 Lake Fork Lake Fork Fishing Report Lake Fork Fishing Information Lake Fork Texas |
|||||
 |
Discussion Boards |
||||
      |
|||||
| Article Winter Fishing on Lake Fork |
Lake Fork Reports By: Richie White /Jim Reaneau. / Tom Redington Click on Guides Name for that report | ||||
|
Lake levels, dam outflows, schedules Texas Parks and Wildlife Facilities Map of Lake Fork 2003 Trophy Bass Study Results & comments
Want to Advertise on Fishin.com?
Lake levels, dam outflows, schedules Texas Parks and Wildlife Facilities Map of Lake Fork 2003 Trophy Bass Study Results & comments
Want to Advertise on Fishin.com?
|
There are several reports on the lake during the week from different guides. You can scroll down for more or click on a guide name above. The spawn is nearing the end on Lake Fork. Most of the fish are in post-spawn mode, but there are still a few fish on the beds. We caught an 8 pounder on a bed yesterday, but it was the biggest fish I saw in the past week or so. I am still catching most of my fish on the beds, but that is probably not the best pattern. I'm sure we would catch more fish if we were targeting post-spawn bass instead. On the rainy and dark cloudy days, we are getting a good topwater bite. Best baits are poppers and chuggers. Normally, the smaller ones catch a lot more fish, but we have been doing pretty well on the the bigger chuggers. Most of the fish biting the topwaters are post-spawn bass that are hanging around protecting their fry. When the bait gets close to the fry, the bass eats it. You want to use either topwater or slow falling baits for these fish. Senkos, flukes, and ring frys work well. If you see the fry, try to imitate a predator trying to eat them. You will probably catch the fish on the first cast or not at all. Every cast, your odds go down.For bigger spawning bass, my favorite bait is the Berkley power tube. Unfortunately, we haven't been seeing many fish over 5 pounds on the beds. For the smaller fish, I have been doing real well on 3 1/2 inch worms with a heavy 1/2 oz weight. Color doesn't really matter unless you want to see the bait. White and bubble gum (pink) are the most visible colors. I am booked solid through June, with the exception of May 28 and 28 for night trips. I have a couple of guys booked in June that haven't sent in their deposits, so I could have another date or 2 available. Email me if you are interested. Good fishing and good luck. You
can't catch them if you don't go.The spawn is nearing the end on Lake
Fork. Most of the fish are in post-spawn mode, but there are still a few
fish on the beds. We caught an 8 pounder on a bed yesterday, but it was
the biggest fish I saw in the past week or so. I am still catching most
of my fish on the beds, but that is probably not the best pattern. I'm
sure we would catch more fish if we were targeting post-spawn bass
instead. On the rainy and dark cloudy days, we are getting a good
topwater bite. Best baits are poppers and chuggers. Normally, the
smaller ones catch a lot more fish, but we have been doing pretty well
on the the bigger chuggers. Most of the fish biting the topwaters are
post-spawn bass that are hanging around protecting their fry. When the
bait gets close to the fry, the bass eats it. You want to use either
topwater or slow falling baits for these fish. Senkos, flukes, and ring
frys work well. If you see the fry, try to imitate a predator trying to
eat them. You will probably catch the fish on the first cast or not at
all. Every cast, your odds go down. Good fishing and good luck. You can't catch them if you don't go.
As we enter May, I'm still seeing some spawning pairs in the shallows at Lake Fork. Between the fry guarders, spawning fish and the bass chasing the hoards of shad spawning in the grass, 10' and less has been my best depth range this week. As a result, I expect the shallows will remain the best pattern for a couple more weeks. Meanwhile, a few fish are starting to show up on deep structure and a number of fish are hanging out in mid-range depths (8' to 18'). Just about any bait in your tackle box will work at some point in May, and the fishing will continue to get better as the females wrap up their spawning rituals and put on the feedbag. From lunkers on topwaters to structure fishing for schools of big bass on crankbaits, swimbaits, and Carolina rigs, the annual summer whack-fest is about to begin. Head on out to Lake Fork this summer and find out why May, June, and July are the favorite months of many Fork regulars. Lake Conditions: With a little less rain this week, Fork is about normal pool and clearing. The lake level is currently reading 402.86' (about 2" below full pool). Much of the north end and backs of major creeks are still stained to muddy, however, the south end remains quite clear. We've been catching the bass equally from muddy and clear water, so don't let the stained water keep you out of productive coves. Water temps were reading from 65 to 70 in the main lake, while we found some creeks as warm as 80. Location Pattern: I'm finding most of the bigger spawning fish nearer the mouths of coves and on main lake flats in 8' and less. While some bass are spawning in the newly flooded grass and cattails, many are spawning or staging along the inside grassline in about 4'. In addition, many bass are also holding amongst the rapidly burgeoning lily pads. The slightly deeper structure like points, creek channels, and ledges in 8' to 18', adjacent to areas with numbers of shallow spawning bass, is where we've found most of the bigger females. Deep structure in 15' to 30' is also starting to hold a few good fish, but the bite is very sporadic. Presentation Pattern: Shad colored topwaters, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and jerkbaits have been productive for actively feeding post spawners this week. Concentrate on areas with a lot of spawning shad, bass beds, or bluegill beds for the fastest action. For the bass holding in the newly flooded vegetation, swimming a green pumpkin red/pearl Fork Frog is hard to beat. Meanwhile, for bass around beds and on the spawning flats, 3.5" and 4.5" Live Magic Shads have produced well this week. Rig these on the new Swimbait hooks from Lake Fork Trophy Lures and try the watermelon red/pearl, watermelon seed/red flake, golden shiner, or Magic Shad colors. While some bass are biting on the swim, our best retrieve has been dead-sticking on the bottom, followed by swimming it a few feet and letting it fall back to the bottom, repeating this all the way back to the boat. When the bass are more finicky, a regular Magic Shad rigged weightless or on a light Carolina rig has done well. Try watermelon candy, watermelon/red or bull bream colors for this. For spawning bass, white or watermelon Fork Craws and Merthiolate twitch worms have worked well. Out deeper, ½ oz Mega Weight Jigs in black/blue with blue bruiser or watermelon candy colored Fork Craw trailers or Texas rigged Fork Creatures in the same colors are catching some big bass on points. And swimbaits or deep diving crankbaits in shad or yellow bass patterns are catching some suspended bass as well.
Updated , 2007
|
||||
| |
|||||
