Patterns That Works in December and January




Deep or shallow for bass at this time of the year? Winter normally means dropping water temperatures, but Texas being Texas, if we have 3-4 days of the daily warming, the bass will get more active shallower.

John Dean, a well known bass fishing guide on Toledo Bend recently reported catching bass in ditches and along the shoreline with 4-inch, soft-plastic ringworms during a warming trend, especially from mid-day on. A suspending jerkbait bite was also a good bait choice.

On warmer days, he finds bass in 5- to 7-foot depths chasing and eating shad. When the water cools and they don’t feel like it, they stay deeper.

This is a time of year when horizontal baits come into play. Chatterbait-style lures, swim jigs, jerkbaits and ½- or ¾-ounce Rat-L-Traps (chrome/black, chrome/orange or crawfish-colored depending on the water color) and chrome/black or gold/orange jerkbaits can produce more than other artificials.

Offshore, the bass will likely be schooled up and the savvy angler will follow and keep up with these schools for weeks up into February.

Louisiana pro angler, Greg Hackney will be flipping a ½-ounce Strike King Hack Attack Flipping Jig that is compact and features a heavy wire, black-nickel Gamakatsu hook to deliver better penetration on the hookset when fishing Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn and Fork. The Hack Attack produces best because of the 30-degree angle of the line tie that presents a better hookup ratio than other jigs. Its head configuration, weedguard and size make it extra weedless, and its corkscrew wire keeper secures the soft plastic trailer.

The jighead is built to slip through heavy cover, but it doesn’t go through cover as fast as plastic. “You have a tendency to fish slower,” he said. “When water temperature gets to 60, 50 degrees is when it really shines.”

Hackney’s favorite color combinations include a black/blue jig with a 4-inch black/blue Rage Craw, a 4-inch Sexy Craw jig with a “doubleheader” Rage Craw and a Peanut Butter Bug with a Junebug Rage Craw.
Hackney trims the skirt a little bit, which gives the silicone strands a little more life.

He fills his Lew’s Custom Pro reels with Strike King’s Tour Grade braid. He doesn’t use anything heavier than 50-pound test; the braid cuts through vegetation like a knife. He flips the jig on a 71/2-foot Hack Attack Flippin Stick.

Starting in December, several double-digit bass will start showing up at the marina and tackle shop weigh scales. Some real giants are caught during late December and early January. Stay tuned to the local weather forecasts for forecasted temperature trends. Just because the weather might get a little nasty, dress warmer and try your luck. Maybe you can start 2020 off with a double-digit trophy bass.

 




Tell us what you think!

Bent Tree Motel - Emory TX

Lake Fork Email Updates


 

Visit our Lake Fork Sponsors!

Lake Fork on Social Media

 
       

Lake Fork Current Weather Alerts

There are no active watches, warnings or advisories.

 

Lake Fork Weather Forecast

Saturday

Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 93

Saturday Night

Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 73

Sunday

Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 93

Sunday Night

Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 75

Monday

Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 93

Monday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 75

Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 95

Tuesday Night

Mostly Clear

Lo: 75


Lake Fork Water Level (last 30 days)


Water Level on 7/12: 403.23 (+0.23)



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.

More Fishing Reports