August is an exciting month at Lake Fork! Summer is ending and it’s a great time to get the kids out on the lake one last time before they head back to school for the year. This summer has been an extremely hot summer with many days reaching 100+ but the lake has held its own and we have still been able to catch some big bass in the heat. Even with the heat and evaporation the lake levels are in good shape and still providing plenty of cover for the bass to stay active in. If you are going to be fishing this month or are planning a trip to the lake for a summer fishing outing, here are some tips and techniques that will help make your trip productive.
The water levels on the lake are currently at 400.21 with full pool being 403. This puts us at just less than 3 feet low. The water clarity was a little off colored in July and some areas that are normally clear on the south end were slightly stained. I am not sure if there was some kind of algae bloom or just the water transitioning in these extremely hot temperatures. But the lake is clearing up a lot now and will help the August fishing. Water temperatures are ranging from 85-91 degrees.
There’s a good shallow water bite early but the most consistent pattern lately for me has been targeting fish holding in the 12-18 ft range. These fish are holding on points with timber or other structure. The key has been deep water close by. So, if you find an area that has deep water near it like a channel and a point or hump with trees on it nearby, you will be in action. The bass are pulling up on these spots to feed and with the warmer weather the best time to find them there is in the morning or in the evening. My most productive bait when the fish are actively feeding has been a deep diving crankbait like the Berkley Dredger in any shad pattern. Cranking the trees where these fish are hiding tight to and banging the timber with these deep diving crank baits will draw some big bites. If the fish are not in a “chasing” mood, I opt for a Carolina rig. I am using a Berkley Powerbait Bottom Hopper worms or finesse worms like a centipede or ring fry. I am rigging my 7’6” med heavy Abu Garcia Veritas PLX Tournament rod and new Revo VoltIQ reel up with 20 lb Trilene 100% fluorocarbon and a 1 oz Elite Tungsten weight on the main line and 15-17 lb leader with a 3/0 wide gap hook. Slowing dragging this rig is important. The bites can be subtle this time of year so going slow and making sure you are feeling everything it is moving over and thru will help your catch rate. Texas rigged 10” Berkley power worms are also producing a ton of fish in these same depths. A lot of times when the bass are holding really tight to cover (trees) the strike zone shrinks and you need something that you can put right on their nose, so a Texas rig is the best choice. I use a 3/8-1/2 oz tungsten weight, and a 5/0- 6/0 hook. Best colors are blue fleck, watermelon red, watermelon candy, or plum.
During the day when the fish after the fish head out to deeper water, you have to change gears a little bit. The thermocline has set up at about 24 foot and has the most productive spots where active schools of deep fish are at about the same depth and just above being the range you want to target for structure to top out at. That is not to say that you will not find or catch fish deeper than this but that the majority of the schools will be found in this range. When I am using my Garmin electronics to locate schools of these deep fish the first thing that I am looking for on a hump, ridge, roadbed, or under water point is the presence of baitfish. If I am not seeing shad on my graph, it is highly unlikely that I will see bass in concentrations. Once I locate a school of fish, I am taking notice where exactly the fish are located in the water column. If the fish are suspended off the bottom I am throwing a jig head minnow with a Berkley Lab Series, or Moeba urchin bait, or big flutter spoons are my favorite this month. When I locate a group of deep fish that are on the bottom, or are relating closely to the bottom, I am back to the same Carolina rig combination that I described earlier as it works just as effectively out deep. The best colors lately have been watermelon candy, watermelon red and chartreuse pepper. I also like to throw a Santone Lures 3/4 or 1 oz football head jig on the deep bass. I will throw it out there and drag it or sometimes use a stroking technique of hopping it off the bottom to draw strikes from the biggest bass in the school. Best jig colors this month are my signature JC’s Spicy Craw, Mexican Heather, and PB&J. Be sure to also check for fish hanging around the bridges. During hot calm days you will find congregations of fish chasing shad and schooling heavily around the bridge columns in the shade. Drop shots, Neko, under spins, spoons, FFS baits and top waters are all very effective for catching these fish and can often times salvage an otherwise unproductive summer day on the lake.
Well, I hope this helps anyone that’s coming out this month to chase some big bass around. If you would like to fish with me this year, I still have some dates available. The rest of my 2026 schedule is filling fast though so contact me as soon as possible if you are wanting to plan a trip. 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 7 years and am thrilled to be running the brand new 2026 Lynx model this year. Just when you think it can’t get any better, you get in this boat and it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen! 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 the new ride. If you’re interested in checking out any of the Bass Cat models, be sure to reach out to Conroy Motorsports in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. They are the new Bass Cat dealer in Texas, and just a short distance from Lake Fork. They will be serving the area well with their team of sales professionals and service for Bass Cat Boats any of your service needs if you are around Lake Fork. They also carry ATV’s and other outdoor power equipment for all your recreational needs! Contact Steven Stroman and tell him I sent ya…
I would like to thank all my sponsors and some new ones that have teamed up with me for the 2026 season. I appreciate all their support as I serve all my great guide clients throughout the year on Lake Fork as well! Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Cat Boats, Mercury, Conroy Motor Sports, I Am Second, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Garmin, Santone Lures, AFTCO, Costa Sunglasses, Power Pole, I SEE U, Elite Tungsten, Johnson Communications, Pro Guide Batteries, DD26 Fishing, Bass Boat Technologies, BDS Suspension, and Method Wheels.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. -Proverbs 3:6
Tight Lines & God Bless,
James Caldemeyer
