Things are really heating up here at the lake. With the weather getting hotter, you can expect for the bass fishing at Lake Fork to be HOT as well! Although the fishing this week has been good, these big bass are on the verge of busting loose into their heavy post spawn feeding ritual. Size has been good but the numbers of fish we're catching has varied. Some days you will only catch a 10-15 and others you can load the boat with these big mamas. Water temperatures have ranged anywhere from 80-87 degrees in the areas that I have been fishing. The water clarity is clear in most areas with some stained water in the backs of some of the creeks from recent run off. Lake levels are currently reading 402.67 with 403 being full pool.
The topwater bite has been excellent on yellow magics, buzzbaits and frogs early. And when I say early I mean you better be on the water before the sun starts to come up. Sometimes the bite only last 20-30 minutes then it's done unless there is cloud cover present. After the topwater bite ceases, I have been heading straight for deep water but you can still catch some shallow fish with wacky worms, flukes and texas rigged worms later in the morning. Best mid-depths are 6-10 foot deep around the grass and timber. Points adjacent to deep water have seemed to hold the most fish and you will also find them in the creeks where the channels bend. I personally look forward to this time of year because of the tremendous deep structure fishing that Lake Fork is known for and it is at this time that you will find the majority of the real big fish out deep on the points, roadbeds, ridges and humps. The biggest key to finding these bruisers is electronics. My Lowrance X26HD is as accurate as it gets when it comes to targeting deep structure. Knowing how to read your graph is critical and will save you a lot of valuable time on the water eliminating areas that are not productive. The deep fish that I have been fishing are in anywhere from 22-32 foot. The key has been a depth change in that range.
At times the fish are on slow tapering changes in depth such as hump on the bottom or a piece of structure. At others, they are on steep drops a roadbed, point, pond dam or ridges. These are all great places to check out. Once you mark these fish on or close to the bottom in these areas you are in action. Carolina rigs have by far been the most productive presentation. My rigs consist of 7' to 7'6" heavy action Shimano Crucial rods and reels spooled up with 20 lb. Gamma Edge fluorocarbon. I am using a 16 lb. fluorocarbon leader that ranges from 4-5 feet in length, 1 oz. tungsten weight and 3/0 wide gap hook. Best baits have been the Grande Bass Mutant or Rattlesnake in green pumpkin, pumpkin/chartreuse or watermelon red. You'll also want to try the NEW Baby Rattlesnake in the same colors as it has done well on days that the fish are a little more finicky. www.grandebass.com Lizards have also done well on a carolina rig with pumpkin seed being the color of choice. A ½ to ¾ ounce jig in black/brown and amber or pumpkinseed with matching trailers has produced on these deep spots too. If you find that the fish are somewhat suspended you'll want to hit them with DD 22's, big swim baits, and spoons. I hope that this report has been helpful to you in your pursuit of a Lake Fork trophy. If you would like to book a trip with me to catch some of these post spawn lunkers, feel free to email me at lakeforktrophybass@yahoo.com or just give me a call at (903)736-9888. I am currently full for the remainder of June but have some dates available in July and August.
Read 2 Timothy 2:15 Tight Lines and God Bless, James Caldemeyer
