Lake Fork Report
Updated 2/13/2012

Lake Fork Maps

As I write this report, it is 37 degrees at 2:00 PM. But will change very soon. Starting tomorrow, the 10 day forecast calls for 58 to 68 degree high temps. We've had a very mild winter so far and it looks like we will have an early spawn. Before this front, we had water temps around 60 degrees in some areas of Lake Fork. However, I consider it artificial water temps (being in shallow water when it's 75 degrees out). You can get a better reading around 9 or 10 AM, especially on cloudy days. On clear days, the sun will warm the shallows up in the afternoon and the lack of clouds at night will cool the shallows down, so the surface temp isn't very accurate then. Main lake water temps are ranging from the upper 40s to the lower 50s on the cold days and mid 50s on the warm days. Before the front, the bass were much more active on Lake Fork than they have been all winter. My guess is that the front will slow things down for the next 3 days or so, then they will get active again. Based on the forecast, I expect to find bass on the beds on Lake Fork by then end of February. Between now and then is what I consider pre-spawn. Bass are searching out their spawning areas and feeding heavily. This is a great time to catch fish on spinnerbaits, jigs, crankbaits, chatterbaits, and rattle traps.
This year, the guys who have a knack for finding fish will do much better than that guys who fish the same honey holes every year. Since the lake is 6 feet low, you aren't likely to catch fish where you caught them last year. This is an exciting time for me! I've been fishing mostly deep water since the lake went down. But now, the fish are moving shallow to spawn and I get to find new hot spots in every cove. Since this is the first spring that the lake has been at this level, only the fishermen who have been recently will know the hot spots. So there is a huge advantage for fishing guides and fishermen with time on their hands. The guys who know how to eliminate unproductive water and focus on key areas are the ones who will be rewarded. But bass won't always bite even when you are in the right spot, so its real easy to get frustrated. But once you've hit a few of those areas with success, you can build your confidence and fish them better. There's no subsitute for trial and error to determine what works and what doesn't work. But that's why people hire guides - so they can learn from our trials.
The hydrilla is gone on Lake Fork. But there is some positives to that. Bass prefer grass over trees. Since they don't have grass, they will relate to the trees. So, fishing visible cover is better now than it was when we had grass. So now we don't have to make all those long casts and rip out of the grass. We can pitch a worm or jig or work a spinnerbait near visible cover and not have to work so hard. We can save energy by fishing smarter instead of harder. But don't rule out traps just because we don't have the grass. Red/orange traps should always be part of your winter/early spring arsenal.
I haven't been to Monticello in a couple of weeks, but I heard that because of the EPA guidelines only one stack is running and it is minimal. So, that lake may not be as warm as normal. But it will warm up quicker than Fork and is a great place for sight fishing. This year, it is full and the clarity is pretty good. Sight fishing there is very similar to Fork & it has tons of 5-8 pounders.
I have been to Lake Welsh recently. It is awesome! Water temps are 80+ at the boat ramp, that water level is full, and the grass is perfect. It has thick hydrilla in lots of places. The fishing is good too! I found fish in all stages of the spawn. I caught a few off the beds and some that were guarding fry and a few that hadn't yet moved up to spawn. Last trip, I was on the water at daybreak and we got a dozen fish to hit our topwater baits in the first hour. What a blast any time, especially in the winter! For the prespawners, we got most on spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. For the ones on the beds, we got them on Texas rigged ring frys. And for the ones guarding fry, Flukes and topwater baits were best.
For the rest of February, I'm offering sunup to sundown trips at no additional charge. I'll also fish multiple lakes. So, we can get some topwater action on Welsch and end the day in pursuit of the giant on Lake Fork. We may even be able to hit Monticello for some sight fishing in between lakes.
If you are interested in sight fishing with me, I may be available to take you during the best time this year (mid March through early May). For the past several years, I've been booked up a year in advance. This year is no exception, but I have several cancellations that I haven't yet rebooked - and I don't yet have a waiting list. Also, it appears that we will have an early spawn and I have a bunch of days open before mid March. My calendar is always accurate if it shows that I'm available. However, there are often days that I don't open to the public. So, I may be able to work you in even if my calendar shows that I'm booked. Shoot me an email at richie@bassfishing.org and I'll try to work you in.
Check out my E-Book on sight fishing at www.bassfishing.org/spawnbook

If you are interested in a guided trip, you can book online at http://www.fishingguidenow.com/bookonline.cfm?guideID=2


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