Lake Fork has been pretty stingy the past couple of weeks. We have had a couple of good days here and there, but for the most part, it's really tough. The lake is falling (currently 6.20 ft low), and water temps are in the 88-91 degree range. This is the time of year when the fish are suspended and more scattered out than any other time of year. We are still catching fish in the 6-7 pound range, but our overall numbers aren't what we'd like for them to be. That will change once we start to get some consistent cooler weather.
For those of you who are coming in this week to fish the McDonald's Big Bass Splash, here are a few ways that we've been catching fish the past few days.
My best pattern for catching numbers and size has been to throw a Strike King 5XD (in any of the shad patterns) in 10-15 feet of water. I'm concentrating most of my efforts on timbered points, but some fish can be found on humps and treelines in the same depth range. Be sure to bring a "plug knocker" or lots of crankbaits, because in order to catch these fish, you need to be banging your crankbait off of the wood. I'm throwing mine on 15 lb Seaguar Invizx and making as long of a cast as possible.
There are some fish starting to show back up on some of the deep structure spots. Road beds, humps, and points in 25-30 feet of water are the place to look for these fish. A 1 oz Santone football jig (Pinto Beans and Carrots color) will get you bit when the fish are on or close to the bottom. If they are up off the bottom several feet, I will throw a LFT Flutter Spoon and rip or reel it off the bottom - trying to get it above the fish's head.
Wherever you are, be on the lookout for schooling fish. This is a great way to catch a big, fat under (under the slot) for your tournament. A Strike King Sexy Dawg, Santone Got Five spinnerbait, Strike King Red Eye Shad, and a LFT Magic Shad/Live Magic Shad are great choices for these schooling fish.
For those of you who would like to concentrate on grass, there is a lot of good hydrilla in Birch, Coffee, Glade, and Running Creeks. A LFT Lake Fork Frog, Santone Swim Jig, Strike King Red Eye Shad, and a Santone Got Five spinnerbait are very good choices for the grass.
Lake Fork Marina and Oak Ridge Marina both have great selections of tackle in their shops, and their prices are far better than what you'd expect to pay at the lake. Don't hesitate to stop in and see them while you're here.
I hope this helps put more fish in the boat while you're here. I am booking dates for October, November, December, January, and Spring of 2014 if you'd like to come get in on some of the action. If you have any questions, please feel free to use the comments section below or you can email or text me.
Here are just a few fish from the past few weeks: