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Lake Fork

8-4-11

This summer has been blazing hot! Lake Fork desperately needs to get some influx of water soon. Some of the boat ramps are very close to being unable to launch at, so be careful next time you are out there.

The best part about the lake being low is that it will often concentrate the fish more. Finding the right area may take a lot of cast, but you find some groups of really nice ones. I typically stay out deep this time of year, but the DO levels in the lower portion of the lake are causing a lot of fish species to stay shallow. Most of the fish that I have caught off shore are coming in 20 foot and less. Compared to 2 months ago, this is a lot shallower. This indicates a thermocline. I estimate the thermocline around 20 feet. You will also notice the white bass are mostly shallow, schooling in the upper part of the water column.

For the offshore bass, I have used a C rig with a variety of baits. The LFT ring fry is hard one to beat when the fishing is tough. I have also used Texas rigged 8 and 10″ LFT Fork worms on a 1/4 – 3/8 oz Tungsten Mega weight. Dragging these baits slowly on the bottom, has been key. The LFT flutter spoon will still catch some fish along with a swim bait and DD22 when they are most active in the low light hours as well. Look for fish to be around main lake and secondary points, humps and he sides of road beds.

The shallow fish seem to be much more aggressive. This is probably from a greater amount of dissolved Oxygen in the water. Keep in mind that Oxygen producing phytoplankton will reach their peak producing period during the hottest part of the day. Around 5 O’clock, the DO levels will reach a peak, giving bass a shot of energy that allows them to gorge themselves.

Look for shallow bass in pockets around creek channels during the middle of the day, and flats around the creek channels in the after noon. The will come out of creeks and push shad onto the flats to feed on them. This is the time to have a topwater like a spook of popper out. A square billed crankbait will also catch them as well as any lipless bait in shad patterns.

Be sure to drink lots of fluids while you are out there and watch out for stumps! Good luck and Gig em