LAKE FORK WEEKLY FISHING REPORT




FROM: J & M Guide Service


DATES: 23 – 29 August 2020


It was another hot week here at Lake Fork. With the rain we had this morning it
brought the lake level back up to 1.6 feet below full pool. The water clarity is still
stained in the upper creeks and clearing up nicely in the main lake. The water
temperatures are 88 in the morning to 92 in the mid-afternoon. The Bass fishing
is starting to get better little by little. The Zoom black and blue Ole’ Monster
worm and the drop shot Zoom white fluke were the best way to put good quality
fish in the boat this week. In either technique you have to use a very slow
presentation. “Slower is better”! I have been asked by a couple of readers
this week on what my set up for fishing the Ole’ Monster worm is. So here goes; I
use a Texas rig on a Duckett 7-foot three-inch medium heavy rod, an ABU Garcia
Ora SX reel, Stren Clear/Blue/Florissant 17-pound line, an Eagle Claw LO45 4/0
worm hook and a South Bend 3/8-ounce slip sinker. It works!


The Crappie fishing was still slow this week. The Bubba’s Bait white with an
orange tail tipped with a minnow seemed to work the best. We fished over brush
piles along old deep timber lines in 18 to 20 foot of water.


The Catfish anglers were having a ball this week catching good numbers of Catfish
in 24 to 28 foot of water over brush piles and fish attackers. We found that
minnows worked the best.


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, Strike King hard baits, Bubba’s Baits Crappie Jigs, Buddy’s Custom Baits from
here at Lake Fork, X-VIII Custom Baits and Zoom soft plastics.


Well September is almost here and here at J & M Guide Service we are taking
reservations for Fall Bass fishing through November. Give us a call at (903) 413-
6919 or E-mail us at [email protected]. Have a safe fishing week.




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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


Lake Fork Water Level (last 30 days)


Water Level on 4/25: 403.21 (+0.21)



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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