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Fishing Lake Fork, Texas
Tom Redington
October 10, 2006
Lake Fork - Freshwater Fishing Report
Lake Fork Report
After being out of town a couple of weeks on a family vacation, it’s good to be back fishing on Lake Fork. Since my last report, the lake has turned over and fall patterns are starting to come on. Fishing was really good last week, having slowed down a little as of late. Now that temps are cooling after our recent week of hot weather, we should start catching more big bass in addition to the good numbers we’re catching right now. As the temps cools, look for deep bass to form big schools and relate to the bottom while shallow bass gang up in creek channel bends. Add in pleasant days and fall colors to the fast bass action and October and November are great times to fish Fork.
Lake Conditions: As I write this, we’re having a good rain today, but we’ll need a lot more days like it to get the water level back up. Lake Fork’s water level currently sits at 399.98’, over 5’ below pool. Numerous boats, including some guide boats, have hit stumps recently; however, most of the boaters we see aren’t wearing life jackets or even a kill switch. As always, you’ll find my customers and me wearing both and I would encourage you to do the same. In better news, even with the low water, almost all of the main ramps are still useable without any issues. After the recent fall turnover, much of the main lake is stained brown, while many of the creeks are clear. Water temps are holding in the upper 70s and should drop this week.
Location Pattern: With the disappearance of the thermocline, fish will be caught in 6” to over 40’ deep over the next couple of months, on just about every pattern imaginable. Deep structure like humps, roads, flats and points in the main lake and in the mouths of major creeks are starting to hold some big schools and will hold most of the giant bass. Schools that are relating to the bottom will be the easiest bass to catch normally. The other main pattern will be weed flats on the main lake and in coves with channels or points with deep-water access nearby. These spots produce some fast action early and late or all day on cloudy days. Typically, areas that are holding fish now are holding lots of fish. So, if you’re catching fish, stay put and try multiple lures until you’ve caught everything you can. Conversely, if you’re in a good-looking spot but not getting bit, keep moving to other locations until you hit pay dirt.
Presentation Pattern: Topwaters have been very productive some mornings and will be good all day on cloudy days. Shad colored Chug Bugs and Zara Spooks have produced fast action around pad fields and over grass mats. Small spinnerbaits in white and shallow or medium running shad colored crankbaits have also worked early in the morning or all day on cloudy or windy days. During the day, wacky rigged Lake Fork Twitch Worms in watermelon on sunny days and June bug on cloudy days have caught some bass, as have 3/8 oz jigs in watermelon or white with matching Lake Fork Baby Creature trailers. Fish all of these baits on deep weedlines or along creek channels in the coves. Simply position your boat in the middle of the creek channel and throw your bait to the grass edges and/or stumps near the edge of the creek. Other days, I’ve been catching most of my fish out deeper. Carolina rigged Baby Ring Frys in Chartreuse Pepper and Red Bug or Baby Creatures in Killer Craw have produced some good numbers once schools are located. Other days, drop shotting Lake Fork Twitch Worms in Watermelon, shad or bar fish colored swimbaits, and white or silver jigging spoons have been better. Basically, once you graph a deep school, try a variety of baits and you’ll likely catch a lot on a particular bait, and also a number of bonus fish if you mix up your baits.
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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