It is fall at Lake Fork and the fishing is great! If it is a real TROPHY BASS that you are in search of, now is the time of year to be concentrating your fishing efforts on the Big Bass Capitol!! The Berkley tournament has just concluded and the anglers who turned out for the event caught a number of big bass.
Congratulations to Sam Trinca for catching the big fish that weighed 9.72 lbs. That is a big mama!
Water conditions at Lake Fork are clear to 3+ ft on the main lake, with some areas of the creeks having slightly stained water from some run off and wind.
Water levels are currently holding at 403.05, which is slightly above full pool, with temperatures in the high 70’s.
The fishing has begun to move into a more consistent fall pattern and the fish are biting well. The early morning top water bite has produced some nice ones to start the day off. Most days the action has been brief, but on the overcast mornings the blow-ups are frequent on yellow magics, zara spooks (shad colors), or white buzz baits and frogs. Working these baits over submerged vegetation and thru the lily pads will get you awake quicker than a cup of Folgers coffee, as the strikes have been explosive!
Wacky worms in watermelon colors, June bug, and green pumpkin have also been catching fish in the same areas. There is a lot of grass in the lake right now and these fish are relating to it well all the way from the main lake points to the backs of the major creeks. A Texas rigged worm has also been very productive in the grass and along the outside edges of the deeper grass. I have been rigging mine with a 1/4 to 3/8 oz. weight and a 4/0 wide gap hook. Best colors have been watermelon red, June bug, and red bug. As the water cools, there will be more and more fish making a migration to the backs of these creeks and they will be gorging themselves on baitfish in preparation for winter. Shallow to mid depth crank baits in shad patterns will become more consistent as the fall rolls along. A white spinner bait or chatter bait is also a good choice. I like to use a 1/2 to 3/4
oz. double willow Talon spinner bait.
The deep fishing is also picking up as well. Fall is an excellent time to catch numbers of fat feeding bass off of humps, points, roadbeds, pond dams and ledges.
I search these deep areas with my Lowrance X26 and once I have located a spot that is holding a concentration of fish, it is time to break out the Carolina rig and jigging spoon. I use a 7’6” heavy action Shimano Crucial rod and Chronarch reel spooled with 20lb. Gamma Edge fluorocarbon, a 1 oz. weight and a 4-5 foot leader with a 3/0 wide gap hook is the ultimate set up. Best baits have been the Grande Bass Baby Rattlesnake and french frys in watermelon red, watermelon seed or chart. pepper. On some days you will barely feel these deep fish pick the bait up and start swimming off but most of the time, they are trying to jerk the rod out of your hands. The jigging spoon has been very effective as well for catching them out deep right now. A 3/8 or 1/2 oz. Talon jigging spoon is my favorite all the way up to a very large, slow falling spoon.
If you would like to get out on the Lake Fork this fall and catch some big ole bass while all the hunters are in their deer stands, feel free to give me a call at (903) 736-9888 or you can email me at
lakeforktrophybass@yahoo.com There is a less fishing pressure on the lake this time of year and the fish are active so come on out if you can! I still have a couple dates available at the end of this month and some availability in November.
Read Mark 10:27
Tight Lines and God Bless,
James Caldemeyer
