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A mail survey was sent to 1,502 anglers who fished at Lake Texoma between September, 1996 and October, 1997. Additionally, a separate mail survey was sent to 145 professional fishing guides who provide services at the reservoir. Anglers were intercepted during creel surveys conducted by the Inland Fisheries Division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Fisheries Division, and they were asked to participate in the survey and provide their address information. Guides were selected if they advertised their services in the local area. Both mail surveys were developed and administered by the Human Dimensions of Fisheries Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University. There were 1,084 anglers and 60 guides who returned usable questionnaires. The effective response rate was 73% for the angler survey and 46% for the guide survey after nondeliverables were excluded. Anglers were asked questions about their overall fishing activity and their fishing activity specifically at Lake Texoma, including their attitudes towards existing and proposed regulation. Additionally, they were asked about their striped bass fishing, use of live bait and attitudes towards its regulation, and their satisfaction with striper fishing and management. Guides were asked about their guiding activity at Lake Texoma as well as their attitudes on live bait use and regulation, and problems they face while guiding at the reservoir. The executive summary focuses on results that are generalizable to the population of Lake Texoma anglers. Additionally, the report explores group differences among guided anglers and non-guided Oklahoma, Texas, and out-of-state anglers. Lake Texoma Angler Survey Results
Characteristics of Anglers and their Fishing Participation at Lake Texoma
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Forty percent (40%) of all anglers fishing at Lake Texoma were non-guided Texas anglers, 35% were non-guided Oklahoma anglers, 7% were non-guided anglers from other states, and 18% were guided anglers from various states. Out-of-state anglers traveled from 20 different states with most coming from Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, and Louisiana.
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Anglers indicated they fished for an average of 34 days at Lake Texoma in the previous year. On average, anglers targeted striped bass for 16 of these days, black bass for 8 days, and other species for 10 of these days. Anglers reported fishing at Lake Texoma for an average of 15.8 years. |
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Most anglers supported the current length and bag limits in place at Lake Texoma for striped bass and black basses. About 66% supported the "10-fish daily bag limit for striped bass, only 2 of which may be over 20 inches." About 68% supported the "5-fish daily bag limit for black basses," and about 73% supported the "14-inch minimum size limit for black basses".
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When asked to indicate whether they supported possible standardization of fishing regulations for all species of fish (not just striped bass and black basses), and gear restrictions at Lake Texoma, most anglers were in support of the "same length limits for each species of fish on both the Texas and Oklahoma portions of Lake Texoma" (86%), the "same bag limits for each species of fish on both the Texas and Oklahoma portions of Lake Texoma" (86.8%), and "the same gear regulations for different types of fishing (trot lines, jug lines, etc..) on both the Texas and Oklahoma portions of Lake Texoma" (85.3%).
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Characteristics of Angler Fishing Trips to Lake Texoma
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We estimated that there were 179,978 one-person, multiple-day fishing trips made by anglers to Lake Texoma during the study period (October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997). The average party size was about 2.5 people so this amounted to about 200 fishing parties per day on the reservoir.
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Overall, anglers indicated they traveled an average of 139 one-way miles to fish Lake Texoma on the trip when they were intercepted.
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When asked to rate the importance of various statements about the reasons they fished at Lake Texoma, most anglers rated "for relaxation"(82%), "to be outdoors" (77.8), "to get away from the regular routine" (72.7%), "for the experience of the catch" (71.6%) and "to experience unpolluted natural surroundings" (69.8%) as very or extremely important. |
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When asked to rate their fishing on the day when they were intercepted, 40% of all anglers indicated the fishing was “very good” or "good," 34.5% indicated it was “average”, and 25.5% felt the fishing was "poor" or “very poor.” |
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Overall, 54.6% of anglers indicated they were “very” or "extremely satisfied" with their fishing trip to Lake Texoma, 33% were “moderately satisfied”, and 12% were “slightly” or “not at all satisfied”. |
Striped Bass Fishing at Lake Texoma
Anglers who fished for striped bass indicated that they did so for an average of about 21 days during the study period. |
When asked for the length and weight of striped bass they preferred to retain for eating, most (70%) indicated they preferred to retain 15-20 inch stripers weighing from 2-5 pounds (76%). The average was 17 inches and 4 pounds. When asked what they considered the measurements of a trophy striped bass to be, most (56%) indicated it would be 24 to 30 inches and would weigh from 18-25 pounds (51%). The average definition of a trophy striped bass was 30 inches and 20 pounds. |
About 62% of striped bass anglers reported they used live bait to fish for striped bass in the previous year. Additionally, the striped bass anglers who indicated using live bait did so on 62% of the days they targeted stripers. |
Most live bait anglers (81%) indicated they used shad most often for striped bass fishing, followed by minnows (11%), and shiners (7%). Most anglers (56%) reported they catch their own bait from Lake Texoma for their fishing trips. About 16% indicated they purchase their bait from a bait/tackle shop, and 28% reported it was provided as part of a guide package. |
Most striped bass anglers (65%) agreed with the statement that “anglers that use live bait catch more striped bass at Lake Texoma than those who use artificial bait”; 25% were neutral, and only 11% disagreed with the statement. A plurality (45%) agreed with statement that “anglers that use live bait catch bigger striped bass at Lake Texoma than those who use artificial bait”; 38% were neutral, and only 18% disagreed with the statement. |
Anglers were asked whether they would support each of five management alternatives for striped bass related to the issue of angler induced hooking mortality. There was minimal support for each proposed alternative. Only 32% of striped bass anglers supported a daily bag limit which requires the first ten fish caught to be retained regardless of length during certain months of the year. Fewer anglers (24%) supported the same regulation that would require the first ten fish caught to be retained throughout the year. Only 30% of striper anglers supported “restricting the use of natural bait (live or dead) for striped bass during certain months of the year”. Even fewer anglers (21%) supported a live bait restriction “throughout the year”. Slightly more striped bass anglers (46%) supported “restricting the number of fishing lines an angler can have in the water at one time” |
Overall, 45.6% of striped bass anglers indicated they were very or extremely satisfied with striped bass fishing at Lake Texoma; 37.9% were moderately satisfied, and 16.4% were not at all or only slightly satisfied. |
When asked to rate the management of striped bass by the TPWD and ODWC, 62.3% indicated it was good or excellent, 28% indicated it was average, and 9.7% felt it was poor or very poor. |
Lake Texoma Guide Survey Results
The following section presents results from the 60 guides who responded to the survey. Caution should be used in generalizing the results in this section to the entire population of guides at Lake Texoma because of the low response rate for the guide survey (46%). |
Characteristics of Fishing Guides and their Guiding Activity at Lake Texoma |
Lake Texoma guides were mainly non-Hispanic (97%), white (97%) males (100%) with an average age of 51 years. Most guides (51%) had completed at least one year of college. |
On average, guides indicated they have been guiding in fresh water for an average of 11 years; they had been guiding at Lake Texoma for slightly over 10 years. |
About 59% indicated they were a full-time guide and 41% operated on a part-time basis. About 67% indicated they provided only full-day guided fishing trips, 7% provided only half-day trips, and 26% provided both. |
Guides reported they provided services to anglers on an average of 87 days from September, 1996 to October, 1997. About 69% of the days they guided were in October, November, December, April, May, and June. |
About 98% of guides indicated striped bass was the most important species to their business; 2% indicated smallmouth bass. |
Striped Bass Fishing and Live Bait Use at Lake Texoma |
Guides reported they each made about 89 trips (full and half-day) for striped bass during the study period. |
About 92% of guides indicated their customers used live bait on trips. Guides who used live bait indicated they did so on 74% of their trips which targeted striped bass. |
All guides that used live bait indicated they used shad most on their striped bass trips; 70% used threadfin shad most often whereas 30% used gizzard shad. All guides (100%) indicated they catch their own bait from Lake Texoma. |
When asked to agree or disagree with statements about live bait fishing, most guides (79%) agreed that "customers who use live bait catch more striped bass at Lake Texoma than those who use artificial baits;" 10.5% were neutral and 10.5% disagreed. A plurality of guides (35.7%) agreed that "customers who use live bait catch bigger striped bass at Lake Texoma than those who use artificial bait;" 30.4% were neutral and 33.9% disagreed. |
Attitudes toward Current and Proposed Striped Bass Regulations
When asked whether they support or oppose the current management regulation and possible management alternatives for striped bass at Lake Texoma, most guides supported the current length and bag regulation whereas most opposed management alternatives related to striped bass. About 90% supported the "10-fish daily bag limit for striped bass, only 2 of which may be over 20 inches;" |
In addition to the five management alternatives rated by anglers, guides were asked to indicate their support or opposition to two additional management alternatives related to harvest of striped bass greater than 20 inches. A plurality of guides (47%) indicated support for "a limit on the number of striped bass over 20" an angler can keep per year." However, about 44% opposed this regulation that would require a tagging system for the retention of large striped bass. Guides were also less supportive of "a requirement that all striped bass larger than 20 inches be released." Only 7% supported a catch and release requirement for large striped bass; with about 90% opposed to this alternative. |
In general, guides were in agreement with anglers in their opposition of regulations designed to reduce angler induced mortality of striped bass. About 39% of guides supported "a daily bag limit which requires the first 10 fish striped bass caught to be retained regardless of length during certain months of the year;" 19% supported the same regulation "throughout the year." Only 23% of guides supported "restricting the use of natural bait (live or dead) for striped bass fishing during certain months of the year;" 19% supported the same regulation "throughout the year." About 36% supported "restricting the number of fishing lines an angler can have in the water at one time." |
Satisfaction and Management Ratings
When asked how satisfied they were with striped bass fishing at Lake Texoma, 27.6% of guides indicated they were "extremely satisfied," 44.8% were "very satisfied," 20.7% were "moderately satisfied," 5.2% were "slightly satisfied," and only 1.7% were "not at all satisfied" with their striped bass fishing. |
When asked how they would rate the management of striped bass at Lake Texoma by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, 32.8% of guides gave the management agencies an "excellent" rating, 37.9% a rating of "good," and 20.7% gave an "average" mark. Only 5.2% gave the agencies a "poor" grade, and only 3.4% gave a "very poor" grade. |
Discussion
A greater proportion of Lake Texoma anglers have a first species preference for striped bass than statewide in Oklahoma and Texas; fewer than two percent in each state's most recent statewide angler survey indicated striped bass as their favorite freshwater fish compared to 30% of Lake Texoma anglers. However, most Lake Texoma anglers do not fish exclusively for striped bass, but rather are anglers who prefer to catch other freshwater species (even elsewhere) and occasionally fish for striped bass. Nevertheless, results from this study reaffirm that the reservoir's featured species is the striped bass. Furthermore, when the group of anglers studied choose to fish for striped bass, they do so primarily at Lake Texoma; the reservoir is a striper fishing destination. |
Anglers appear satisfied with the current situation of catching good numbers of striped bass with an occasional trophy. Furthermore, both anglers and guides strongly support the current regulation on striped bass, but they were generally opposed to any new regulations that could possibly further improve the fishery in terms of producing trophy striped bass; this despite open-ended comments from many anglers indicating they have noticed a decline in the size of their catches. |
Live bait regulations designed to reduce angler-induced hooking mortality were central to the management alternatives rated by anglers and guides, however, they received little support. Live bait fishing appears to be an accepted method of fishing at the reservoir for both anglers and guides. Additionally, there is a perception among anglers and guides that live bait is better for catching more, and to a lesser extent, bigger striped bass at Lake Texoma than artificial lures. Accordingly, these observations suggest any changes from the status quo would likely meet strong resistance from anglers as well as guides, and, quite possibly, adversely affect recreational fishing as a tourism product in the region. |
The use of live bait, most notably threadfin and gizzard shad, for striped bass fishing has quickly "diffused" through the population of guides and anglers since its probable introduction in the mid-1980's. About 92% of guides reported using live bait for striped bass fishing. Among anglers, nearly two-thirds are using live bait while striper fishing, Although the biological information related to striped bass fishing indicates that a reduction in live bait use would most likely increase the number of trophy fish, anglers do not appear ready to change their behavior at the present time. A different, and less direct approach besides prohibiting its use may be needed to achieve a reduction in live bait fishing, as it appears to be firmly entrenched as a fishing practice at Lake Texoma. |
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