Lake Fork
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Lake Fork Fishing Reports
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Omnia Community Member
Bronze Ambassador
12/4/22
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Texas Rigs (Worming)
Structure
Stumps
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Crankbaits 0-6'
Structure
Points
Cranking shallow points early in the morning produced the biggest fish of the tournament. The new OG slim from Rapala was key in tricking pressured fish to bite. The rod I used was also key to landing the 9.9 lbs bucket head. 7'4" Heavy, Glass Daiwa Tatula.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Standing Timber
To say that Lake Fork is absolutely loaded with world class largemouth bass, would be a true understatement of that fishery! But with that said, during the Fall time of year when the fish are scattered and starting to feed up for the colder weather, the fish are still not jumping in your boat and you will have to take the time and dial in the fish and what they are doing every single day and find a certain technique and pattern that will help you excel. And last week for me, it was a suspending jerkbait in standing timber! The fish were still ganged up on main lake points and flats that were covered in flooded timber, that were adjacent to large creeks and pockets, that ranged in depth from about 8ft to 30 feet of water. All week in practice I looked for areas with the cleanest water and areas that were rich in baitfish and the bass wouldn't be far behind. And as the tournament progressed, I would target the most isolated pieces of timber, that were the furthest out and the deepest ones out off of a point, or the biggest tree in a timber patch. Mainly looking for any irregularities in the timber that I thought would be holding a fish or multiple fish. And I would target these suspended bass by making repetitive cast with a jerkbait until firing those fish up and triggering their natural instincts to feed. And with that pattern and baits, I was truly blessed to have four great days of fishing on Lake Fork that I will remember for the rest of my life!
Rapala Shadow Rap Deep Jerkbait Silver / 4 3/8"
Out of Stock
Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon 12lb / 200 Yards
Out of Stock
Daiwa Tatula SV Casting Reel - EOL Right / 8.1:1
Out of Stock
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Buzzbaits
Structure
Laydowns
Forage
Shad
Buzzbait time!! Water temp high 60s. Warm day. Bellows Shad made a great buzzbait trailer. I use Hayabusa Trailer Hook WRM929 to hold the bait well and get better hook up ratio!!
Species
CrappieSeason
Winter
Technique
Vertical Jigging 20'+
Structure
Open Water/Basin
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
44°
World famous for its bass fishing, it is a top ten crappie lake as well! I fished Lake of the Pines the day prior and drove over to Lake Fork. I prefer Pines over Fork in the dead of winter only because the crappie relate to structure better at Pines. The crappie at Lake Fork where in the middle of the main creek channel right under the bait (shad), open water not relating to any cover/structure. The crappie where 25’ down over 35’ – 40’ of water and schooled up big time, like they should be in winter. Only issue was trying to keep up with the school as they moved. Easily done with Live scope, without might have been impossible. Downsizing was the key on Lake Fork. I was using a 1/32oz hair jig with a bobber stopper above the hair jig to get it down to the fish in a hurry but still have a small compact jig to present to the crappie, this technique has been deadly since forward facing sonar has come out. I ended the day with a limit of black and white crappie both, all over 1.8 lbs. Few lakes in the country where you can do this.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Standing Timber
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
44°
Spent the day on Lake Fork- 8 hours. I had a host of different rods on the deck of my Bass cat when I started the day, a couple hours into fishing I narrowed down the rods to simple two jerk bait rods. I was looking for the giant 7lbs+ bass Lake Fork is known for, but never came across them….never even saw one on live scope that I thought might be giant. Regardless, I was averaging 3-4 keepers per hour keeping me engaged and still having plenty of wintertime fun. I was constantly scanning my forward-facing sonar left and right, I was looking for schools of bass. I wouldn’t even make a cast if I didn’t see them on my unit. The bass I was finding was in 5’-10’ of water on the flats that were close to deep water. These schools were moving looking for bait, if I could get my jerk bait within 5’ of them they would attack! I ended the day by boating 31 keepers, the interesting part was all of them were over 2.8lbs with the largest being 4.1lbs. They seemed to be schooled by size for sure. The only bait I caught fish on that day was the Luck-E-Strike STX Jerk bait in Herring Bone Chartreuse. I was using 10# Sunline Super Sniper line paired with my Daiwa Tatula and a 6’-6” rod. Never caught a bighead but still managed a five fish bag over 19lbs.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Football Jigs
Structure
Baitfish
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
54°
The deep bite has really turned on over the past couple of weeks. I am catching a lot of fish out deep using a multitude of different techniques. Locating big schools of fish can be challenging out in the depths. That is why I really on my Garmin Echomap units to show me where they are at. The bass have been holding close to the schools of bait in 18-28 feet of water. Once I locate a school of bass around the bait with my sonar, I am positioning my boat to take aim with the LiveScope and start firing at them with several different baits. I really like the Âľ oz Santone Lures football head jig. Black/Blue or PB&J colors are good choices trailed by a Berkley Havoc Pit Boss or Chigger Craw. Also, and umbrella rig tipped with Berkley Power Swimmers. These baits will catch some giants retrieved out in the depths!
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Stumps
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
52°
As the water cools and winter sets in don’t forget to break out the jerk baits. On days that the bite gets tougher you can break out one of these and save the day. I love the Berkley Stunna 112 and 112+. Getting on the trolling motor and watching the LiveScope while working this bait around stumps and grass with slow twitches will draw some big fish out to get it!!
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Lipless Crankbaits
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
58°
The shallow bite has been good from main lake points to the backs of the major creeks. I am finding most of the fish in 2-8 feet of water. Lipless crank baits like a Berkley Warpig and Square Bull square billed crank bait have been good in any shad pattern. I like red or chrome and sexy shad colors a lot in the winter.
