James Caldemeyer's
Lake Fork Trophy Bass
Fishing Report - August 25, 2010
The dog days of summer have been relentless this year. We have definitely seen our share of 100+ degree days so far and I know a lot of us are ready for some relief. The fishing has still remained decent on most days despite the hot conditions but there have also been some days that I have really struggled to keep up with the fish. Especially during the blazing heat of the day and no wind. But, cooler days and more consistent fishing are just around the corner. The conditions are really shaping up towards some spectacular fall fishing!
The lack of rain over the past several weeks has the lake falling fast in this heat. Water levels are a foot and a half low and declining. The water temperatures are ranging from 88-92 degrees in most areas and the water clarity is off colored in a lot of areas up north with the clearer water found on the southern end.
The shallow water bite has been consistent around main lake and secondary points that are holding good grass and bait fish in 3-10 ft. Texas rigged worms like the new Berkley Thump Worm or 7" Power Worm have been producing a number of quality fish. I like to use a 5/16- 3/8 oz weight and peg it when fishing the grass. I will rig these on a 4/0 wide gap hook with 17 lb Trilene 100% fluorocarbon as well. Best colors are green pumpkin party, watermelon red, and june bug. Crank baits and spinner baits have also been catching some fish when the bass are up shallow chasing these shad. The top water bite has still been very inconsistent for me, but keep it tied on and close by for the fish that come up schooling during the day.
Deep structure fishing this time of year is great also. Lately, the deep fish have been very inconsistent. One day they are on the bottom good and you can catch them all day long, then the next they are scattered and suspended all over the lake. Understanding your electronics like my Lowrance HDS's is crucial. You can determine what the fish are doing on a given day with these units and make a decision on how to fish for them, whether it be on the bottom or employing suspended fishing tactics. Some days you may have to wave the white flag and go shallow if its just not happening out deep. Either way, good electronics are the key to a successful day of fishing! When I locate fish on the bottom and feeding out deep, I have been using several baits to catch them. Carolina rigged worms like the Berkley Wacky Crawler and 4" Power Hawg do well. Best colors are camo, green pumpkin, watermelon, and red bug. Also a Talon 5/8-3/4 oz football head jig tipped with a craw worm or twin tail grub. The best jig colors right now are watermelon candy, watermelon red, watermelon chartreuse, green pumpkin, or texas craw. Drag either of these rigs slowly through these schools of deep fish and hold on! For the bass that have been suspended (and there are a lot of them right now), a Talon "Big Dandy" flutter spoon in the Lake Fork Maniac color has been best. I work this spoon on an Abu Garcia 7'3" medium heavy rod and work it vertically through these fish. If you are not use to throwing one of these big spoons, it takes some getting use to. The bite will come as the spoon falls so keep in tune with the bait as it descends. Another great bait for catching some really nice bass right now is the 5" or 6" Berkley Power Mullet. These big swim baits have truly lifelike action and can be fished at a variety of depths. Just cast them out and count them down to the desired depth. Use a slow rolling retrieve. When they hit it, they hit it HARD!
The Sealy McDonald's Big Bass Splash is fast approaching and Bass Champs TFF tourney here this weekend. If you are coming out for these tournaments, please be careful out there. The water is falling and stumps pose a threat to everyone. Please wear your PFD's and kill switches! If you get a chance, also stop by Diamond Sports Marine on highway 154 here on Lake Fork and check out the new 2011 Ranger Boats in stock. Talk to Ben Hogan and he'll be glad to help you find the right boat for your needs or you can give them a call at (903)383-7829. If you would like to pre-fish for a tourney or are interested in booking a fishing trip for the fall, please feel free to contact me. You can reach me by email at lakeforktrophybass@yahoo.com or just give me a call (903)736-9888. You can also go to my website to get more information about Lake Fork Trophy Bass fishing! www.officiallakeforktrophybass.com
Hebrews 11:1
Tight Lines and God Bless,
James Caldemeyer
