Special Crappie Season




The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department implemented a three-month special restriction for crappie at Lake Fork. From Dec. 1 until the last day of February, anglers must retain the first 25 crappie caught regardless of size.

The remainder of the year the standard, statewide rules for crappie or 10-inch minimum length limit apply. Both seasons have a 25-fish bag limit.

The special regulations were put in place to protect crappie during the colder winter months when they congregate in large schools in deep water, 25-40 feet. Pulling a small crappie up from these depths quickly can cause the fish to become paralyzed due to not being able to decompress quickly enough.

The cooler water temperatures cause the shad to form large schools and the crappie take advantage of the shad.

The Longview-Journal Outdoors reports limits or near limits being reported. Main lake points in the 20-30 foot range are good place to start looking for the fish. Find the shad and crappie will be there soon enough.

Live bait is recommended for younger or less experienced crappie anglers. Tie two jigs on 6 pound test fluorocarbon about 18 inches apart on medium to light spinning gear. Try to present the bait just above the school. Keep it mobile.

 




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Lake Fork Current Weather Alerts

There are no active watches, warnings or advisories.

 

Lake Fork Weather Forecast

Friday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 93

Friday Night

Mostly Clear

Lo: 75

Saturday

Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 93

Saturday Night

Slight Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 75

Sunday

Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 93

Sunday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 75

Monday

Slight Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 95

Monday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 75


Lake Fork Water Level (last 30 days)


Water Level on 7/11: 403.25 (+0.25)



Lake Fork

Fishing Report from TPWD (Jul. 9)

GOOD. Water Stained; 82 degrees; 0.23 feet above pool. Fork : Top waters early around pond weed and grass with frogs and poppers still working . Mid morning chatter baits on the outside edge of grass in 3-5 ft is good as well as shaky heads . Best bite is Carolina rigs off shore on points , road beds and humps in 12-25 ft . Big worms and flukes are good . Deep Cranks are good over the same area when the fish are suspending 19-23 ft . Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Guide Service. Lily fields are filling in, hydrilla and milfoil are reaching for the surface. Fish this type of cover at mid day when bass are seeking cover. Frog patterns are working in the shallow vegetation early and late. Small fish patterns like a dock knocker are producing bass and crappie shallow near grass. Large bream have moved shallow, wooly buggers are producing good fish. Channel catfish are cruising 2-4 feet biting clousers. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. Lake Fork crappie fishing has been super up and down this past week. The fish are stacked up on brush piles, lay downs, tire reefs and some trees. The bite is the tricky part. Some days the bite is good and the bigger fish show up. Some days the bite is just off and the short fish show up. Seems like the bite may be better on days we have a little breeze. If the winds are calm the bite is very slow. Minnows will get some bites but small 1/32nd ounce hand tied jigs with small bodies and tails are working well on fish that don’t want to bite. Best depths have been 18-13ft with most fish suspended on trees and loaded in the brush. Report by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins Guide Service.

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