Have been getting the new boat broke in on hours and not fishing much except with trying out the new downriggers. Got back into action on August 3rd. Fishing was tough for us on that day. Reports are that it is up and down right now which is about right for this time of year. We had a lot of fish on topwater early but did not pull many good fish out of the groups. Most were too small to think about keeping. I didn't find any fish that I wanted to try slabbing with young kids on board so we went to downriggers. We did catch on the downriggers on some ledges but it was just a tough outing.

Took the new boat out today for it's first trip. The wife and I along with another guide buddy and his wife. Wanted to see how things were in the boat and under the water. Fishing is still tough most days and limits not being caught by anybody that I know. Catching fish we are doing but it hasn't been easy. A friend and I believe that when they drew down the flood waters that it took the cooler water off the bottom and left only warmer water in the lake. It has left the fish scattered and not sure what to do. We need a GREAT BIG rain to cool things down out there. It may not get easy again until the lake turns over but that is why it is called "fishing".

By the way, the wife got to bring the first fish into the new boat and I thought it was pretty cool. We were down-rigging and checking out the new electric down-riggers. Come on down and fish with us! I will put up a picture of the new boat after we finish getting it all rigged up when they finish with the seats for me.

7/17 was finally a day where the fish cooperated. Front came through with rain during the night and the morning stayed cloudy. Fished right around the Caney/Soldier area with umbrellas and slabs. Fished in water from 30 to 65 feet deep with most fish hanging around the 30 foot area. Good day for fishing.

Getting the new boat fitted on Saturday and Monday. Will be doing some break in work on the new boat before my next trip comes up. I am really wanting to see who the first customers in the new boat will be.

Report for July 10, 11 & 12 doesn't vary much at all. It is hot and the fish are not cooperating well for this time of year. Vast majority of guides are using down-riggers to get to fish. I am still using umbrellas without down-riggers and getting them. Down-riggers will be on the boat soon. We can still get them on slabs but it is hard to find the schools stacked up for doing it. Fish are remaining scattered more than they should be. I have been starting over the river channel near the North Island and finishing up over on Table Top and the Washita Flats. These fish had better get gathered up and start acting like stripers or I may have to get out the dynamite! Good times being had while we are out and still catching nice box fish, it is just not as easy as it should be.

Today was pretty much like yesterday. Didn't go farther than 2 miles from Soldier Creek. Fish in shallow water and fish in deep water. Had 3 young ones on board today so we couldn't throw topwater but it was good for those that did. Throw larger topwaters and the big fish will come up through the little guys and hit it. Small chug bugs equals small fish. Did better on slabs today and was catching them in 38 feet of water on a ledge. Used the umbrellas again today and did well but when that slowed up it was slabs. Caught fish with the umbrellas in mostly 60 plus feet of water with fish suspended at 20 to 30 feet. Not out again until Friday because of appointments. Good fishing everybody!

Got to fish again today! Foot still healing but good enough to go out. The fish have moved back into this area of the lake and I am really glad about that. Don't have to drive near as far to start fishing. With the moon almost full and no clouds, I knew it would be a monster to get bait. I just went out with slabs and umbrellas to fish today. We tried slabs early but it just wasn't stacked with enough fish. We put out the umbrellas and it was game on! We never went back to slabbing because it was too much fun just bringing in the umbrellas with multiple fish on them. Fish were caught on everything out there today. We fished in water from 29 to 65 feet deep. Most fish were caught in the 25 to 30 foot range. I hope tomorrow brings the same.

Well, if you read my reports you will remember that I have had some foot problems. It finally needed some medical attention on Thursday. Had to do a little cutting on it so it would drain. I had to send my customers to another guide that was open and able to take them out and catch fish with them.

I can now get a shoe on with part of it cut away and my foot wrapped to keep it dry. This afternoon was my first time out. Fish are on top and letting you see where the schools are out. I was slabbing fish in 60 feet of water and catching them between 20 and 30 feet. Also dragging umbrellas through them when they thin out to get fish in the cooler. Glad to be back out on the water and catching fish.

I have trips on Monday and Tuesday and will let you know what we did. Topwater action is going, but I have too many customers on the boat for casting, so we will be using slabs and umbrellas. Bait tank is close for now! (thank goodness!)

It is HOT out there! Bait has not been any easier to get. 6/30 the skies were bluebird and almost zero wind. Could not be much worse for fishing. Started slow and stayed slow. Got some fish on bait and some on slabs. Most fish were caught in deep water up to 75 feet catching at 35 feet. Did catch a couple on the Washita flats going in at 24' but they didn't really want to bit their either. Tough day!

7/1 we at least had a little chop on the water. It looked like it was going to be really good for slabbing but the down-rigging boats were on the fish heavy and kept them scattered. We need good groups to slab on and they just couldn't stay grouped up. This was all in deep water of 70 to 80 feet just burning the slabs up as fast as we could reel. Hopefully I won't need much bait any day. We went over to the Washita flats and drifted some shad in 24' of water on the way in. Caught a couple of nice fish there and missed several pull downs. Better day than the day before so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Just had a date open for July 11th from people moving their trip date, so give me a call if you are looking for a last minute booking.

The heat has been on! Not your best striper conditions with bluebird skies with little or no wind and 100 degree temps. The slab fishing has not turned on great yet so we have been drowning bait, which still takes about 3 hours of net throwing to get.

I have been fishing mostly up near Eisenhower Marina early in the morning to get the most fish before it gets slow. We can mark fish all over the lake during the day but getting them to bite has been another story. Catching some double digit fish and having to throw back overs. Catching box fish under 20" has been difficult. We may wind up with a big box but limits have been near impossible.

Hear today that they hit slabs very well in an area I will try tomorrow and see if it is steady. Hoping for the fish to get in a normal pattern so things will be easier. Bookings are slowing down because of the Summer heat so maybe I can post more often on my results.

I can just bundle the trips starting on 6/16 through 6/21 under one place.

Bait has been real tough to come by and not getting any easier. I have a plan to change that on Tuesday.....we will see how that goes.

We have been fishing mostly on the East side of the lake. We have been catching fish on bait from 70 feet of water all the way to 12 feet. We anchor in the deeper water and drift in the shallow.

Fish are not on any good pattern right now and making it tough on me. I am hoping that the flood hasn't messed up the patter for months to come because we should be getting topwater action and slab fish but it just isn't happening yet.

I will hang in there and hope for the best. Start a four day run in the morning and I will report as I can.