Fast Retrieve, Be Ready for Stripers #fishing #flyfishing #tips

Fishing a tailrace, be ready for stripers. In this case, was having a blast catching small Stripers and White Bass working a Clouser Minnow on a fast retrieve. 

Tried various retrieves but overall they wanted a fast retrieve like in the video!

What Retrieve Was I Using For Striped Bass? #fishing #flyfishing #tips

 Answering the mail on the retrieve I used when fishing Denison Dam, tailrace to Texoma! I was using a fast retrieve with short pulls of the fly line, setting the hook when I felt resistance. At the end of the retrieve, I would keep the fly moving by sweeping my rod from left to right. Often getting strikes while sweeping the rod.

NEW Real Time Release for Denison Dam | What is the Waterflow Status at the Lake Texoma's Tailrace?

NEW VERSION

Checkout the new and improved version of the Real Time Release for Denison Dam! It has been updated to reflect the current data sources posted on the Corps of Engineers Hydropower Operations' and the Southwestern Power Administration's websites - see below:

• Denison / Texoma Hydropower Operations
• Southwestern Power Administration - Generation Schedules

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Several years ago we provided Readers details about how to read the hydropower data for Denson Dam - see "FYI - Real Time Release" in our archived blog - CityOfAllenFishing.Blogspot.com.

In the new version, we provide a detailed Method of Procedure (MOP) that steps through reading the information from the two websites listed above to determine the current waterflow for Denison Dam and the anticipated waterflow in the next 24 hours.

Do check the MOP out and be sure to bookmark this post for ease of reference for upcoming trips to Denison Dam!

Method of Procedure (MOP) - Determining the Real Time Release for Denison Dam

FYI - Real Time Release For Denison Dam

Here is our most popular post the CityOfAllenFishing.Blogspot.com.

It details how to read the release schedule when the Power Authority is generating power that will increase the waterflow at the Denison Dam tailrace.

It's a popular Striped Bass fishing spot for the Team! Do check it out when you get the chance!

However, we updated the information and created a document for ease of reference.  Go to Method Of Procedure (MOP) Determining the Real Time Release for Denison Dam!

Do checkout our other posted at Reel Cast Fishing on Spreaker!

Podcasts On The Fly musing… Podcast 14 - Three Lessons Learned Fishing Denison Dam

This round we have a Podcast where we talk about Three Lessons Learned Fishing Denison Dam!

Podcast

No video podcast but here is a related video that talks about more lessons learned!

Podcasts On The Fly musing… Podcast 11 - Denison Dam Observations

Podcast where we talk Denison Dam and fishing the tailrace!

Podcast

Video Podcast

Closed Out 2021 Kayak Fishing Lake Texoma | One Striper, Two Carp or Buffalo? | GoFish CAM

Warm temps had us setting out the kayaks for a go at the Striped Bass at Lake Texoma. Our Texoma Licences were good till 12/31/21 and the Annual COE Permit was good to go till August 2022.

Foggy trip up the road from Allen but things cleared and we put in at East Burns Run with the plan to dead drift flukes and shad for the Striped Bass.

Water was chilly, wind was not too bad at all, and waves were not an issue. The only issue we had were no Stripers.

Not wanting to closeout 2021 on a strikeout headed to Denison Dam to fish the tailrace. Fishing Buddy hooked up with one Striped Bass and yours truly although did not catch a fish, did get some video footage of what was lurking below.

What a difference a day makes,… or in this case months. Earlier in the year, we fished Denison Dam and put in the GoFish Cam. There were fish everywhere… this round, saw two fish only – looked like Carp or Buffalo.

Here’s to 2022 and more fishing fun and more “Learn to Fish by our Trials and Errors”!

Happy New Year to you and yours!

Fishing Denison Dam | Shad Worked for #stripedbass

Day after Thanksgiving decided to fish Denison Dam on the Oklahoma side for a go at the Striped Bass that tend to lurk near the drainage pipe that flows even though they are not generating power or releasing water.

Brought medium spinning gear and the pier rods with the Penn Squall 15 reels that worked well on our trip to Galveston earlier in the year.

Bite was slow but then picked up later once our fishing partner fund them lurking near the far wall. No Bruisers but still had a great time!

Denison Dam Fishing | Before You Go Fishing Do This? | Re-Broadcast

Rebroadcast of an impromptu livestream providing fishing updates from the Team. This round -” Denison Dam Fishing | Before You Go Fishing Do This” I provide updates to our archived blog post that details reading the generation release schedule and data, and then offer suggestions before you go to Denison Dam. Check it out!

Archived from CityOfAllenFishing.Blogspot.com: https://cityofallenfishing.blogspot.com/2008/03/fyi-denison-dam-real-time-release.html

Denison Dam Fishing | GoFish Cam at the Oklahoma Wall

Made it back for more Denison Dam fishing for striped bass. Used our surfcasting gear to fish the Oklahoma Wall and worked the area using a Float and Jig/Fly Rig. Fishing buddy limited out; yours truly did not.

Lots of small stripers but did keep enough for dinner. No catch and cook this round but did get lots of underwater footage with the @GoFish Cam …learned there are lots of small stripers along the Oklahoma Wall which we anticipated given past trips. But, also noticed lots of small catfish, too!

Longer than normal video… decided to minimize the edits and post more raw footage from the GoFish Cam in case viewers see something we missed.

So far, we noticed Striped Bass, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, a glimpse of Buffalo, and a Bluegill. Do comment if you see others we may have missed!

Denison Dam Fishing | Eight Lessons Learned fishing the OK Wall?

Fished Denison Dam on the Oklahoma side – specifically, the Oklahoma Wall for Striped Bass. Fun time catching them on a beefed up version of the Bubble Fly Rig – a heavy casting float and a clouser style minnow.

Plan was to fish the Texas side with the Switch Rod. Had to adjust to the fish and the pattern. No fly fishing from the OK Wall. Luckily, had a back up bait casting rod and Dave’s Ski Tackle was nearby for picking up a heavy casting float and jigs!

Do checkout the video!

Eight Lessons Learned fishing the OK Wall?
1 Tag your stringer when fishing a tailrace in Oklahoma!
2 Bring a heavy casting float and shad as backup.
3 Keep fishing even after shad is gone, stripers will strike the fishing fly.
4 Fish the current or the bubble line where the fish are lurking.
5 Stop at “Dave’s Ski and Tackle”.
6 Moving lure, fishing fly, or bait was preferred.
7 Stay up to date with fishing regulations.
8 Every cast is a chance to catch a fish.

Denison Dam Fishing | Catch and Cook Striped Bass | #flyfishing #stripedbass #catchandcook

More fun fishing Denison Dam last Saturday for Striped Bass! Bite was slower than the weekend before but was able to catch a few; ended up keeping three Striped Bass for the Catch and Cook.

Brought the Cabelas TLR 6wt Switch Rod with the Echo Ion 6/7 Wt Fly Reel again. And correcting from our last video, the fly line was a Rio InTouch Chucker with integrated running line.

Stripers were hitting mainly striking on the Bennet’s Lunch and Craft Fur Clouser Minnows this round. Did catch a couple of White Bass as well, and found an anchor! Overall was a fun time!

For ease of reference, here are key places to skip to in the video:

• Catch Section – 2:41
• Cook Section – 9:17
• Cleaning – 9:17
• Seasoning – 12:52
• Cooking – 15:37

Simple Recipe:

• Clean, scale, and remove head and fins
• Season liberally with Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, and Paprika
• Pan fry on high heat for 5-10 minutes each side

Do give it a try!

Gear Used

• Echo Ion 6/7wt Fly Reel: https://amzn.to/2WxKnm1
• Cabelas TLR Switch Rod (11′-4pc-6wt / Model TLR-1106-4)
• Rio Switch InTouch Chucker Line #5: http://amzn.to/2r2wRth

Denison Dam Fishing | Lots of Stripers on the Fly!

Lotta fun fishing Denison Dam Saturday for Striped Bass! Brought the Cabelas TLR 6wt Switch Rod with the Echo Ion 6/7 Wt Fly Reel and the OPST Skagit Head.

Bite was good on small stripers hitting on the Denison Dam Dawber, Bennet’s Lunch, Bucktail and Craft Fur Clouser Minnows.

Fast retrieves using short pulls and fast pulls worked, then they wanted a 10 count delay, later a 5 count delay, and then later no delay in the start of the retrieve.

Also, did get better hook up rates by dipping the rod tip in the water while retrieving. And then… later had a high stick, sweep the rod style retrieve that seemed to work well.

All of this before the started generating power.

After they started generating, then it was cast upriver, let the fly drift downriver and swing the fly, and then twitch the fly as you retrieved in back upriver at an angle.

Learned lots while there… bottomline: vary your retrieve, change fishing flies, and adjust to the fish as the pattern changes!

Catch and Cook Denison Dam Striped Bass #denisondam #stripedbass #recipe

Had a fun time at Denison Dam – tailrace to Texoma, on Saturday June 20! Opted for live bait of Bluegill and Sunfish to try for Striped Bass and Catfish.

Turned out only one Striped Bass. It was a nice one that went 19″ in length. Went for a 3″ Bluegill. Did a few more bites but nothing solid.

Go to bait for others that were limiting out on small “schoolies” was frozen shad, shrimp, and chicken livers. Next round, will make it a point to bring bait and not go all in on live bait.

That said, the Okuma 12′ MH Rockaway Surf Rod and Pflueger Spinning Reel worked well… can cast far with minimal effort. A much lighter combo compared to the 10′ Rodmaster and Penn Battle II 6000.

Given only one fish this round, posted a catch and cook showing how we clean and prep and then cook a striped bass. For its size, we opted to steak the striped bass and skillet fry it… tasty!

Ingredients:

• Soy Sauce
• Tuna Fish Sauce
• Ginger
• Garlic

Fry 4″ to 5″ each side

Gear Used:

• Okuma 12′ MH Rockaway Surf Rod: https://amzn.to/2CqBO6J
• Pflueger Spinning Reel: https://amzn.to/2zRIdXI
• Penn Battle II 6000: https://amzn.to/2NmFuZq
• Rodmaster 10′ Spinning Rod: Not Available – Discontinued

COAF Live Chat - Quick Update Denison Dam, Surf Rod and Reel, and Micro Fly Rod

This round we talk briefly of the run to Denison Dam where we only caught one Striped Bass using live bait – Bluegill! But, it’s enough for a catch and cook… so do stay tuned for more!

Of note, the Okuma Rockaway Surf Rod and Pfleuger President Spinning Reel worked well. Can cast a mile and do it all day as it is lightweight and balanced well with the live bait rifg we used today!

Lastly, the micro fly rod and micro fishing bug has us on a roll again at our local ponds. Two piece Micro Fly Rod has been a workhorse for the us. Then, a Viewer gives up a tip… use a practice fly rod!

Liked the idea,… ordered Redington’s and Orvis’ rods… able to catch a fish or two with the Redington; Orvis one arrived this morning. Not fished it yet but did try the 2wt Echo Ion Fly Reel and WF 2wt line… it works nicely!

Do stay tuned for more updates on fishing!

Live Update at Denison

iFishNews Fishing Podcast 11 - Denison Dam Observations

Lucked out and was able to fish Denison Dam – tailrace to Lake Texoma, two days in a row. First day, temps were in the 90s and the river was flowing while they were generating power. Next day, cold front rolled in, dropping the temps to the 60s. No power generations, minimal water flow… able to observe what a difference a day makes – specifically, the river and the change in water level. Do listen in on the Podcast, or check out the video version on our YouTube Channel – COAF Field Team!

(Podcast has migrated to the iFishNews Fishing Podcast Series - Click Link)

Fishing Denison Dam - Tough Go #flyfishing #buffalo

Had a fun but tough time fishing Denison Dam Tuesday morning. Windy conditions and lots of waterflow from the power plant.

They were releasing water, but was able to work different areas on the Oklahoma side.

No striped bass but did see others catching them. Did catch as well as lose a Buffalo or two… was able to sight cast to schools that were feeding in a protected cove in the shallows.

Fun stuff!

PS: Fished Denison Dam Wednesday, June 10, 2020… another tough go. But, they were not generating. More video to come… here is the onsite update for now.

Slow Day at Denison Dam

Checked out the action at Denison Dam today.  Was slow on the Oklahoma side, managed one bite but no hook up.  Then, checked out the water discharge area on the Oklahoma side.  Could see some big fish lurking in the area but none were willing to bite.  Went across the Dam to check out the action at the Texas Wall.  Not much happening, so was ready to call the day a bust... except stopped at Bethany Lakes on the way home and caught one Bluegill!

Click-on Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

Denison Today

Fished Denison Dam today.  Hot temps and slow action were the case this trip.  Managed to catch a few Catfish and several little Stripers.  Interesting to have the Stripers go for Chicken Livers!  Later in the afternoon, the power plant started generating, really clouded the water with the lake "turning over" - water was cloudy, green, and smelled like sulfur.  Still had fun catching them!

Click-on 2012's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

Slow Action at Denison Dam This Round

Ran up the road yesterday and fished the tailrace.  Had a number of strikes but missed setting the hook.  When we arrived the power plant was generating, saw some surface activity in the area, but only managed to catch three - two Striped Bass and a Catfish.  Released one Striper, and kept the Catfish and other Striper that was deep hooked for Dinner.  Oh well, better luck next round!