"March Madness", at Lake Fork, is in full swing and is evident with two Share A Lunkers being brought to the scales in as many days. I was able to witness the excitement of Cal Lamb at Lake Fork Marina after he brought in a fish yesterday that weighed 13.02 lbs. He was fishing alone and in a rental boat when he landed the monster bass on a jig. He had never thrown a jig before yesterday but I am sure he will be fishing it a lot more often now. It was funny to hear him explain that when he set the hook on the fish, "…it felt like I was hung on a stump, then I realized it was a fish and it felt like I was dragging a tire in." Definitely another amazing Lake Fork story and a fish of a lifetime! Today, another Share A Lunker was caught as well weighing just over 13 lbs.
The water level at Lake Fork is currently sitting at 403.08, which is just over full pool. Recent rains have continued to produce lots of run off and have caused most of the lake’s creeks to be stained and off colored. Finding the areas within the stained creeks that get less run off and are a bit clearer is best.
Water temperatures have been ranging from 53-58 degrees in the areas that I have been targeting and the bite has been more consistent in the afternoon when water temps are at their peak.
I have been fishing primarily pre-spawn patterns early in the day when the water temps are down and keying on main lake & secondary points or creek channel edges that are adjacent to spawning areas.
Fishing the grass in 2-8 feet of water has been best.
Red/orange rattle traps are still producing fish along with white/chartreuse spinner baits & chatter baits.
When the water starts heating up I grab my new Shimano Cumara rod & reel rigged with 16 lb. Gamma Edge fluorocarbon and move to the spawning flats. A 4/0 wide gap hook rigged with a Wave Worm Tiki Stick and Tiki Bamboo Stick in black/blue, green pumpkin or any watermelon colored fluke has produced some good fish lately. I am also rigging my Tiki Stick wacky style with a 3/0, 1/32 oz. Mr. Blitz hook and dead sticking it over the grass with an occasional twitch of the rod and catching them. If you have not tried this technique, you are missing out! Flipping a jig has caught some of our biggest fish lately and accounted for a lot of big bites across the lake. My favorite is a 3/8 to 1/2 oz. black/blue or black/blue/purple Talon jig tipped with a matching trailer. If you have the patience to fish a jig, now is the time to fish it! Generally, you will not get as many bites but the ones you do get may have you feeling like you are reeling in a "tire" on the other end!!
If you would like to book a trip for some great bass fishing on Lake Fork, feel free to give me a call at (903)736-9888 or email me lakeforktrophybass@yahoo.com. I would like to thank the good Lord & my sponsors for their support and to those that contributed to my new boat wrap.
Kevin and Rhonda at UCR Graphics did a great job and my Ranger Z520 looks spectacular! I would highly recommend them to anyone interested in a custom wrap to promote their company or products Read 1 Peter 3:18
Tight Lines and God Bless,
James Caldemeyer
