Lake Fork Fishing Report for May 8, 2017

It was a windy cool start to the week but it ended with beautiful clear skies and warm temperatures. The water temperatures remained in the mid 70’s and the water clarity is still stained over most of the lake. The early morning top water bite was good using a Chug Bug and a Zoom white fluke. When it was too windy for the top water bite, we went to a Gizzard Shad Strike King 1.5 Square Bill crankbait. We worked it with a very erratic motion. About 09:00 put the crankbait and top water equipment away and get out the ole faithful Carolina rig. Two baits worked well on the Carolina rig; one is a watermelon/red Zoom Baby Brush Hog and the other is a Zoom watermelon/red Fluke. Yes, I dyed the tails chartreuse☺. We fished the Carolina rig on main lake points and creek channel bends. Creek channel bends produced the best fish! This week I had a couple issues with my Lowrance electronics. I would like thank our local Lowrance repersentive for great support and getting me back on the water with no time loss to my clients. For our equipment list this week is my Ranger 520C, Mercury 250 Pro X, Duckett rods and ABU Garcia Orra SX reels.

This week we found the White bass have moved up into 24 to 26 foot of water. We continued to use Joe Spaits Flashtail ½-ounce spoon in the chrome with red eyes pattern. Old roadbeds seem to be the ticket to finding them.
While looking for the White Bass we found the Crappie have moved out to the 18 to 20 foot depth of water over brush piles. We caught them on Joe Spaits ½-ounce chrome with red eyes Flashtail spoon.

The Catfish put the feedbag on this week. Punch bait worked the best around baited trees. Look for them in 30 foot of water.
While you are Lake Fork, make sure you stop into Lake Fork Marina and check out the Duckett rods and ABU Garcia reels. In addition, check out their selection of Strike King Crankbaits and Zoom soft plastics.

We still have a few days open in May and June for Guided Bass, Crappie and White Bass trips. Give us a call at (903) 413-6919 or E-mail us at [email protected]. Be a line watcher and fish safe.

Author: John Morris

Company: J & M Guide Service

Professionally fishng for 43 years. Guiding on Lake Fork for 18 years. Sponsored by Nichols Marine, Ranger Boats, Mercury Motors and Lake Fork Trophy Lures.

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Lake Fork Current Weather Alerts

There are no active watches, warnings or advisories.

Lake Fork Weather Forecast

Thursday

Mostly Cloudy

Hi: 79

Thursday Night

Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 70

Friday

Rain Showers

Hi: 78

Friday Night

Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 69

Saturday

Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 83

Saturday Night

Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 71

Sunday

Rain Showers

Hi: 79

Sunday Night

Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 65

Extended Weather Forecast

Lake Fork Water Level (last 30 days)

Water Level on 4/25: 403.25 (+0.25)

Water Level Details

Lake Fork

Fishing Report from TPWD (Apr. 24)

GOOD. Water Stained; 60 degrees; 0.20 feet above pool. Bass have slowed, but post spawners are setting up on points in 5-7 feet of water with Carolina rigged creature baits. Topwaters and frogs are good early morning around grass. Shaky heads are good around boat houses. Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Guide Service. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. Changing weather means changing bite. First phase spawners are now in a post spawn pattern and aggressive. Frog pattern top waters are excellent in the grass and brush. Casting into the pockets and letting the frog sit for a few seconds is a good idea. Crappies are shallow, catching them on edge of banks, small fish patterns like wooly buggers are a good bet. Bream are beginning to make themselves known in the shallows, wooly buggers and small poppers should bring a strike.Crappie are good in 2-13 feet on timber and around grass lines. Some fish are moving back out into the 12-18 feet areas and a little deeper. Black crappie are on a few bridges, but fish are not loaded up yet. Black crappie are also grouping under docks on sunny afternoons. Cast 1/16th ounce hand tied jigs continue to be good in white and gray, white and chartreuse and light blue and gray colors. Minnows will still work very well and especially on shallow fish around grass. Soft plastics will also work well as the fish have been very aggressive. We should see the aggressive bite until the warmer months get here and the fish get a little finicky. Catfishing continues to be good around timber where birds are roosting in 10-18 feet. Also getting reports of some shallow catfish around grass lines and sea walls. Those fish are most likely chasing shad spawns. Catfish are cruising around shallow wood in 6-12 feet, with lots of fry showing up. Use your favorite prepared catfish bait to load the boat once you locate the fish. Report by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins Guide Service.

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Courtesy of lakeforktexas.com

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