Athens Lately

I am taking a family friend and his youngest son fishing this weekend. This is his boy's last weekend before shipping off for basic training. They normally fish for sandies and hybrid at Lewisville but have requested a LMB trip. I am very familiar with Athens having fished it several times over the last few years. I just haven't been out there much at all this year. They would like to fish Fork but with the V&M tournament I know it will be tough out there. I don't need to many details, but would love it if I could get an idea on how the lake is fishing overall and general areas to target. I'm also considering taking them to Palestine. Feel free to PM me and I appreciate any feedback. Thanks TFF

Fished a Club tournament up there this past weekend. Given that I'm not up there all the time, I have no problem sharing any insight.

Having fished it for 2 days, I'll say we spent 80% of our time on the 2 island areas. We started out both days off the big Western Island. 0545 to 0800 we were throwing at the island treeline with Pop'Rs, Tiny Torpedoes and Spit'n Image inside the grass lines, and frogs over the grass. 0800-10/1100ish small booyah spinnerbait in white outside of the grass 4-6 FOW and A-rig in 10-15 FOW running into the main channels. 1100-1500 we would move to the smaller western island and fish Carolina rigs with Wacky-rigged Senko or Texas-rigged Craw or Brush hogs (all green pumpkin) inside of/through the grass, or fish the outskirts if wind was producing a current.

Like Forrest said, "Well, that's all I've got to say about that...."

Fished it yesterday afternoon following the rains. The ramp looked deserted when I got there, 1 bass boat, a flat bottom and a pleasure boat. More fisherman trickled in throughout the afternoon but still had my choice of spots. Water level was up to the top of the docks at the ramp. Fishing was steady, caught 12, no big fish. Frog, swim jig.