Okay, I'll look. How many are there?

Between the two Media tournaments on Fork recently, the Bullet owners, the Irving Bass Club, Fishers of Men...that must account for somewhere between 400 and 500 boats.

How many fish over the slot have been weighed in? I know of one, caught Saturday in Media. Are there more?

All you have to do is find an 18#'r that just swallowed a 2# Gizzard shad.

Humm, Occams Razor, humm....

The problem with Occams Razor is that it's double-edged, don't cut yourself with it.

TFP

Take california for instance, They use big swim baits and live crawfish. What percent of the fishemen that fish lake fork throw anything bigger than let say a DD22. The key to big fish is a big bait (ask Kelly Jordan) and there are exceptions (live minnow which is dangling in front of a state records face for no telling how long). I would say that 1% are throwing a big big bait for that one bite, which it will take to get something over 18# artificially, Or a 2# gizzard shad, or c-rigging a bar fish which I have done. Hang on!

What I like is that everyone thinks their actually fishing around 15 pounders all the time. You think those big fish are sitting down their in those community holes on Fork. I've fished it once and convinced that their are bigger fish than 18 maybe less than 10 on the whole lake who knows actually how many it takes a perfectly healthy fish to live over 12 or 13 years. I fish a really clear lake catch a bunch over ten sight fishing every year. Seen a few on perfect days over 14 or 15 (swimming waiting to spawn) yet I don't know many people who catch fish over ten just fishing, what makes other lakes any different.

shoot...im still waiting on a double digit. my PB is a 7.1 on a skitterpop.

I believe there is a 20lb'er in Fork. it will happen some day.

it wasn't that long ago that there wasn't a 15 lb bass in texas, the introduction of florida strain LMB is still being felt, look at records (like tyler SP today) still falling, maybe it runs in cycles and therewas, then there wasn't, and then there will be again...who kows, trying to second guess mother nature is always a losing bet...a big (15+ lb) bass is almost a freak of nature, its a rare animal and just cause it hasn't been seen doesn't mean it won't be seen someday

It fell out of a U.F.O. right into Robby Ray's catfish pond.

Isn't that illegal?

Most people don't know how to fish Fork for trophies anyway! You ever hear the saying that 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish, it's true. I know several guys that have caught several double digit fish from there and they don't fish live bait either. Fork has loads of really big fish, but you have to think like a big bass if you ever want to catch one.

I personally have 12 fish over 9#s, one #10.13 and one 13# caught from 95' to 98'. We haven't fished there much since then due to the lack of time,(work), we used to go EVERY WEEKEND. You have to put the time in to better your odds, and be patient. I believe the 20 mark will be broken in the next couple of years, it's just a matter of time.

If you hook them in the lip you calm you just caugh it.

I don't know if there is or is not a 20# in Fork who cares?

But I know there is a 10# in there and I've never caught one that big so I will keep fishing Fork.

Besides I love Fork and you always catch bass

Slot or not you always catch bass and who doesn't like catching????

This is true I love Fork as well.

That's right. None of the guys in the 400 to 500 boats that fished Media and all the other tournaments in the last few weeks...except one...know how to catch big fish. That must be it.

By the way, I used to catch a lot more fish in the mid 90s, too. Do you know of a guide or anyone else who has a time machine who can take me back, so I can fish Fork from 1993-1996 again?

Have you ever watched those guys that catch the true giants in California? Do you think any of those guys fishing the tournament fished that way? I'll guarantee the answer is no.

[/quote]Have you ever watched those guys that catch the true giants in California? Do you think any of those guys fishing the tournament fished that way? I'll guarantee the answer is no. [/quote] Hey King have you every had a bass over 18# in the state of TEXAS. I'll guarantee the answer is no.

Have you?

Nope, But i'm sure someone has found some dead ones. Fork has been open 27 years. How long can a bass live.

Okay, I'll answer your question with a question.

Given that it is now March 17, if Lake Fork is so full of giant fish...wouldn't you think that more than one out of 500 boats or so would ACCIDENTALLY catch one 24 inches long or longer? Wouldn't someone just get lucky and toss a lure in front of a big mama somewhere on the lake, considering water temperatures are now in the upper 50s to low 60s?

I have fished Fork about six or seven times this year, including two tournaments. And frankly...the fishing has sucked all but one of those days. The guy I was fishing with and I caught five slot fish that weighed about 18 pounds between them up there Sunday before last. Other than that, the fishing has been terrible. I finished third in our bass club tournament this past weekend with three dinks. Two guys in our club who are each averaging 14 pounds per tournament over our first six tourneys weighed in ONE pound and a half fish between them.

This isn't a first, either. In the last four years, we have had five tournaments on Fork. The biggest sack weighed in between all of them was 7 pounds, 7 ounces. We all can...and do...regularly catch more fish on almost every other lake we fish.

Every person I talked to Saturday, both on the water and at the ramp, said he was struggling. I saw ONE other fish landed all day besides the ones I caught.

How many fish were weighed in in the Bullet tournament? Fewer than one per person?

It's funny that guys who can catch fish on other lakes somehow become incompetent when they get to Fork...

LOL.

No 20# fish... dang it! I guess I will have to settle for another trip where we only catch 15 or so fish over 4 lbs, and mabey catch me a 13-16 lb fish instead of a 20#.. that would really hurt my feelings! I would suggest that all of the nay sayers just dont ever go back to Fork, your just wasting your time cause having your best 5 for a day go 30+ lbs is no fun if there isnt a 20# fish in lake.

I dont care how many boats are on that lake at any givin time, there are some GIANTS in there whether any one catches em or not. With all the timber and DEEP water structure there are fish on this lake that have never seen a lure, and a new state record swimming around on a ridge or channel bend that nobody even knows about.

i saw lots of people positioned at the mouths of coves, and nobody was actually going to the farthest back reaches this past saturday??? I couldnt understand it... my 3 slots(and I havent been on the lake in 2 years, this was my first time driving)... were in the very back corner.. i could get back any further.. a 6, 5, and 3 pounder. and a few others missed in the same area(one had a HUGE tailwash when it hit and spit the bait in a matter of nano-seconds).... i threw back and hit the 5 pounder which was skinny like a male bass.. I think I missed my opp on the female....

talking about fish unseen... my first morning run was up Birch. I ran the side imaging along the creek channels and really watched the intersections.... I was marking BIG isolated fish all over the bottoms in those areas.... i did not fish them, as I didnt want to spend the time concentrating on one bite. This lake probably has more big bass than anyone (except guides) can even dream about.... I was amazied at the screen on the graph when it lit up....

I can't help it if you can't fish. That's not the lakes fault and doesn't mean there is or isn't fish over 20#s in the lake.

There has been a fish over 20 found on Fork, so what's your point slewft?

Right, Maybe we can find them better when Dallas starts taking water from the lake.

Im glad as hell to live in a state where this argument can be had. it wasnt that long ago people where lined up at the gates of Monticello in hopes of catching an 8lber. I do believe there is a huge, huge difference in the rarity of a 20lber vs. a 15lber and both of those are definitely freaks of nature especially in North Texas (climate is everything). Fish are like people some are smart and some not so, if there where more 15, 16, and 17lbers caught from Fork I would tell you it is a matter of time before a 20+ was caught but it seems to be a lot of 13 and 14lbers now. Maybe Fork has peaked but it is definitely possible that there are a couple of 20lbers in there and just that possibility is a great accomplishment from 20 years ago.