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Fishing Lake Fork, Texas
Tom Redington
January 26, 2006
Lake Fork - Freshwater Fishing Report
Lake Fork Report
Although we’ve had a few downright tough days, January bass fishing on Lake Fork has been awesome on most days. I’m eagerly anticipating February, as more and more big bass move shallow to stage for spawning. Unless things cool dramatically, we will have some large bass spawning in less than 30 days from now.
Our warm and dry weather pattern, resulting in higher than normal water temps, combined with a lot of fish consolidated in small places due to the low water, has resulted in good numbers and good size most days. For example, fishing the day of the cold front on 1/20, we had over 25 bass, including an 8.5 pounder and only 3 fish were under 3 pounds. On 1/24, I did an instructional trip with Justin Hunley, on a sunny and calm post-frontal day. Man, is he a quick study! He put 5 fish in the boat over 5 pounds, including a 7 lb 10 oz lunker and two more over 6 lbs, giving him a “5-fish limit” of over 30 lbs. The two of us finished with 8 bass over 5 lbs, not bad for a cold front bite in January!
We’re still catching our bass on classic staging areas—points and creek channels near or inside spawning coves and pockets. Most of my best areas have grass; however, as we move closer to the spawn, key structure becomes more important than the cover. I was finding a lot of good fish in the backs of creeks last week before the cold front, now most of our fish are coming nearer or in the main lake. As things warm back up, look for the bass to turn back on in creeks once again. Until the pattern changes, usually around mid-February, my location and presentation patterns will remain largely the same.
Lake Conditions: After a good rain last week, Lake Fork’s water level is currently at 398.78’, or 4’3” below full pool. The water clarity is clear in most areas, although the high winds and runoff have muddied some areas. Water temps are running from 50-55 degrees in most locations, perfect temperatures for winter bassin’. The recent very windy days have uprooted a considerable amount of aquatic vegetation, nearly eliminating it in some areas. The good news is that there are still a number of good grassbeds on the lake and the points and creeks you find with grass are holding lots of fish.
Location Pattern: From late-December through February, I concentrate on prespawn and staging fish on points and along edges of flats or creek channels. Areas with submerged vegetation (primarily hydrilla, milfoil or coontail) or wood for cover will typically have the most active fish; however, don’t overlook coverless points and channel bends as we approach the spawn. Key on stumps, docks, and laydowns within the grassbeds or on any irregular places along the edge of the grass. Start your search in areas that have lots of spawning fish in late February and through March. It stands to reason that the coves that hold the most spawning fish in early spring will have the most prespawn fish in the winter. Main lake grass beds near the mouths of these coves are holding a lot of fish now, as are main and secondary points inside the coves, provided there is deep water nearby. During warming trends, follow bass back into the creeks and check the edges of grass flats and creek channels.
For deep structure enthusiasts, points, roadbeds, humps, flats and ledges in 18’ to 45’ will produce some big fish during the winter months as well. Use your electronics to find the schools of bass and baitfish and work them over with spoons and dropshots. I personally prefer fishing shallow in the spring, so my presentation pattern will focus on that.
Presentation Pattern: My wintertime arsenal is pretty simple for fishing along grasslines and creek channels. First and foremost are red lipless crankbaits in ½ or ¾ oz. Stick with the ½ for grass that is near the surface and go with the ¾ for grass that is deeper. Buzzing these over the top of the grass on a quick retrieve is working best now, but after cold fronts, letting the trap fall and ripping these out of the grass will trigger most of the bites. ¼ to ½ oz spinnerbaits with double willow blades in white, red, or chartreuse and white will produce some really large bass in the same areas that the lipless cranks work, especially on windy and cloudy days. When the bite slows or the conditions are sunny and calm, I’ll switch to a suspending jerkbait or a jig. Gold jerkbaits with orange bellies and black backs are my primary color. Work these with long pauses over the grass and along the edges. The jig bite started picking up for me last week, both flipping creek channel ledges and also working the edges of grass points. ½ oz black and blue jigs with Lake Fork Tackle Fork Craws have been working best for me.
Cover lots of water until you get bit. Once you catch one, work the area over thoroughly with multiple passes, employing several different baits. Fish tend to stack up in key staging areas during the winter and these spots will replenish themselves with more fish during the prespawn as more and more big bass move shallow. Find some good staging spots and you’ll have a milk run of honey holes now through February.
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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