan a seasonal topwater trip, Steve can discuss the options that fit your group and current conditions. Larger groups can also ask about arranging multiple boats.
Location: Pottsboro, Texas
Departure marina: Highport Marina
Phone: 972-345-8516
Website: Buckley Striper Guide Service
Meet Aaron Sharp — Sharp’s Striper Guide Service
Aaron Sharp offers year-round guided striper fishing from Alberta Creek Marina in Kingston, Oklahoma.
His trips use live threadfin and gizzard shad, with artificial lures available when conditions favor them. Families, beginners, and experienced anglers can discuss the approach that best fits their group.
Aaron follows seasonal baitfish movements and adjusts fishing locations and techniques throughout the year. If you are interested in winter deadsticking, casting swimbaits, or a live-bait trip, tell him what you have in mind when booking.
Location: Kingston, Oklahoma
Departure marina: Alberta Creek Marina
Phone: 580-380-5357
Website: Sharp’s Striper Guide Service
What Should You Ask Before Booking a Guide?
A short conversation helps you choose a trip that fits your expectations. Ask:
- Where does the trip depart, and when should we arrive?
- How long does the trip last, and does it end when a limit is reached?
- What is the total price for our group?
- How many anglers can fish comfortably in one boat?
- Will we use live bait, artificial lures, or both?
- Are rods, reels, bait, tackle, and fish cleaning included?
- What fishing license does each person need?
- What happens if wind or severe weather prevents the trip?
- What should we bring, and is the trip suitable for children?
Read recent reviews and fishing reports as well. Look for comments about communication, preparation, patience, and the overall experience.
Lake Texoma Fishing License and Regulations
Lake Texoma crosses the Texas–Oklahoma border, so your license must cover the water you will fish. A Lake Texoma fishing license provides an option for fishing both sides of the reservoir. Ask your guide which license applies to your trip.
Special harvest rules apply to several species. Check the current official Lake Texoma fishing regulations before fishing, including size limits, daily limits, and rules against culling striped bass.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Texoma Fishing Guides
Can beginners book a Lake Texoma striper fishing trip?
Yes. Steve Buckley and Aaron Sharp welcome anglers with different experience levels. Let your guide know whether anyone is new to fishing and whether children will be joining your group.
Do Lake Texoma guides use live bait or lures?
Both. Live shad are widely used, while topwater plugs, swimbaits, slabs, and soft plastics produce under different conditions. Discuss your preference when booking.
Should I book a guide on the Texas or Oklahoma side?
Choose based on the guide, departure marina, fishing style, and where you plan to stay. Steve Buckley launches from Highport Marina in Pottsboro, Texas. Aaron Sharp launches from Alberta Creek Marina in Kingston, Oklahoma.
How much does a Lake Texoma guided fishing trip cost?
Pricing depends on the guide, number of anglers, and trip arrangement. Contact Steve or Aaron directly for current rates, available dates, deposit requirements, and what the trip includes.
What should I bring on a guided trip?
Bring the required fishing license, weather-appropriate clothing, sun protection, drinks, and snacks. Ask your guide about coolers, life jackets for children, and transporting cleaned fish.
Plan Your Lake Texoma Fishing Trip
Whether you want live-bait striper fishing with the family or a hands-on trip casting artificial lures, start by discussing your plans with Steve Buckley or Aaron Sharp.
Choose a departure marina that works for your group, reserve your date, and mention that you found them through Moe’s Tackle Shop.