Fall is in full swing during the month of November here at Lake Fork. The lake traffic is minimal with lots of hunters in the woods and the fishing is great. As the leaves continue to fall from the trees and the temperatures continue to grow colder you can expect the fishing to stay very good. This time of year really gives any angler the opportunity to catch fish on any given day and often time’s lots of them. Now through the end of the year is one of my favorite times to catch a giant bass as well! The lake is still in good shape with water levels still near full pool. We are sitting at 402.17, which is less than a foot low. Most of the lake has completed the turn over phase and the water conditions have stabilized. Water temperatures are in the 60’s and these temperatures are triggering easy feeding action with the big bass. With all the water in the lake the fish have been scattered up until this month but are now starting to group up real good. When you find them you’ll be around quite a few of them!

The fishing has been great on most days with lots of fish being caught and some big ones at that! You can always count on fall fishing to provide a number of different patterns and baits to be producing at the same time. I always suggest that anglers fish their strengths if they want to catch a lot of fish and to their weakness to gain confidence in a technique you are not very good at or have not had a lot of productive results with. For instance. If you are not a big jig fisherman, now is the time to gain some confidence. Go out there and throw it until you catch fish on it. This month is also a great time to get the wife or young children involved in fishing. With all these hungry bass in the lake, it becomes easier for them to keep their interest and attention focused on the next bite.

The bite has been good both shallow and deep. If you like a top water bite, it has been very good! Buzz baits like Santone Lures Braid Buzz, zara spooks, frogs and popping baits like a yellow magic have been great early and late or all day some days. Fishing these around shallow grass or dying lily pads very methodically can yield you a monster fish . Main lake points, secondary points, creek channel edges and the very back flats can all hold fish in the fall. After the top water bite, I am switching over to an assorted arsenal of baits. I like to throw a wacky rigged worm over or a drop shot in 2-6 feet of water this time of year if possible. Best baits have been the new 5” Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Hit Worm in blue fleck or watermelon red or Havoc 4.75 Bottom Hopper. I also like a Texas rigged 7” or 10: Berkley Power Worm in the blue fleck, plum, waatermelon candy, or black and blue. The fish are following the bait closely so if you find the shad, you will find the bass. I will use a lot of moving baits this time of year to keep up with these migrating fish while presenting a bait to them that mimics their prey. A blade bait, spinner bait like a Santone Lures 1/4 - 3/8 oz white or white/chartreuse. 3:16 Lure Company swim bait or a small crank bait in any white color or shad pattern are excellent choices and will cover a lot of water fast when you are searching for fish. If you catch a fish or two in an area, work it over throughly because usually there will be more bass there. Another great technique for catching a big bass right now is backing out to the center of the creek channels and fishing any of the outside or inside turns in the channel. I can’t tell you how many times I have sat in one spot and caught one after another when everyone else was up on the bank fishing. The old creek beds are prime targets right now and with the water up you can follow them way back into the shallows.

The deep bite is a blast this time of year. I am using my Garmin electronics right now to find schools of bass offshore with my Panoptix Live Forward view feature, finding brush piles is a lot of fun. I can find them relatively easy and the bass love them. Most of the bass are located in 18-25ft of water but you can find some in mid depths also in 12-18 ft. Humps, points, road beds, pond dams, and ridges are great places to focus your efforts on. These big fish will be schooling up on these areas following shad, yellow bass, white bass and crappie around looking for an easy meal. The Carolina rig is deadly on these deep bass. I like to rig my new Abu Garcia Villian rods and MGX Revo reels spooled up with 20lb Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon line and a 1oz weight, 4-5 foot leader, and a 3/0 wide gap hook. The Berkley Havoc Bottom Hopper, 5” Powerbait General, a 7” Power worm, or Power Lizard on this rig. Best colors are green pumpkin, watermelon candy, blue fleck, or plum. The jig bite out deep is very good for the big ones too. A 5/8 - 3/4 oz Santone Lures football jig with a twin tail grub or Chigger Craw on the back will catch some of the biggest bass out of the school. Best colors on the jig are PB&J, Mexican Heather, JC’s Spicy Craw, and Black & Blue. The jigging spoon and tall kicker bite are also good right now. A big flutter spoon or small jigging spoon in 3/8-1/2 oz sizes, are best. Getting over the top of these big schools of fish with these or a Little George can catch some real trophies and are something even the kids or wife can enjoy.

I hope this information helps you in pursuit of a trophy bass on Lake Fork this month. Be safe out there on the water . Always wear your life vest and kill switch. It could save your life. If you are thinking of coming out and would like to book a trip with me this year, feel free to contact me. I still have a few fall/winter dates available. My schedule is already booking up fast for the spring so contact me for the best dates still available. I would enjoy the opportunity to take your group fishing and help you catch the fish of your dreams! You can contact me to book your trip by email at [email protected] or give me a call at 903-736-9888. Also visit my website to find out more information about Lake Fork Bass Fishing and my guide service at www.officiallakeforktrophybass.com If you are able to make to Lake Fork for one of the tournaments be sure to go by Diamond Sports Marine on Hwy 154 and see all the new Ranger Boats. I’m waiting on my brand new 2018 521L to get here and they will be having some arriving soon! If you are in the market for a boat this year it is time to go see Fred for a great deal on a new one. Test rides are available so feel free to contact me or call the dealership at 903-383-7829 and we will get you out on the water for a ride in one! I would like to thank all of my current sponsors for supporting my FLW Series tournament fishing and my guide service on Lake Fork: Toyota, Carthartt, Ranger Boats, Mercury Outboards, I Am Second, Leer, Garmin, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Santone Lures, Costa Sunglasses, Power Pole, Rigid Industries, Road Armor, Fabtech Motorsports and Elite Tungsten.

Isaiah25:1 - O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.

Tight Lines & God Bless,
James Caldemeyer

Fishing Report by Lake Fork Guide James Caldemeyer
For trip information visit: www.officiallakeforktrophybass.com