After being out of town for almost the entire month of July, it's good to be back chasing the lunkers on Lake Fork. Unfortunately, I'm heading back out of town for another tournament, so I won't be able to flirt with those big Lake Fork females very long. For those of you lucky enough to be heading to Lake Fork in August, the lake is receiving very little pressure and the big ones will still bite during the day or at night. With the annual arrival of the thermocline in about 28', the patterns will be different for August, and I describe below how to go about catching them.
With the summer heat, I'm really starting to look forward to October and November fishing. After the thermocline goes away and the lake turns over some time in September, fish will be schooling and actively feeding all fall. It's usually the best time of the year to take kids fishing, as numbers run high. It's also the time of year when you can catch fish on about any technique, depending on the conditions that day. For example, we had one over 9 pounds on a topwater in 2' last October and the next day had another bass that went almost 11 pounds in 38'!
Lake Conditions: Last week's tropical system delivered very little rain but did cool things slightly and brought some refreshing winds. Lake Fork's water level keeps dropping, currently sitting at 399.38', about 3' 7" below full pool. As we are heading into our dry season, Fork will likely be very low by the end of the summer. Although this makes for tougher navigation, the bass will be consolidated and easier to catch once you get to them. The water is clear in many places, although some areas are a stained brown green due to algae blooms and wave action. Water temps dropped to the mid-80s following the cooler days. As anticipated, the thermocline appears to have developed in about 28'.
Location Pattern: With the development of the thermocline, it has effectively created a lake bottom for the bass at about 28'. For the bass that were living shallower than 28' during June, there's no change to those patterns. For the deepest bass, many of them no longer relate to the bottom and suspend above the bottom, at or above the thermocline. These bass still actively feed; however, keeping a bait in front of suspended fish is not the easiest proposition, but not impossible. This is often where the largest bass reside in August, so it's well worth the effort to place a bait in front of them.
For most anglers, it is easier to fish for bass that are shallower and relating to cover or the bottom. Here are the 3 main location patterns for August that fit this category. First, main lake structure like humps and points that top out in less than 28' are prime candidates. Use your graph and locate these deep schools of bass. Second, main lake weed flats produce some fast action early and late and can also hold really big bass during the day if you find deep matted grass clumps. Finally, schooling bass get going in August, especially on the flat calm days. While schooling bass are liable to pop up anywhere, bends of creek channels in major creeks are my favorite place to consistently find big groups of fish.
Presentation Pattern: For suspended bass, deep diving crankbaits like a Norman DD 22 in shad or bluegill patterns fished over points and through treetops is your best weapon for actively feeding fish. For less aggressive bass, counting down a spoon or swimbait and yo-yoing it through suspended fish can be deadly. For really big bass in late summer, my favorite technique is using a green pumpkin 10" Lake Fork Worm and yo-yoing it in deep timber. An ultra slow retrieve and 25 lb line are the key to pulling these brutes out of deep heavy cover.
For fish that are on the bottom in 12'-28', a Carolina rig with a green pumpkin/red & green flake, watermelon/red flake, or red bug colored Baby Fork Creature or a green pumpkin Twitch Worm on a 4' leader is my staple bait. In brushier areas and creek channel bends where the bass school, I'll go with a bulky ringed worm like an 8" or 10" Lake Fork Worm in green pumpkin or red shad. In addition, medium-running crankbaits in shad patterns worked along creek channels in the major creeks will help you find concentrations of bass and will catch some big ones when they come up schooling. For pure numbers of schooling bass though, a ¼ or ½ oz chrome lipless crankbait is hard to beat. Around the main lake grass, topwaters, spinnerbaits, lipless cranks and Magic Shads worked over the top of the grass and along the edges will catch good numbers early and late. For bigger bass, I especially like to pitch matted grass and isolated grass clumps with big jigs or heavy Texas rigs. Use a ¾ or 1 oz jig in black/blue or watermelon with a matching Fork Craw on the back or Texas rig a watermelon red Craw Tube with a ¾ oz or larger bullet weight to punch through the tops of the hydrilla. Jiggle your bait to get it to break through the mat, then yo-yo it in the open water under the mat for 5 to 10 seconds in each spot. Braided line and a heavy rod are essential to pull these big fish out. Bites will feel like anything from a tiny bit of extra weight to the thunk of running a concrete block through your lawnmower, so stay alert and hang on!
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 LakeForkGuideTrips.com, where your satisfaction is guaranteed.
Good Fishing,
Tom
