- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: This is why you go to Lake Fork...
Posted on 4/22/19 at 12:07 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
Posted on 4/22/19 at 12:07 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
Another cool fact about the lake...
3 years before dam construction was completed they figured out what farm ponds would flood and temporarily dammed up other ponds in the backs of creeks. These were all stocked with Florida bass to get a head start.
As a result, there are many “hidden” ponds on the lake. In the back of coves there are multiple places where a dam is cut just wide enough for a boat and once you go through it opens up into an old pond.
If you don’t know it’s there it’s easy to miss. Most old pond entrances are overgrown to where you have to put rods up and get low to fit through the hole.
3 years before dam construction was completed they figured out what farm ponds would flood and temporarily dammed up other ponds in the backs of creeks. These were all stocked with Florida bass to get a head start.
As a result, there are many “hidden” ponds on the lake. In the back of coves there are multiple places where a dam is cut just wide enough for a boat and once you go through it opens up into an old pond.
If you don’t know it’s there it’s easy to miss. Most old pond entrances are overgrown to where you have to put rods up and get low to fit through the hole.
This post was edited on 4/22/19 at 12:08 pm
1
Posted on 4/22/19 at 12:53 pm to Clyde Tipton
Clyde, I lived in Royse City (East of Rockwall on I-30) NW side of DFW for 7 years. I would fish Fork at least once a week during that time. It's by far my favorite lake I've fished. I can only remember going once or twice that I didn't catch something. We used to stay at Oak Ridge Marina right down from the Minnow Bucket a few times for overnight trips.
One of my favorite trips was when they were schooling up in the back of Little Caney creek. I caught one on just about every cast of a thirty minute span on a deep driving crank bait in the creek channel. Smallest one was 5-1/2 lbs up to a little over 8-1/4. That was fun!
One of my favorite trips was when they were schooling up in the back of Little Caney creek. I caught one on just about every cast of a thirty minute span on a deep driving crank bait in the creek channel. Smallest one was 5-1/2 lbs up to a little over 8-1/4. That was fun!
Posted on 4/22/19 at 1:06 pm to ducksnbass
quote:
One of my favorite trips was when they were schooling up in the back of Little Caney creek. I caught one on just about every cast of a thirty minute span on a deep driving crank bait in the creek channel. Smallest one was 5-1/2 lbs up to a little over 8-1/4. That was fun!
That sounds awesome.
I've only been fishing it 3 years making a trip or two during the spring trying to time it right. I want to start sneaking over there more often. It is quickly moving up my favorite bass lakes to fish list.
ETA:
quote:
Little Caney creek
That's where I caught my good one.
This post was edited on 4/22/19 at 1:10 pm
Posted on 4/22/19 at 1:16 pm to Clyde Tipton
quote:
Little Caney creek
That's where I caught my good one.
I used to duck hunt back there too. Wasn't great but we killed a few.
Posted on 4/22/19 at 1:50 pm to Clyde Tipton
Fork is about 1 1/2 hours for me
We usually have luck early spring by finding a north bank (protected from cold fronts/wind) and throw weightless senkos. Rogues also work good in the afternoon after the water warms up
Fished it 3 weeks ago and caught 30+ in two days with several around 5 lbs. Best five both days would have been in the high teens
We usually have luck early spring by finding a north bank (protected from cold fronts/wind) and throw weightless senkos. Rogues also work good in the afternoon after the water warms up
Fished it 3 weeks ago and caught 30+ in two days with several around 5 lbs. Best five both days would have been in the high teens
Posted on 4/22/19 at 2:18 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
quote:
Last few days have been post-frontal as hell anyway, odds are that lazy moving fluke would have outfished the aggressive stuff.
I’ve only been consistently bass fishing for about two years now (grew up on saltwater, reds & trout), but this is the type of information that I’ve been thirsting for. The SCIENCE behind landing fish.. I typically only throw humdingers, buzzbaits, YUM worms, crankbaits, etc, but I pick and choose my lures on wacky superstitions and gut feelings... needless to say, I’m not a very efficient bass fisherman..
I know it’s probably a loaded question, but what is the main thing you guys look for when choosing what to throw? Water clarity? Depth? Temperature?
Posted on 4/22/19 at 4:55 pm to Mr. Hangover
Fishing will turn you into a weatherman quick. Find a weather service like intellicast (now weatherunderground) that graphs barometric pressure on the 10 day forecast. It will all make sense pretty quick. Especially in the spring you'll see this same pattern over and over. Everything revolves around fronts and fronts are marked by the change in barometric pressure. You'll see warm temps, usually trending upwards for a few days, then as the front approaches the barometer will fall sharply down to a minimum. In that minimum there with be a high chance of rain or storms. That's the leading edge of the front hitting the warm air. As the front passes barometer rises sharply, and temps fall. Sky clears up and looks like it has the past few days, bright blue skies and typically high wind. Last week to this weekend was the textbook spring frontal pattern. It hot and muggy, then thunderstorms, then bright clear skies and cool with low humidity.
Fish are effected heavily by fronts and the change in temp. Prior to the front's approach (the warming trend) fish will feed more heavily either because they can sense the change in pressure or it's just warmer, result is the same. Nothing is 100%, but pre-front is usually the best time to throw moving baits. Fish should be aggressively feeding. Early in the season you'll hear the pros going crazy and the talking heads predicting big bags because the tournament fell during a warming trend. A few days of increasing temps can raise water temps from pre-spawn to spawn temps and send big females up shallow to the bed.
As you move into post-frontal conditions, fish tend to get less aggressive. They will either move deep or super shallow and tuck tight to cover. They will avoid the bright sunlight and stick to shade pockets, grass, or under docks. This is generally when you slow down and fish finesse. The strike zone will be smaller.
All that said, fish don't know the rules. You'll have post-frontal days where they will destroy the biggest loudest buzzbait and pre-frontal days when you won't get a bite. This is really just a starting point, cause every day is different and any number of things like current and forage can switch it up, but that's what makes it fun.
Fish are effected heavily by fronts and the change in temp. Prior to the front's approach (the warming trend) fish will feed more heavily either because they can sense the change in pressure or it's just warmer, result is the same. Nothing is 100%, but pre-front is usually the best time to throw moving baits. Fish should be aggressively feeding. Early in the season you'll hear the pros going crazy and the talking heads predicting big bags because the tournament fell during a warming trend. A few days of increasing temps can raise water temps from pre-spawn to spawn temps and send big females up shallow to the bed.
As you move into post-frontal conditions, fish tend to get less aggressive. They will either move deep or super shallow and tuck tight to cover. They will avoid the bright sunlight and stick to shade pockets, grass, or under docks. This is generally when you slow down and fish finesse. The strike zone will be smaller.
All that said, fish don't know the rules. You'll have post-frontal days where they will destroy the biggest loudest buzzbait and pre-frontal days when you won't get a bite. This is really just a starting point, cause every day is different and any number of things like current and forage can switch it up, but that's what makes it fun.
Posted on 4/22/19 at 4:59 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
Really solid post with some good information. Thanks a lot.
I knew the weather played a huge role in everything, I just never knew HOW, and WHY
I knew the weather played a huge role in everything, I just never knew HOW, and WHY
Posted on 4/22/19 at 5:57 pm to Mr. Hangover
any of you guys who have spent some time up at Lake Fork heard of a guide named Jim Caldemeyer?
Posted on 4/22/19 at 8:01 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
quote:
Prior to the front's approach (the warming trend) fish will feed more heavily either because they can sense the change in pressure or it's just warmer, result is the same.
Cows must feed more heavily in that weather too, because my dad has always said if the cows are standing up, eating, the fish will be biting. I'm going to tell him there's science to what he's been saying for 80+ years!
Thanks!
Posted on 4/22/19 at 8:48 pm to Clyde Tipton
It is a stumpy thing for sure. Have to really rely on GPS and spotlighting channel bouys at night or its a pretty dicey deal. We normally go and hit the cat and crappie hard. The bass are great fun but I think we just like to eat and drink too much.
Posted on 4/22/19 at 10:25 pm to Sao
First time I went to Fork was a night fishing trip. My buddy caught a 12.5 at about 2am. In the moonlight and under the influence of Bud lite, we thought the fish was over 20lbs!!! Great fishery!! Wish Louisiana knew how to manage a damn lake like that!
Posted on 4/23/19 at 6:34 am to Clyde Tipton
Nice post. My uncle and his family lived in Longview for about 5-7 years in the 90's. Went to Lake Fork one time when we visited him when I was around 12-13. At that time, I believe the slot was 14-21". Caught one that was 20-3/4" that weighed just over 6. Devastating to a 12-13 yr old to have to throw back the biggest bass you had ever caught. Still haven't caught one bigger.
Posted on 4/23/19 at 7:53 am to Clyde Tipton
Mr Gaucho and I will be attending the skeeter owners tournament in June. Who wants to have an OB meet up at lake fork?
This post was edited on 4/23/19 at 7:54 am
Posted on 4/23/19 at 7:59 am to Bossier2323
quote:
skeeter owners tournament
I hated it every year when that tournament came through. Bite was almost non-existent for a few weeks afterward. That and you could just about walk across the lake stepping from boat to boat.
Posted on 4/23/19 at 8:18 am to Bossier2323
quote:
skeeter owners tournament
Team Champion
<---
Posted on 4/23/19 at 8:35 am to chinese58
quote:
if the cows are standing up, eating, the fish will be biting.
Posted on 4/23/19 at 8:35 am to Clyde Tipton
quote:
skeeter owners tournament
Team Champion
<---
Congrats. No offense to you guys fishing the tournament. It just made the bite very slow for a while afterward.
The McDonald's Big Bass Splash was the same way.
This post was edited on 4/23/19 at 8:37 am
Posted on 4/23/19 at 8:45 am to ducksnbass
quote:
Congrats.
quote:
Team Champion
<---
Nah, I was saying I have a ChampioN bass boat, not a skeeter.
Posted on 4/23/19 at 9:29 am to Clyde Tipton
quote:
Nah, I was saying I have a ChampioN bass boat, not a skeeter.
Oh, my bad.
I had a Ranger during the time I lived over there. 
Page 2 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News