Bass are settling into regular fall patterns here on Lake Fork. Normally, I'm catching fish consistently out deep at this time of year, but the offshore bite has been slow for me lately. I expect it to pick up again soon, and in the meantime, there are a lot of fish chasing shad in the shallows right now. I'm covering a lot of water to catch fish shallow, but you can normally pick up several fish from a single area once you find them. The mild days and the start of fall colors make it a joy to be on the water this time of year, and a big fish or two are just icing on the cake.
With the holidays just around the corner, I do have gift certificates available for those looking for a present for their angling buddies. 2008 has been another super year on Fork, with the lake being full and in great shape for the coming season. Prespawn starts in late-December, so it won't be long until my favorite lunker time of the year is here, January through March. If you're looking for a fish of a lifetime, prespawn is the time to head to Fork
Lake Conditions: High pressure has dominated Fork lately, resulting in little rain and light winds, and as a result, the water conditions are quite stable. The lake level is currently reading 402.40' (about 7' below full pool). Most of the lake is pretty clear now, with some stained water on the north ends. Water temps are slowly dropping with the cool nights, reading from 69 to 73 in the main lake on Saturday.
Location Pattern: The best pattern for numbers of bass is fishing shallow grassbeds on the main lake and the backs of major creeks. Early and late and all day on cloudy and windy days, I'm focusing on shoreline grass, openings in clumps of grass, and the inside weedline. When the sun gets up, concentrate on the deep weed edge in 8' to 15'. Key on points, inside turns, and along ledges and you're likely to find more fish. Most of the shallow fish have been in groups, so you'll fish for a while without getting a bite, and then catch several in a small area. I'm also catching bass back in the coves along creek channel bends. For the deep anglers, concentrate on main lake structure in 12' to 32'. As the lake settles down from turnover and cools, this pattern will really turn on. Watch your graph closely and key on schools located tight to the bottom if you can find them, because they are normally easier to catch than the suspended schools.
Presentation Pattern: During fall, bass key on shad and most of my lure choices and colors reflect that preference. Shades of white or chrome are always good choices in the fall on Fork. In the shallows, topwaters are catching fish early and late, as well as Fork Frogs in the lily pads. As the sun gets up a little higher, shallow running crankbaits, small spinnerbaits, and Lake Fork Tackle's 3.5' and 4.5' Live Magic Shad & Hyper Worm swimbaits work better, especially on windy banks. When the bass aren't in a chasing mood, switch to a Texas rigged watermelon/red or watermelon candy 8' Fork Worm or the new Hyper Finesse Worm with a 1/8th oz bullet sinker and work it over the tops of grass and along the edges. For bigger fish, a 3/8 oz watermelon red Mega Weight Jig with a matching Fork Craw or a TX rigged watermelon/red or Bama Bug colored Hyper Freak produce well when pitched to the deep weed edge.
Out deeper, Carolina rigs, drop shots, jigs, and Texas rigs will catch bass from schools located near the bottom on deep structure. I go with a green pumpkin or watermelon red 8' or 10' Fork Worm for my Texas rigs. Meanwhile, watermelon candy, watermelon/red, or green pumpkin Baby Fork Creatures, Ring Frys, and Twitch Worms are on the business end of my Carolina rigs. Drop shots will catch good numbers of fish and the occasional big bass, rigged with a watermelon or green pumpkin Hyper Finesse Worm. When the bass are suspended, Fork Flutter Spoons and deep diving crankbaits in shad or yellow bass patterns are working better than the bottom presentations, and catching some lunkers too.
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