The warm weather coupled with strong winds really helped the bite today on Fork. The wind is definitley your friend on sunny days. Today I caught fish swimming a jig in the same areas I would normally drag it. I was fishing 3-6′ deep. The rising water temperatures really had the fish in an aggressive mood. Remember that the creek channels are highways for the fish and they don’t sulk all day next to a stump. They’re constantly moving, especially in the warmer weather. So when you find an area that holds fish, fish it several times through the day. When the bite is on, a key area can produce multiple fish. Anywhere you get one bite, can often hold several catchable fish. Timing is everything, it can seem like a slow day, and then its non-stop action for a half hour or longer. 
Posts Tagged ‘lake fork water level’
Andrew’s Lake Fork Report 1-20-2012
January 21, 2012John Tanner Lake Fork Report Jan 2012
January 17, 2012January can really be a good time to catch some huge fish here on Lake Fork. As the days start getting a little longer and the pre spawn and spawn phases are on the horizon, we will start to see a lot of fish head towards and go into the creek channels. With the lake levels being low and all of the wood exposed I can’t think of a better time to spool up you flipping rod and and start pitching jigs and Texas rigged creature baits on the stumps along creek channels and on points at the mouths of the creeks and in front of the early spawning pockets. These areas will attract fish in January into February.
Another good way to catch some big ones this time of year is to use crank baits like the lipless or square billed models. On the jigs I like the half ounce Talon Jig in black and blue this time of year as well as green pumpkin or Texas craw color. My jig trailer of choice is a Berkley Chigger Craw in black with blue flake or green pumpkin. I also like to Texas rig these baits on a Texas rig using a tungsten eight by Affordable Tungsten and a Mustad Mega Bite Extra Wide Gap Hook in 4/0 or 5/0. Other favorite flipping and pitching baits of mine is the new Berkley Havoc “Pit Boss” and “Craw Fatty”. I like to use a heavy action rod for these techniques that have plenty of back bone but that are light weight. At the end of the day it makes a huge difference. I like to use the ABU Garcia Veritas rods with the new micro guides in the 7ft. heavy action or one of the new ABU Garcia Villain rod in the 7’3″ heavy action. For the reel I like to use the ABU Garcia Revo Premier or one of the ABU Garcia Revo MGX reels. The new MGX is a awesome new reel and only weighs 5.4 ounces. How amazing is that! Since you are fishing heavy artillery you need to use some stout line to pull those big ones off of those trees. I like to use 50 or 65 pound test Spider-wire braid or 25 pound Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon line. You never know when the BIG bite is coming so you got to be ready.
January can be a blast and I look forward to catching some toads this month. For you crappie anglers January is a good time catch catch them out deep on the points on jigs. Lake Fork is the big bass capital and also offers some world class crappie fishing, If you would like to book a guided trip here on Lake Fork with us for big bass or winter crappie call me at 903-569-7451 or drop us an email at tanner@lakeforkbassguide.com. Or for more booking info check us out on the web at www.lakeforkbassguide.com or our other website at www.tanneroutdoors.com. You can also find me on Facebook under John Tanner.
If you are in the market for a Ranger Boat I have a 2011 model Z521 available at a killer discount. This boat is rigged with a Mercury 250 Pro XS and came with a 5 yr warranty. It has other nice extras as well. If you are interested in saving some big bucks on this dream rig call me at 903-569-7451. I look forward to the new year and hope you are too. I am thankful to God for what I get to do and where I get to do it. I am thankful most of all for Jesus and the salvation He offers as a gift to all of us. Do you know Him? Read John 3:16. Please pray for our country and its leaders. Also pray for our troops and their families as well as the sick and the lost. Please pray also for my parents as they are both now dealing with some serious health issues. Thank you for reading this article and I hope it helps you catch more fish this month and in the months to come.
Many thanks to my fine sponsors check them out on the web. ( www.rangerboats.com, www.mercmarine.com, www.abugarcia.com, www.berkley-fishing.com, www.spiderwire.com, www.purefishing.com, www.IPM.com (International Precious Metals), www.talonlures.com, www.affordabletungsten.com, www.oakley.com, www.mustad.no, www.hambysbeachbumper.com, www.diamondsportsmarine.com}.
Good fishin and God Bless,
John and Robin Tanner
John Tanners Lake Fork Guide Service
FLW Touring Pro
Public Speaker – Fishing Seminars, motivational speaker
Website www.lakeforkbassguide.com
Email tanner@lakeforkbassguide.com
James Caldemeyer Lake Fork Report Mid Jan 2012
January 17, 2012
James Caldemeyer’s
Lake Fork Trophy Bass
Monthly Fishing Report
January 2012
Happy New Year everyone! If your New Year’s resolution was to catch a trophy largemouth bass then you are in the right place. Lake Fork is already ringing the New Year in with a bang as Andrew Watson caught the first ShareLunker Program fish of the year out of Lake Fork on December 27th. The fish weighed 13.51 pounds and sets the tone for what should be another incredible year of fishing in 2012. With water levels starting the year off at historically low marks it can give anglers a better opportunity to catch these giant bass condensed into certain areas of the lake. The fishing on Lake Fork will really start to heat up this month and into February for big pre spawn female bass. As these fish begin to develop their eggs and reach their peak weight of the year, it is a great opportunity to catch the fish of a lifetime. Here are some pointers that will hopefully help you in pursuit of a new personal best or your own addition to TPWD’s ShareLunker Program.
The lake is about over 7 feet low right now. This is great for the fishing but treacherous for navigating the lake in some areas so be cautious out there. Water clarity is lightly stained in most areas. The water temperatures are remaining in the low to mid 50’s right now but that could change as the month progresses. It is not uncommon to find water temperatures dipping into the high 40’s if the winter becomes frigid. Water temperature is everything right now and it is important to have an accurate temperature gauge on your boat and monitor it throughout the day.
Main lake and secondary points leading into the major creeks are great areas to target this month. Again, water temperature is very important right now and you will want to target the warmest water available as this will be where the fish are generally most active. I usually concentrate on shallow grass beds in 2-6 foot of water but there is little grass right now with the low water. Do not let that discourage you from fishing these baits though. I found that these fish will still relate well to the bank and key on these same baits despite the lack of vegetation. The best baits to use in search of productive grass are moving baits. Red or chrome lipless crank baits are excellent choices. I like to use the 1/2 oz size in most situations but will often switch to a 1/4 or 3/4 oz size depending on the grass and water temperatures. I rig my lipless baits on the new Abu Garcia Villain 7’ Med Heavy action rod with a Revo MGX high speed 7:1 ratio reel spooled with 17-20 lb Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon line. Having the right rod/reel/ line combination is an essential. Making hundreds of casts a day will wear you out if you are not using the proper combination of equipment. The right equipment will also help you keep these baits in the strike zone longer. Lipless cranks are reaction bait and are most effective ripped off the blades of grass that the bait comes in contact with. The bass react most often after you rip the bait free from the grass. Developing a rhythm of retrieving the bait or a yo-yo type retrieve is very effective in drawing strikes from hungry pre-spawn bass. Other shallow running baits like the new Talon 1.5 crank bait or new suspending jerk baits are also great choices for targeting shallow grass beds. Shad or bream colors are great choices.
Creek channel areas in 8-14 foot of water are also a great place to target big female pre-spawn bass during the month of January. The big mamas are preparing for the spawn will be on a heavy crawfish diet. I like to use a 3/8 or 1/2 oz Talon jig in black/blue, Bama bug, or dark pb&j colors. I will tip these jigs with a Berkley Chigger Chunk in black/ blue or green pumpkin. A Texas rigged flipping tube, craw worm, or Berkley Power Lizard are also excellent choices for flipping. Make sure and target every tree lining the edge of the creek channel and fish as slow as possible. These big bass will be lethargic but will gladly accept your offering if they do not have to move far to get it.
The deep bite is best on jigging spoons and drop shot rigs. I use a plain old reliable Talon “t-spoon” in 3/8 or 1/2 oz sizes. On the drop shot a finesse worm like a Berkley Wacky Crawler or 4” Power Worm is the ticket. You can find fish on roadbeds, humps, ridges, and pond dams in 20-30 feet and deeper. I am running the new Lowrance HDS Gen2 electronics on the console and bow with Structure Scan on my new 2012 Ranger boat. Having great electronics is a huge advantage to locating these schools of deep fish and with these new graphs it makes it hard for the fish to hide. The deep bass are lethargic as well so fishing slow is important. You will often times have a hard time feeling a bite because they bite it so soft.
If you are interested in coming out for some big bass action this spring or would like to just take an instructional trip to learn about electronics, seasonal patterns, or some new techniques on Lake Fork, contact me anytime. The fishing last spring was great and I know it will be even better this year. I still have a few dates available and want to remind anyone that is considering spring reservations with me to do it ASAP. I book up extremely fast so get your 2012 date now before my schedule is full. You can reach me by phone at (903)736-9888 or drop me an email at lakeforktrophybass@yahoo.com You can also visit my website for more information about trophy bass fishing on Lake Fork www.officiallakeforktrophybass.com
My new 2012 Ranger Z521 Comanche powered with a Mercury 250 Prop XS just arrived and man I’m excited. These boats are awesome! I am currently rigging it up with all the latest and greatest equipment like the new Lowrance HDS Gen2 electronics as well as the Power Pole Blades. If you get a chance while you are here, stop by Diamond Sports Marine on highway 154 and check out the new 2012 Ranger Boats already in stock. Talk to Ben Hogan or Robert Gilliland and they will be glad to help you find the right boat for your needs. Let them show you why they are the #1 Ranger Boat dealership in the country. Or just give them a call at (903)383-7829 for information. If you would like a demo ride in my new boat, feel free to contact me also to schedule your test ride.
Again, a big thanks to all my sponsors: Ranger Boats, Mercury Outboards, I AM SECOND, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Interstate Batteries, Lowrance, Power Pole, Hamby’s, Talon Lures, Line & Lure Conditioner, BTS Protectant, Navionics, Oakley, and Sure Life.
Isaiah 41:10 – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Tight Lines and God Bless,
James Caldemeyer
For trip information visit: www.officiallakeforktrophybass.com
Lake Fork Report from Andrew
January 13, 20126.80ft low
Come on down! There are a ton of ways to catch fish right now, seems like a lot of fish are still in a deep late fall type pattern, a lot are up in the creeks, and a lot in between. Seems like the common factor is deeper water close by. Not getting a lot of bites, but they are quality fish. Yesterday, with the warm sunny weather the fish ignored jigs so we fished soft plastics around laydowns and stumps in 3-6′ of water. A good option if it gets really tough is a big shakey head, use a heavy jig on 20lb line and big senko type worm and flip it like a jig.
These are from yesterday. They run on the small side of the average size you can expect this time of year but might help fire you up!
LFMFR Back online
January 1, 2012Happy New Year!
Lake Fork is 7.27 feet low
Had trouble recovering a password and finally recovered it last week and updated a few things.
2012 is going to be a great year on Fork. Going to be keeping site updated with reports, videos and pictures much better than years before.
SUSCRIBE
John Morris Lake Fork Report Late Oct 2011
October 27, 2011WEEKLY FISHIING REPORT
J & M Guide Service
16 – 23 October 2011
This whole month has been a very strange fishing experience. We started off by having the McDonalds Big Bass Splash where 34 bass over the slot were weighed in, to the to the Berkley tournament which only 2 fish over the slot were weighed in, to the Irving Bass Club tournament where there were no fish over the slot weighed in. Quite a drastic change over a three week period.
One may ask what is happening. Let me see if I can clear up what is going on. The lake is turning over and really there has not been any real amount of rain to help the process along. Coupled with the lake turning over the Sabine River Authority is continuing to allow the lake level to fall. The water oxygen content is the lowest I have seen in several years. Now with that being said there is hope on the horizon. Winter and early spring will bring us some much needed rain and snow, which will bring up the water levels provide the fish with some much needed food with the run off.
Lets talk water levels and usable launch ramps. The water level is over 7 feet vertical low. There are three good ramps you can use. The 154 public ramp, the 515 west ramp and the Popes Resort ramp are the best. Caution and courtesy should be taken at all ramps now. With the water down, people are needing to take more time to launch their boat and more time to find a parking place to beach their boat after they take it off of their trailer.
Now for the fishing. Largemouth are being caught using small crank baits and trick worms rigged wacky style. The favorite color trick worm is pumpkin/chartreuse or tomato with black flake. You need to fish the wacky worm with the lightest weight that you can handle. You need this bait to stay in the strike zone as long as possible.
For the white bass, yellow bass we have been using a small ¼ ounce tail kicker bait like a Lil’ George. This style of bait seems to be working best. This bait also has been working for largemouth bass.
Over the next few weeks, as the water starts to clear up the largemouth bass will be doing a lot of schooling. Keep a ¼ ounce Rattle Trap in chrome and black color ready to throw. As the bass come up in a school, throw the Rattle Trap past the school and bring it through the school and hold on because the will try to take the rod out of you hand. “Great Fun!”
For all of your fishing needs stop by Lake Fork Marina, they will greet you with a smile and direct you to the tackle you need.
One last thing, with the water levels falling always wear you life jacket and kill switch with the big motor running.
J & M guide Service
John Morris
E-mail: bassmr@geusnet.com
1-888-454-7037
Lake Fork Guide James Caldemeyer Report and Sealy Big Bass Splash tips
September 20, 2011Alright everyone, the McDonald’s tournament week is finally here! I hope everyone is pumped up and ready to come out and catch some big fish. The fishing should be great with lots of cash and big prizes to be awarded. I have received numerous emails and phone calls the past couple weeks inquiring about the lake and the fishing. Here are some helpful tips and information about the lake that I hope will help you have a productive and safe fishing weekend.
The lake is currently about six and a half feet low despite heavy rains moving through the area last night. I think it basically just saturated our very dry ground and produced very little run off into the lake. I pray we get some more rain soon as it would produce good run off behind this last storm and start filling the lakes back up. You must be careful navigating the lake with the low water conditions and wear your life vest with kill switches! The boat lanes are very tight in a lot of places so travel with caution and take your time. The water temperatures are 78-80 degrees and the lake is in its fall turnover phase. As the water cools on top and drops to the bottom, the bottom rises and can make for some funky water clarity.
The top water bite has still remained consistent and I am catching fish early on Yellow Magics and Zara Spooks in shad patterns. Most mornings these fish are in 2-8 feet of water but have found some fish suspended out deep that will rise up on a top water lure too. Small spinner baits, chatter baits, lipless baits, and crank baits have also been good in the same areas. Pay attention to the water conditions in the area you are in and avoid the turbid turn over areas if you can. But most importantly make sure there is bait present in the area you are fishing. These fall fish are focused on following the schools of shad right now so if the bait is not present where you are fishing, move on. Main lake points, secondary points, and the backs of adjacent pockets are good areas to look for the concentrations of shallow fish. I am slowing down and fishing the areas thoroughly once I locate a group of active fish. Texas rigged Berkley 7” Power worms in blue fleck or watermelon colors have been very good pitched around the shallow timber. I am also rigging up a wacky style Berkley Bottom Hopper in june bug or watermelon candy and fishing it slowly around scattered grass. The bite from 8-15 feet has been good also on drop shots and shaky heads around the timber. I use the 4.25 finesse sized Berkley Bottom Hopper in the same colors for this technique. You will be surprised how many weighable fish you can catch on a spinning rod during one of these big tournaments and not just small fish. You can catch a big bass too!
The deep bite in 15-25 feet has been a lot less predictable with the lake turning over than the shallow fishing. I have been graphing smaller schools of fish grouped up on occasion with my Lowrance HDS unit. Once I locate a school I have been targeting them with Carolina rigs, Talon football head jigs, drop shots, deep swim baits, and jigging spoons. Each school of fish is different this time of year so you have to throw numerous things at them to get them to bite. The deep fishing will become more stable after the fall turnover is finished.
Please feel free to contact me anytime if you are interested in booking a guided fishing trip here at Lake Fork. You can reach me by email at lakeforktrophybass@yahoo.com or on my cell at (903)736-9888. Visit my website for other great fishing information about Lake Fork as well www.officiallakeforktrophybass.com I have very few dates available still this fall and am already taking a number of bookings for the spring of 2012. If you are around this week for the tournament be sure and stop by Diamond Sports Marine on Hwy 154 north of the lake bridge. They have some of the new 2012 model Ranger Boats starting to arrive and you will enjoy checking them out. They will also have an excellent service department and will help you with any equipment issues you may have while you are here. You can reach Ben or Robert at (903)383-7829.
Also, stop by and see me at the Lowrance booth during the tournament hours. I will be there all weekend and can answer any questions you may have about electronics. I can also update your unit to the current 4.0 software if you bring it to me. Another booth that I will be at and you will want to check out is the new Hydrowave! This thing is the neatest new toy on my boat and I will be glad to share my testimonials of how it has worked for me since introducing it to my fishing and guiding. Stop by and see me…Hope to see you bringing the winning fish to the scales!
1 Corinthians 16:13 – Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
Tight Lines and God Bless,
James Caldemeyer
Lake Fork Marina facelift
September 11, 2011
Lake Fork Water Level FACTS
September 10, 2011Big thanks to Linda at Mustang Resort for putting this together.
CURRENTLAKELEVEL: 396.60 Full Pool 403.00
6.40 FEET LOW 9-10-11
Sabine River Authority has not released water since May of 2010. The gates have been CLOSED except for once a month testing and maintenance of gates.
The lowest the lake has previously been since reaching full pool in 1985 was in 2005 at 5.38 foot.
The Dallas Water Authority’s Pump Station is NOT working at this time due to engineering problems and has no drawn any water since January of 2011.
The Sabine River Authority releases water downstream to customers at a rate of 45 million gallons per day.
The Dallas Water Authority can take 120 million gallons per day.
Evaporation during the summer equals 280 million gallons per day. Approximately ½ inch.
Ronnie Kelley Lake Fork Report August 25, 2011
August 25, 2011Can you believe it’s almost September already? What a year on Fork, I’ll say it again, what a year on Fork!!! This has been an unbelievable year for the offshore deep structure bite on Lake Fork. As we move forward and reach the end of summer, though it doesn’t seem anywhere near, we will start to talk more about the backs of creeks and shallow water. I will miss the deep bite, but the flipping bite is just around the corner. September is one of those months where you just catch them, shad bunch up, fish get hungry and the schooling action is just awesome. While numbers are good, size doesn’t slack either, of course it is Lake Fork we are talking about.
I am proud to announce a few new sponsors that have come aboard recently. Santone Lures and Duckett Fishing. Santone Lures makes some of the finest jigs and spinnerbaits on the market. They have been a household name in East Texas as long as I can remember and have become a National favorite of many tournament anglers. They make every style of jig there is and they are always looking into tomorrow with new baits and innovative designs to help us, the anglers. Duckett Fishing, Bassmaster Classic champion Boyd Ducketts company, hit the market recently with a rod that has swept the bass fishing rod industry. They have incorporated Micro Magic, the leading micro guide system, into one of the lightest, most sensitive blanks on the market. I was blown away when Lake Fork Trophy Lures CEO Ronnie Parker loaned me one of his Duckett rods, its sensitivity with the strength is unparalleled. These are the lightest and strongest rods I have ever used, and trust me, if they handle Lake Fork fish, they’re STRONG!!!
Now for what’s happening at Fork. I am starting the mornings off fishing for schooling fish. They are coming up on a lot of points, not so much long points, but more sharp drops with tree lines. There are a few ways to target these fish. One way is walking a top water bait i.e. LC Sammy, Zara Spook. I’m throwing these on a 6’6″ Med Duckett and a 6’9″ Med/Hvy Duckett with 15lb Mono. The rod depends on which bait you’re throwing. The LC Sammy truly gets more bites, but is a lot tougher on the wallet. I am also throwing a soft plastic jerkbait and it’s probably the most productive. I’m using the LFT Magic Shad in any shad color. There is a little secret to this. First off I’m throwing it on 20lb Invizx on a 7’3″ Med/Hvy with a 4/0 Mustad Round bend hook. You want to throw past the school and burn the Magic Shad about 8 turns as you twitch your rod tip, kill it for 1 second and repeat. You have to be ready or you’ll pull the bait out of their mouth. Then comes the Big Crank. I’m throwing a DD22 in only two colors, Smokey Joe and Sexy Shad. I have been throwing this on the Duckett 7’11″ Med/Hvy Crankbait rod and there is no rod like it. I’m calling it my AT&T rod cause it will “reach out and touch somebody”. I’m pairing this with a 5.1:1 ratio reel with 15lb Invizx. The Invizx Fluorocarbon line is very important when throwing a crankbait. You are really trying to deflect the bait off everything you feel, so sensitivity is key.
As the sun gets up and the schooling action slows I turn to a few different tactics. I am keying on 8-20ft of water. Points, humps, pond dams, creek bends, and a few roadbeds. A Carolina Rig is really catching them right now. I’m using a LFT 8″ Worm and a LFT Hyper-Stick. Watermelon/Red, Green Pumpkin and Junebug have produced well. I throw my c-rig on a 7’6″ Hvy Duckett with a 25lb Invizx main-line with a 3.5-6ft 20lb Invizx leader, 1oz weight and a 3/0 Mustad round bend hook. Don’t use too big of a hook as it takes away from the baits action. I use the long rod to insure a good hook set on a long cast, a 7’6″ is not a necessity; a 7’0 rod is just fine. If the fish are off the bottom a little, or won’t hit the c-rig I get out old faithful, a 3/4oz Santone Football jig. I am not dragging the jig, I am stroking it by making 2-3ft fast jerks with my rod tip and letting it fall. The bite is fairly subtle so you have to be on your toes. The best colors are PB&J, Mexican Heather, and Bullfrog with a Lake Fork Lures Hyper-Freak in Green Pumpkin. Note: Santone Jigs come standard with two rattles but I am not using the rattles! I’m throwing the FB jig on a 7’6″ XHvy Duckett with 20lb Invizx. The FB jig truly has big fish potential. I can’t start to count how many 7lb+ fish have come on this combination this summer.
Now, in the creeks I’m throwing a couple other baits along with the DD22. I’ll throw a 3/4oz Flipping Jig and a Texas Rig 10″ worm. Key in on the first quarter of a major creek and look for sharp bends, S shape bends or bends that make a horseshoe. These areas will congregate shad and make for an incredible area. I will start with a big crank bait and move to the 3/4oz jig with a LFT Hyper-Freak. Again I’m throwing Bullfrog and I’m also throwing Black/Brown/Amber, as some of these areas don’t have the same clarity as the main lake. I’m throwing the same rod and line as with the FB jig. My Texas rig worm comes out often as it will catch them when the jig wont. The two best colors have been Redbug and Green Pumpkin. I’m using a 3\8oz weight, 20lb Invizx and a 7’3″ Med/Hvy Duckett Rod.
With the McDonalds Big Bass Splash and other tournaments around the corner I will make several more up to date reports with techniques on targeting large unders. A few lures to keep in mind are the Santone Texas Finesse jig, Santone Piglet shakey head with a LFT Zig-zag and a whackey worm. These baits cashed a lot of money for my customers last year and I’m sure this year will repeat the same. Remember, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to shoot me an e-mail, text or a call. I hope this report helps. Keep looking on my website for new reports. “Get there early, stay late, and set the hook hard!”
