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Fishing Lake Fork, Texas
Tom Redington
February 15, 2006
Lake Fork - Freshwater Fishing Report
Lake Fork Weekly Report
The conditions have been brutal for fishermen over the past week at Lake Fork. However, the bass don’t seem to mind and we’re catching a number of 7+ pound bass as they feed up before the spawn. I’ve fished full day guide trips each day for the past 7 days, including temps in the low 40s and cold rain driven by 30 mph North winds on 2/10, a high of 43 and North winds to 35 on 2/11, South winds to 35 mph on 2/12, 22 degree temps and ice in the guides on the morning of 2/13, topped off by South winds up to 40 on 2/14. Considering the lake looked like a washing mashing on spin cycle, I was certainly thankful to be fishing out of a smooth riding Ranger Z21 bass boat on those days.
The fishing is typical of February for Lake Fork, with numbers running low but most of the fish are solid 3 to 6 pounders, with fish over 7 pounds many days (check out the pictures page on my website to see our lunkers from last week). With the exception of one day last week when 3 of us struggled to put 4 fish in the boat, most days we’re landing 10 to 15 fish, with a high of 19. Because we’re fishing a lot of heavy cover and many fish are just slapping at the baits, we’re also losing a lot of fish each day as well as missing a number of strikes. Unfortunately, some of the biggest fish we hooked this week were the ones we lost, but those are the risks you take when fishing for big bass in heavy cover.
A number of fish are holding shallow right now and a prolonged warming period could result in a few fish in protected areas trying to spawn. From now through early May, we’ll have literally thousands of lunkers in the shallows getting ready to spawn or on beds. Wow, I can’t wait to get back out there tomorrow!
Lake Conditions: After a rain last week, Lake Fork’s water sits at 398.84’, or 4’2” below full pool. The water clarity is clear to stained in most areas, although the high winds have muddied some areas. The warm sun has offset several nights well below freezing. Water temps are holding in the low 50s in the main lake, while the backs of creeks ranged anywhere from 43 to 57 degrees yesterday. The bass have not necessarily been in the warmest or clearest water many days, so keep an open mind and you might be surprised where you’ll find fish.
Location Pattern: As I’ve done for the last two months, I’m concentrating 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 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. 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 well into the spring. Since many big bass on Fork don’t spawn until early May, these late bloomers won’t be moving shallow for quite a while. 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 prespawn arsenal is pretty simple for fishing along grasslines and creek channels. First and foremost are red or orange lipless crankbaits in ¼ to ¾ oz. Stick with the ½ for grass that is near the surface and go with the ¾ for grass that is deeper. ¼ oz traps work well on the shallowest grass. 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/Texas rig. 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 is good on some days, especially for big bass. ½ oz black and blue jigs with Lake Fork Tackle Fork Craws in the Blue Bruiser color have been working best for me. Other days, Texas rigged Lake Fork Tackle Flippers and Fork Craws in Blue Bruiser, Black Neon, and Watermelon/Red are working better than the jig. The bass are typically holding the Texas rig longer, giving you more time to set the hook. If the wind allows, work a wacky rigged Twitch Worm or Magic Shad in the areas where you caught fish with the other baits. Shades of watermelon are a sure bet for the plastics.
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.
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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