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Fishing Lake Fork, Texas
Tom Redington
September 12, 2006
Lake Fork - Freshwater Fishing Report
Lake Fork Report
Tournament season is in full swing at Lake Fork, so this week’s report will focus on catching tournament bass (keepers under the 16” slot and lunkers over the 24” end of the slot). Sunday’s big bass tourney was won with a 10.10 lb’er. Look for an 11 or 12 pounder to win the McDonald’s Big Bass Splash. Although these big ones are tough to catch, lots of bass under the slot are being caught right now and your odds of catching a chunky 15.5 incher are good both shallow around grass and on mid-depth structure.
Count on the current pattern to hold up until the lake turns over and Fork settles down in late 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 398.51’, about 4’ 6” below full pool. Even with the low water, almost all of the main ramps are still useable without any issues. Fork’s water remains clear in the main lake. Water temps have moderated, holding in the mid-80s.
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 September, so it’s well worth the effort to place a bait in front of them if you’re looking for an over the slot fish.
For numbers of bass, especially under the slot keepers, it is easier to fish for bass that are shallower or 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 12’ to 22’ 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 or all day on cloudy days. Finally, schooling bass are showing up all over the lake, especially on the flat calm days. 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 those lunker suspended bass, deep diving crankbaits like a Norman DD 22 in shad 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 numbers of keeper-sized bass, following are my top patterns for September. For fish that are on the bottom in 12’-22’, 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. Other times, a drop shot with a wacky rigged watermelon or green pumpkin Twitch Worm or Finesse Worm works better in these same areas. The key is marking a good school of fish with your electronics. In addition, medium-running crankbaits in shad patterns worked along creek channels in the major creeks will help you find concentrations of bass. 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. Shad is the primary forage right now, so chrome and white/shad color schemes will be your top colors on most days. Bass are located around grass beds in the main lake and in the backs of creeks, but the concentrations are usually near deeper water. Key on areas with drops or creek channels nearby and you’ll typically catch more bass.
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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