Last Updated: February 2026
Quick Answer: Are Slab Spoons Good for Lake Texoma Stripers?
Yes — slab spoons are one of the most effective lures for striped bass on Lake Texoma because they sink quickly, match baitfish, and allow precise depth control. Most strikes occur on the controlled fall, making proper technique critical.
How to Fish a Slab Spoon for Stripers on Lake Texoma
If there were only one artificial lure you could carry onto Lake Texoma, many experienced guides would choose a slab spoon.
Why?
Because few lures catch striped bass as consistently across changing seasons and water depths.
Whether fish are holding near the bottom, suspended over structure, or feeding aggressively, slab spoons allow anglers to quickly reach the strike zone and present a baitfish profile stripers recognize immediately.
After decades guiding on Texoma, Captain Steve Buckley considers the slab spoon one of the most dependable tools in striper fishing.
Why Slab Spoons Work So Well
Striped bass frequently hold in deeper water — especially during:
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Summer heat
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Winter cold
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Post-front conditions
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Midday periods
Slab spoons excel because they:
✅ sink rapidly
✅ imitate dying baitfish
✅ trigger reaction bites
✅ stay vertical in the strike zone
Few lures cover deep fish better.
The #1 Rule of Slab Spoon Fishing
👉 Locate the fish first.
Modern sonar has transformed striper fishing.
Once fish are marked:
Drop directly to their depth.
Do not fish blindly.
Successful anglers fish where the stripers actually are.
The Most Common Mistake Anglers Make
Slack line on the drop.
Avoid it at all costs.
👉 Nearly 80% of strikes happen as the spoon falls.
Always control the descent so you can detect subtle bites.
This single adjustment dramatically increases hookups.
How to Vertical Jig a Slab Spoon
Vertical jigging is the foundation of slab spoon fishing on Lake Texoma.
Step-by-Step:
1️⃣ Drop the spoon to the bottom or the depth of marked fish.
2️⃣ Lift the rod about one foot.
3️⃣ Control the fall — never free slack.
4️⃣ Repeat while working upward through the water column.
You are systematically presenting the lure to every fish you mark.
Depth control equals success.
Cover the Entire Water Column
Professional guides rarely stay locked to one depth.
Instead:
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Start near the bottom
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Move upward in increments
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Track how much line each reel turn retrieves
Once fish respond — duplicate the depth.
Precision matters.
Adjust Your Jigging Speed by Season
👉 Summer: Faster lifts trigger reaction strikes.
👉 Winter: Slow, subtle movements produce better results.
Let water temperature guide your cadence.
The “Yo-Yo” Technique for Suspended Fish
When stripers suspend off the bottom:
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Drop the spoon
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Reel several turns
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Let it fall again
This creates a wounded baitfish effect that stripers struggle to ignore.
Stay ready — strikes are often aggressive.
Casting Slab Spoons for Active Fish
Most anglers think slab spoons are only for vertical fishing.
Not true.
When fish are spread out:
Cast the spoon away from the boat and let it flutter down.
This covers water efficiently and reaches fish quickly.
Upgrade Your Hook for More Hookups
Adding a dressed treble hook can increase visibility and attract extra attention.
Look for:
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Bucktail
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Flash materials
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Durable construction
Avoid feather hooks — they tend to break down quickly after multiple fish.
Best Times to Throw Slab Spoons on Lake Texoma
While effective year-round, slab spoons shine when fish are deep or heavily schooled.
Prime Situations:
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Summer structure fishing
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Winter patterns
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Post-frontal conditions
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Midday slowdowns
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Suspended bait schools
When stripers refuse other presentations…
The slab spoon often saves the trip.
Build a Complete Artificial Lure Strategy
Slab spoons are just one piece of a successful Lake Texoma approach.
👉 Learn when to throw swimbaits and how to capitalize on explosive surface bites with topwater plugs in our complete guide to the Best Striper Lures for Lake Texoma.
Master the Slab Spoon — Catch More Stripers
Few lures offer the versatility, depth control, and reliability of a slab spoon.
Understanding how to control the fall, cover the water column, and adjust cadence with seasonal conditions dramatically improves results.
For anglers targeting deeper fish, this lure is often the difference between an average outing and a standout day on Lake Texoma.
👉 Want to shorten the learning curve? Fishing with an experienced Lake Texoma striper guide helps you stay on active fish and refine techniques faster. Follow Lake Texoma Striper Guide for more information.
Original Article (Published 2024)
The content below is the original version of this article. It has been retained for transparency but may not reflect current fishing strategies or Captain Steve Buckley’s latest guidance.
Related Lake Texoma Striper Fishing Resources
If you’re planning a trip or researching seasonal patterns, regulations, or tactics, explore these in-depth Lake Texoma resources:
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👉 Lake Texoma Striper Fishing Regulations – Daily limits, size rules, and licensing requirements.
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👉 Complete Guide to Live Bait Fishing for Striped Bass on Lake Texoma – Shad selection, rigging methods, and depth strategy.
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👉 How Much Does a Lake Texoma Fishing Guide Cost? – What to expect when booking a professional trip.
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👉 Lake Texoma Fishing Guide Prices – Half-day and full-day trip options.
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👉 Contact Buckley Striper Guide Service – Book your Lake Texoma striper fishing trip today.
The Best Lake Texoma Striper Lure-Slab Spoons
Guide Steve Buckley slab spoon fishes for Striper on Texoma
Most Striper Anglers will know how to vertical jig slab spoons. Here is the number one Lake Texoma Striper Fishing Tip, locate fish! Once you locate fish on your sonar simply drop the slab spoon to the depth of the fish and jig or lift your rod up about a foot. Now is the part where 90% of anglers make a mistake! Drop your rod back down a foot, but control the decent! DO NOT let slack in your line on the drop! 80% of your strikes will occur on the drop! I start by dropping my 1.5oz slab spoon to the bottom (20 feet). My first move is simply lifting the slab enough to get it off the bottom. Then I drop the slab back down to the bottom. We have now covered the bottom striper fish we are marking. Follow Lake Texoma Striper Fishing Tips for more information!
Cover The Water Collum with Slab Spoons
My next lift is about a foot, then control drop the slab to the bottom. We have now covered from 20 feet to 19 feet. You should always know how much line you take up on each turn of the reel. We will do a video on this later in the year, but you can get a tape measure and see how many lines you take in per turn of the reel handle. So your next drop is too the bottom, then two tuns of your reel handle. Repeat this until you have covered the entire water collum you are marking fish. You can adjust the speed of the lift and drop depending on the time of year. Remember summer is fast and winter is slow!
Let Your Slab Spoon Do The Work
Look at the graph picture above. That’s a good picture on Lake Texoma! You are in 35 feet of water, marking fish from 15 feet to the bottom! A perfect time to flutter your slab spoon to the bottom. Cast the slab out 20 yards from the boat and do not engage your reel. Let the Slab Spoon free spool to the bottom. Hold your rod at the 11 o’clock position and reel 3 times, stop and click your free spool and let the slab spoon fall. Put your thumb on the line to control the fall. You could get a strike on the fall, so be ready to engage the reel! Your next cast should be 4 reel turns, then repeat at five reel turns. We call this YoYoing your slab spoon through the Striped Bass. Once again we are covering the water collum and can adjust our reel speed to the time of year!
Water Ski Your Slab Spoon for Topwater Striper
This technique can be difficult! If you run into schooling fish and don’t have a topwater plug tied on, stay calm and throw the slab spoon! As soon as the slab hit the water reel as fast as you can with your rod held high above your head! Once your lure gets to the surface ski it back to the boat. If a Striper misses the slab spoon, stop and let it sink 2 feet and continue to reel! The fall will look like an injured shad and usually induces a strike! You can also burn the slab back 5-6 reel turns then stop. Once you re-start the retrieve you can induce strikes! The Striper Slab Spoon is a killer lure on Texoma and should be in every anglers tackle box!
Add a Dressed Treble Hook to Your Slab Spoon
If you like to catch more fish than your angling buddy, buy dressed treble hooks! We like bucktail with a bit of flash or just straight flashaboo! We advise against feather dressed hooks. Striper and White Bass will tear up a feather hook after 3-4 fish.
For more information about Striper Fishing Lake Texoma follow; Lake Texoma Fishing Guide Steve Buckley!
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