Lake Fork Fishing Report May 2025
It’s MAY-hem at Lake Fork this month as the big boys roll into town for what could be one of the best showdowns for big bass amongst some of the best bass anglers in the country! The Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite will be here at Lake Fork May 8-11, as B.A.S.S. partners up with the great people at Toyota and Texas Parks and Wildlife again to put on another special tournament. Bassmaster Elite Series anglers will be going toe to toe in another heavyweight slugfest, so be sure not to miss getting out here for this one! There will be plenty of activities for all ages at the FREE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY Weekend Expo in conjunction with the Lake Fork Family Fest!!
Outdoors Expo: Saturday & Sunday, Opens at 11 a.m.
Caney Point Recreation Area
3685 W State Hwy 154
Yantis, TX 75497
I look forward to seeing everyone out there so if you get the chance to make it out, come by the booths and see me!
The water temperatures on the Lake Fork have been ranging from 69-78 degrees in most areas but with a recent warm up we are starting to see steadily warming temps. This is great because it has hovered in the low 60’s for a month due to cold fronts and rain. The lake is still relatively clear in a lot of areas despite the rains. We have had one of the best spawns that I’ve seen in many years! The fish are still active though and can be found in all stages of spring spawning which makes for a multitude of patterns productive. There are some pre spawn fish to target as well as fish on beds and some that have already moved out deeper post spawn. The shad spawn is also in full effect so that makes for a fun bite early in the mornings as well!
In the early mornings I have been starting off the day with topwaters like the Berkley Choppo, Bullet Pop, or the J-Walker. Any shad color will do as these bass are not picky and are up there shallow gorging on shad. I’m also throwing a Berkley Square Bull crankbait in shad colors or chartreuse for those fish that don’t want to eat on top. My most consistent producer for the big pre and post spawn females has been a Berkley Stunna jerkbait. Whether you’re hitting them with it on the shad spawn or Live Scoping out deeper, it’s hard to beat! And if you’re willing to toss the big baits at them for a true giant, a big swimbait is always best. I keep a variety of Berkley and 3:16 Lure Co glides and line thru swimbaits on the front deck.
There are also a lot of fish on beds still and I expect we will have another wave of fresh fish moving in soon as the moons of May arrive. I have been fishing the Berkley Powerbait General wacky style for a lot of these fish. Best colors have been black/blue and green pumpkin. I am also using a Powerbait Jerk Shad weightless or spilt shot rigged. Fishing these baits slowly has been the key. When you get them around these bass that are on beds spawning, they’ll eat them. The reason I really like Powerbait the most this time of year is because these fish are usually quick to pick up a bait, move it off their bed, and drop it. Sometimes even before you know you had a bite. But with the Powerbait scent in these baits, the fish will hold on to it longer. You will catch more fish! Sight fishing is also a great way to boat some big ones right now when you can’t get bit as well just casting blind. I opt for just a plain ole Texas rig for these fish and a Berkley Chigger Craw on the business end will get it done. There’s also a decent frog bite developing right now in the backs of some of these creeks where the fish are spawning or have finished spawning and are guarding fry. I love breaking out some Spider Wire 50 lb braid on an Abu Garcia broom handle on a Revo Rocket reel! The Berkley Swamp Lord has been destroying these frog fish. I had clients the other day that had never caught a fish on a frog before… We had 30-40 fish on the Swamp Lord that went 34 lbs, best five, and they missed 12-15. Now that’s some fun! Best colors are Voodoo Black, Copperhead, Bone, and Spring Frog.
The deep bite is also starting to crank up! Most of these big post-spawners are suspended and finicky but if you get a bait in front of them, they’ll engulf it. A lot of the fish suspended but some of them are starting to group up on bottom with the warm temperatures. A Berkley Dredger deep diving crankbait is a great for these fish! Cranking them or long lining them in certain areas will produce giants. I also like to throw a swimbait like a Berkley Hollowbelly on a jig head or jig head minnow and scope them up with my Garmins. Neko rigs on calm days will get em too when you’re looking at them out deep. This bite will get better as the month goes along and catch some on big baits like the Berkley 10” Powerworm, and Santone Lures Titan big shaky head worms like the Berkley Magnum Bottom Hopper. A Santone Lures football jig for these hungry post-spawn bass is spot on! I opt for 5/8 – 3/4 oz in PB&J, Pinto Beans & Carrots, or my custom JC’s Spicy Craw color.
Good luck to the Elites! I know many of them personally and they are always excited for this event. It will be fun to see them battle it out again on one of the best fisheries in the world. I know they won’t disappoint. For everyone else, I hope this information helps you in pursuit of a trophy bass this month on Lake Fork. If you are thinking of coming out this summer and would like to book a fishing trip with me this year, feel free to contact me anytime. I still have a few dates available, but you’ll need to contact me soon. I book up fast! I also have gift certificates available for those of you that are interested in purchasing a friend or loved one a guided trip on Lake Fork. You can contact me to make your reservation at 903-736-9888 or send me an email at lakeforktrophybass@yahoo.com You can also visit my website for more information about Lake Fork and my guide service at www.officiallakeforktrophybass.com You can find me on Facebook and follow my official Lake Fork Trophy Bass Guide page at https://www.facebook.com/lakeforktrophybassguide
I have really enjoyed my Bass Cat boats the past few years and have been thrilled with my new Puma STS this season. I couldn’t be happier to be serving my customers on Lake Fork as part of the Bass Cat Team and am looking forward to providing more great trips this year out of my new boat! If you’re interested in checking out any of the Bass Cat models, be sure to reach out to R & R Marine in Pittsburg, Texas. They have the new Puma and Caracal STS that everyone is raving about so go by and check out the new 2025 models available! Steven Stroman and his crew have amazing sales and service as well as a complete tackle shop with just about anything you need. I would like to thank all my sponsors that are continuing to support me in 2025. I appreciate all their support as I serve all my great guide clients throughout the year on Lake Fork as well! Sponsors: Toyota, AFTCO, Bass Cat Boats, Mercury, I Am Second, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Garmin, Santone Lures, Costa Sunglasses, Power Pole, Elite Tungsten, Johnson Communications, Pro Guide Batteries, and Bass Boat Technologies.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. -Proverbs 3:6
Tight Lines & God Bless,
James Caldemeyer