FROM: J & M Guide Service
DATES: 12 – 18 April 2020
Post spawn is here at beautiful Lake Fork. We had more wind and rain which
made for some interesting and challenging fishing. The water clarity is stained to
muddy depending which side if the lake you are fishing. The cool nights kept the
water temperatures in the mid 60’s to the lower 70’s. The Bass fishing was really
tuff this week due to the post spawn conditions. The Bass are scattered from 4
feet to 20 feet of water. For the fish that were still in the shallow water we used a
split shot rigged Zoom Tilapia colored Fluke with the tails dyed chartreuse. Let me
tell you, you can’t move the fluke slow enough. For the deeper fish we used a
Carolina rigged Zoom Huckleberry Baby Brush Hog or a Buddy’s Bait
watermelon/red Boss Hog. In either case we dyed the tails chartreuse. I really
like the Boss Hog because of the way it is constructed with three extra ribs that
move more water than the Baby Brush Hog.
The Crappie anglers had to hunt and peck for the Crappie this week. They are
mostly in post spawn pattern now. They can be found in 12 to 29 foot of water.
The Crappie bite is very light and you have to pay attention. We used Bubba Baits
1/8-ounce chartreuse Crappie jig tipped with a minnow.
It was a really strange week for the White Bass. I have never seen the White Bass
spawn and leave the creeks so fast as they did this year. They are in 18 to 26 foot
of water suspended over brush piles on make lake points. We continued to catch
the white bass on a Bubba’s Bait black and chartreuse Crappie jig tipped with a
minnow.
The Catfish are still in the shallow water spawning. The ole fashion minnow rig
worked for them.
On our equipment list this week is our Ranger 520c powered by a Mercury 250
Pro XS from Nichols Marine in Longview, TX, Duckett rods, ABU Garcia reels, Stren
line, Bubba’s Baits Crappie Jigs, Buddy’s Custom Baits from here at Lake Fork, X-
VIII Custom Baits and Zoom soft plastics.
Here at J & M Guide Service we have several openings for guided Bass trips in
May and June. Give us a call at (903) 413-6919 or E-mail us at
[email protected]. Have a safe fishing week.
