Lake Fork
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Lake Fork Fishing Reports
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Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Structure Jigs
Structure
Rock Pile
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
53°
Species
CrappieSeason
Winter
Technique
Vertical Jigging 20'+
Structure
Standing Timber
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
52°
Near the river and deep timber 40-54 fow
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 ¾ 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.
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
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Swim Jigs
Structure
Humps
Forage
Alewife
try jerk baits at times
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.
Catfish
