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Fishing Lake Fork, Texas

Tom Redington
August 25, 2006
Lake Fork - Freshwater Fishing Report

Lake Fork Report

Despite hot weather and low water, both good numbers and big bass are still being caught at Lake Fork. With the schooling bass and the annual arrival of Lake Fork keeper-sized bass in the shallows (under the 16” slot limit), those of you looking for fast action or a limit for tournaments will have consistent success as we head into September. If you’re like me and would trade one 8 pounder for 100 15 inchers, fishing for giant suspended bass over deep water is where it’s at. Best of all, these suspended bass receive very little (if any) pressure and they bite extremely aggressively when they’re feeding. Of course, the trick is finding the feeding schools and then keeping a lure in front of them.

Count on the current pattern to hold up until the lake turns over and Fork settles down in later September. After the thermocline has gone away and things return to normal, the deep bass form big schools and relate to the bottom while shallow bass gang up in creek channel bends. Add in cooler air temps to the fast bass action and October and November are great times to fish Fork.

Lake Conditions: A few showers delivered a little rain & cooled things slightly. Lake Fork’s water level continues to drop, currently sitting at 398.84’, about 4’ 2” below full pool. Even with the low water, almost all of the main ramps are still useable without any issues. After turning brownish-green earlier in the summer, Fork’s water is now very clear in the main lake. Water temps are running high, consistently 88 to 93 degrees before the rains. I’m still showing the thermocline at about 28’.

Location Pattern: With the development of the thermocline, it has effectively created a lake bottom for the bass at about 28’. For the deep bass, many of them no longer relate to the bottom and suspend above the bottom, at or above the thermocline. These bass still actively feed; however, keeping a bait in front of suspended fish is not the easiest proposition, but not impossible. This is often where the largest bass reside in August & September, so it’s well worth the effort to place a bait in front of them.

For most anglers, it is easier to fish for bass that are shallower and relating to cover or the bottom. Here are the 3 main location patterns that fit this category. First, main lake structure like humps and points that top out in less than 28’ are prime candidates. Use your graph and locate these deep schools of bass. Second, weed flats on the main lake and in coves with channels or points with deep-water access nearby produce some fast action early and late. These places can also hold really big bass during the day if you find deep matted grass clumps. Finally, schooling bass are showing up all over the lake, especially on the flat calm days. While schooling bass are liable to pop up anywhere, bends of creek channels in major creeks are my favorite place to consistently find big groups of fish. Best of all, the bass will often school in the same place at about the same time each day, so once you find a hot spot it will stay good for days and often weeks.

Presentation Pattern: For suspended bass, deep diving crankbaits like a Norman DD 22 in shad or bluegill patterns fished over points and through treetops works well for actively feeding fish that are suspended about 18’ or shallower. For deeper bass, counting down a spoon or swimbait and yo-yoing it through suspended fish can be deadly. For really big bass in late summer, my favorite technique is using a green pumpkin 10” Lake Fork Worm and yo-yoing it in deep timber. An ultra slow retrieve and 25 lb line are the key to pulling these brutes out of deep heavy cover. Finally, a Lake Fork Magic Shad in watermelon with a chartreuse tail on a ¼ oz weighted hook is your top option some days.

For fish that are on the bottom in 12’-28’, a Carolina rig with a green pumpkin/red & green flake, watermelon/red flake, or red bug colored Baby Ring Fry or a green pumpkin Twitch Worm on a 4’ leader is my staple bait. In brushier areas and creek channel bends where the bass school, I’ll go with a bulky ringed worm like an 8” or 10” Lake Fork Worm in green pumpkin or red shad. In addition, medium-running crankbaits in shad patterns worked along creek channels in the major creeks will help you find concentrations of bass and will catch some big ones when they come up schooling. For pure numbers of schooling bass though, a ¼ or ½ oz chrome lipless crankbait is hard to beat. Around the grass beds, topwaters, spinnerbaits, lipless cranks and Magic Shads worked over the top of the grass and along the edges will catch good numbers early and late. For bigger bass, I especially like to pitch matted grass and isolated grass clumps with big jigs or heavy Texas rigs. Use a ¾ or 1 oz jig in black/blue or watermelon with a matching Fork Craw on the back or Texas rig a watermelon red Craw Tube with a ¾ oz or larger bullet weight to punch through the tops of the hydrilla. Jiggle your bait to get it to break through the mat, then yo-yo it in the open water under the mat for 5 to 10 seconds in each spot. Braided line and a heavy rod are essential to pull these big fish out. Bites will feel like anything from a tiny bit of extra weight to the thunk of running a concrete block through your lawnmower, so stay alert and hang on!

Here’s hoping you catch the lunker of your dreams. If I can be of assistance, please contact me at 214-683-9572 (days) or 972-635-6027 (evenings) or e-mail me through http://www.LakeForkGuideTrips.com , where your satisfaction is guaranteed.

Good Fishing,

Tom

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Trophy bass guide trips on famous Lake Fork. My mission is to help you learn the skills to catch lots of big fish on Lake Fork—skills that will also help you catch more and bigger fish on your home lake and any other lakes you fish. In addition, I will focus my efforts on your goals for our trip—whether you want to learn a new technique, find fish for an upcoming tournament, learn the current patterns for a week’s visit to Fork, or just have an enjoyable day with friends, family or a client.

Contact Info:


2407 Shooting Star Dr
Royse City, TX 75189
Phone: 214-683-9572
Alt. Phone: 9726356027
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