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Fishing Lake Fork, Texas
Tom Redington
July 11, 2005
Lake Fork - Freshwater Fishing Report
Lake Fork Report
After a little vacation to fish for smallmouth on Lake Champlain over the 4th, I’m happy to report that the deep bite is still on at Lake Fork. More and more bass are showing up on deep summertime structure and our numbers of bass have been improving, indicating that many of those weary fry guarding males are making it deep to their summertime homes for some much needed gorging on a seafood buffet. Of course, the majority of the famous Lake Fork big fat sassy females are out deep now, too. In the few days since my return to Fork, we’ve caught them up to 8.5 lbs while two 12’s and a 13 were caught over the 4th of July weekend. Best of all, with 100 foot casts in 30’ of water, the bass are rocketing to the top and leaping almost 4’ out the water, then pulling back down so hard you’d swear every one was a 10 pounder.
Without any substantial rains recently, Fork’s water level continues to drop slowly, currently reading at 401.66’, about 1’4” below full pool. While the water remains clear, it now has a decidedly green tint, due to algae blooms. Water temps cooled early last week but it’s now back up to 86 to 91 in the main lake. I have not observed a thermocline at Fork yet, as the cool front and north winds seem to be holding it off for now.
Concerning the location pattern, many bass are still relating to humps, ridges and points outside spawning bays. Meanwhile, I’m starting to see good schools of bass show up on many traditional summertime haunts that are well offshore and not anywhere close to spawning areas. As the water continues to warm and until the thermocline creates a deep boundary for the bass, almost any structure that tops out at 15’ to 35’ deep is capable of holding fish. This time of year, my best spot usually changes daily and is determined by the presence of schooling bass. You’ve heard it a thousand times before but it is certainly true—graph deep structure and don’t fish an area unless you mark a school of bass there. Sure, you can certainly catch a few bass on those old reliable holes if you anchor up and methodically fish them or just wait there until the fish start feeding. However, you’ll find the fishing a lot more productive if you fish around those deep schools of bass though, where doubles in the boat are common and catching a bass on 4,6, and even sometimes 10 casts in a row are a sure indication you’re in the right spot!
Once I’ve found a school of fish on deep structure, lure selection has been dictated by the bass’ position in the water column. For fish relating to the bottom, a Carolina rig with a 1 oz weight and a 4’ leader has been our weapon of choice. Lake Fork Tackle’s Baby Creature has been the top performer on the C-rig, both at Lake Champlain and for the past month on Lake Fork. With its two arms and grub tail, this diminutive bait has been producing both numbers and big fish. In addition, we’re catching some fish on Lake Fork Ring Frys and Twitch Worms. Top colors are shades of green for all of these soft plastics, like Killer Craw, Watermelon Red, Fork Secret, Watermelon Candy, and Green Pumpkin. Depending on the mood and the position of the bass, it has taken several different styles of retrieves to trigger the fish with our C-rigs.
On some days, we’re not marking many fish on the bottom and if you only fished the Carolina rig, you’d swear fishing was off that day. These are typically the days we are marking a lot of suspended fish. For schools of bass that are suspended, deep diving crankbaits and 4” swimbaits in shad colors are producing fast action for big fish. Swimming Lake Fork Tackle Magic Shads on 1/8 oz weighted hooks, jigging spoons, or jigs through these schools will also get you bit. In many locations, you’ll mark a number of bass schooling on the bottom, while others are suspended, and you’ll see shad and bass swirling and breaking on the surface. Cover the water column from top to bottom and you’ll surely catch more fish.
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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