March is finally here on Lake Fork! With it brings some early signs of spring on the horizon. It is an awesome month to catch the fish of your dreams as some of the biggest bass in Lake Fork start to prepare for the annual spring spawn. This spring is looking bright for another great spawn and here are some tips that will help you in the pursuit of that trophy bass you’ve been chasing!
The water levels are in great shape as we are sitting at full pool right now. SRA has been letting water out at the dam (one gate open) since the recent rains. The newly flooded areas on the bank will be great cover for the bass to spawn in this year. Water temperatures have been in the mid 50’s to lower 60’s with occasional changes due to the weather and cold fronts still passing through. There is some good grass growing in areas around the lake and it could really bust out with the recent rise of water levels. The overall clarity of the lake is good with stained water mostly in the backs of some of the creeks and other windblown areas.
One of the best baits for targeting these pre-spawn Lake Fork bass are baits like the Berkley Warpig or any other lipless crank bait in the 1/4-3/4 oz size range. Anything red on Lake Fork is always great but I like to mix it up with chrome, white, and some chartreuse colors also. Main lake points and secondary points are always great places to start. I like to fish these baits in the 2-8 foot depth range as many of the bass will be holding around shallow cover looking for a meal and often times just up there sunning themselves on a warmer day. If you can find clumps of vegetation those are best. The fish will lay in the hydrilla and smoke a lipless crank bait as it comes by! Some of the biggest fish of the year are caught this way. Chatterbaits like the Berkley Slobberknocker have also been good fished in the same areas as well as a suspending jerk bait like the Berkley Stunna. The big fish really like the jerkbaits on cold and calm days!
You can also hammer a big one with a jig right now! These big female bass crave crawfish this time of year so anything that resembles one is fair game. I like to use a flipping model like the Santone Rattlin jig in a 3/8 or 1/2 oz size. My favorite colors are black & blue, black/blue & purple, and my custom JC’s Spicy Craw with a great matching trailer like the Berkley Powerbait Chigger Craw or the new Chigger Bug. You will find the jig fish out a little deeper until the water warms up. I usually find them on the points and channel bends in 6-12feet of water. Having practiced your flipping or pitching technique all winter while you had cabin fever really pays off. These bass will be tight to cover so pitching your jig right directly next to a stump or dock as opposed to a foot away from it will mean the difference between bites or a lack thereof. Be persistent if you decide to pick up a jig and go after the big ones. It is often times a technique of fewer bites but it can pay off big! Same thing with the big swim baits. I throw these big glide baits a lot this time of year to target the big female bass that are feeding on big meals before they move up to spawn. I like to throw the 3:16 Gizzard Glide. Again, persistence pays off with these baits. Keep heaving it and the big bites will come. One of my favorite baits for targeting these bass as they move in to spawn is a weightless Berkley Powerbait “Jerk” or the “General”. Dead sticking these baits in the flats and spawning areas is very effective. You must remember that the bass have moved from a feeding bite and to a territorial bite. You are presenting your bait in a manner that invades their space, and they strike it. Moving the bait a lot will defeat the purpose so be sure to really slow down! When you think you are fishing slowly, slow down some more! Another big favorite of mine for spawning bass is the Santone Lures “Piglet” shaky head with a Berkley Powerbait Bottom Hopper. Best colors are black/blue, blue fleck and green pumpkin. This is a great combination for using the same presentation when the wind gets up and will not allow you to fish these areas effectively with the weightless technique.
The deep bite is hit and miss but you can really catch a giant if you are committed to it. I am using my Garmin electronics to scan depths of 16-24 feet of water for schools of bait and bass hanging around them. We have had a recent resurgence of barfish or yellow bass in the lake and their abundance is very good for the big bass population that thrive on them in their diet. A Carolina rig is a great one to have tied on for these deep schools as well as a Santone football jig. If the bass are suspended, I’m mostly targeting them with a jerkbait or jighead minnow like a Berkley Flat nose minnow on a Fusion 19 jighead in 1/8 – 1/4 ounce sizes. You can also target them with umbrella rigs, spoons, hair jigs, or tail kickers too.
Well, I hope this helps anyone that’s coming out this month to chase some big bass around. I’m praying that you all have a wonderful spring fishing season, filled with great days on the water. If you would like to fish with me this year, I still have just a few spring dates available. My 2025 schedule is filling fast though so contact me as soon as possible if you are beginning to plan your trip to Lake Fork. 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 2024 Puma STS this season. I’m currently getting my new boat ready for this year. 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
