With over 300,000 people visiting Lake Fork in a years time angler's should exercise extreme caution. With this amount of boaters along with extremely fast bass boats and underwater hazards, Fork can be dangerous to the one's that don't exhibit good common sense. Everyone travels to Lake Fork to enjoy some of the best bass fishing in the world and if you'll just consider the following recommendations while at Lake Fork (or really any lake) your trip should be just as you've planned it to be.

DON'T DRIVE TOO FAST IN AREAS YOU DON'T KNOW: We could write a book with the amount of anglers that have run over underwater stumps in the past 21 years at Lake Fork. The number one comment after a person damages the bottom of their boat or shears off a lower unit is "But the area looked clear". Many veteran Lake Fork boaters will tell you just because an area looks clear does not necessarily mean it is. Don't assume anything when it comes to underwater hazards. Sure there are boat lanes that were cleared before the lake was built, but now 21 years after the lake opened many of these lanes are difficult if not impossible to see because most of the timber along the sides of these lanes has decayed and disappeared. Lake Fork at normal pool level (403' above sea level) is a lake that you must be cautious on, but let the lake fall in level a foot or more and those stumps that were a safe distance underwater, now become only inches below the surface. Lake Fork also has another kind of obstacle boaters have to contend with and that's floating timber. Many times after a high wind large branches will break off from the standing timber and float. Also, many times you won't see these floating branches until you're almost right upon them. Lake Fork does have some lanes marked with buoys, and these areas are generally safe from underwater obstacles at normal pool level, but be aware that buoys can break loose from their anchored positions.

SLOW DOWN AROUND LAUNCHING RAMPS: Anyone that's ever been to Lake Fork knows the boat ramps get crowded. You'll have boats dead in the water, boats idling around, boats coming and going from all different angles and boats being launched and retrieved. Exercise extreme caution around any boat ramp. Slow to an idle speed whenever you are in close proximity to a boat ramp.

ALWAYS KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR OTHER BOATERS: Any time you're out on the lake always watch the other guy. Expect the unexpected and always leave yourself enough room to avoid any other boat. Many bass boats can easily attain 80 mph and at that speed you'll cover approximately 100 feet a second in your boat, plus boats don't have brakes. Be on your toes when traveling that fast when other boats are in the area. Drive defensively.

WATCH THE WEATHER: Texas is notorious for thunderstorms. Although spring and fall provide the most thunderstorms, they can and do form anytime during the year. Lake Fork is laid out in a "V" shape and is not extremely wide at its widest point. But, when the wind starts blowing in excess of 25 mph Lake Fork can and does become dangerously rough. Coupled with underwater hazards and rough water Lake Fork can be a dangerous lake when the winds start. Watch the sky when you're on the lake, plus carry a radio with you so you can keep up on developing weather. If severe weather approaches, get off the lake immediately. There is no bass in Lake Fork worth risking your life over. Along with thunderstorms comes perhaps the most dangerous condition, and that's lightning. Quite a few people have tragically lost their life by being hit by lightning at Lake Fork over the years. Lightning can strike an object as far away as 10 miles from the cloud it develops from. If you can hear thunder, lightning can strike you. Fishermen are especially vulnerable to lightning strikes due to being on the water, having a fishing rod that's generally pointed towards the sky and plus you are usually the highest object while out on the water. One can't stress enough, if threatening weather develops, get off the lake immediately.

EXTREME TEXAS HEAT: Make no mistake, Texas gets hot during the summer. The high air temperatures along with the humidity produces a heat index that even native Texans have a hard time with. Lake Fork is visited by so many people each year and many of these folk's will be from the northern part of the United States, places where the air temperatures just don't reach what they do in Texas. Heat is something that a person can build up a tolerance, to a certain level. Fishermen once again are vulnerable to heat exhaustion or even heat stroke because being out on the lake seems to magnify the heat. If you fish Lake Fork in the hot summertime, be sure to force yourself to drink plenty of water. If at anytime you start feeling faint or get an upset stomach while out on the lake in summer, get into an air conditioned building as fast as you can. Also, water is the best thing to drink while out in the heat. Carbonated drinks or beer actually provide very little relief.

DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE OR DRINK AND FISH: Let's face it, alcohol is part of our society. But there is a time and place for everything, but drinking alcohol out on the lake is not the place. Drinking and driving a boat is just like drinking and driving a car. It's against the law, get caught and you'll deservingly go to jail. Not to mention you are putting yourself, your boats occupants and other fishermen at danger by doing it.

WEAR YOUR LIFE PRESERVER: It should be a law that every adult boater and occupant must wear their life vest when the outboard motor is running. Currently it's not. But that doesn't mean a person can't exhibit good common sense and wear theirs. Life jackets are worth there weight in gold when you need them. If you hit an object with your boat and are ejected, your life vest may save your life if you are knocked unconscious. Make it a rule that you and everyone in your boat wears life jackets when the big motor is running.

FISHING AND STANDING: You now how many Lake Fork fishermen have fallen overboard while standing and fishing when the trolling motor is gently pulling them through that fishy looking area? A bunch. What happens is either the trolling motor itself or the lower unit on the outboard will strike an underwater log thus stopping the boats forward motion. Although the boat will stop dead in its tracks, you won't. Lots of Lake Fork anglers have stories about falling out of the boat, and some of them are humorous. But one thing is for sure, it's not funny when it actually happens. Falling out of the boat is dangerous. It's very easy to hit your head on the boat on the way out or even fall onto a stump. Be very careful when fishing and standing if you're in an area of timber.

BUMPING DECAY TREES: Lake Forks standing timber is now over 21 years old. It's decayed and it's very susceptible to falling if bumped with your boat. Be especially watchful when fishing around standing timber, especially the one's that still have branches hanging off the main trunk. Many times just a small bump by your boat can bring down a massive piece of timber.