I would think the TTBC this past year was a good indication of the weight swimming around the lake right now, lol!

Yeah Fork seems to be putting them out, and also Toledo Bend.

Since we're talking public lakes and I've never fished Ivie (how many acres is Ivie right now?), Fork by many, many miles.

When it was hot back in 2010-2011, Falcon by many, many miles.

I would assume the OP meant the best lake right now. Fork, Fork and Fork. There is no other public lake that comes close right now.

Private lakes? Tons of them in the area from Canton to Palestine that would put any of the public lakes to shame. But they're all behind high fences and locked gates and unless you know the owners, you'll never get to fish them or hear about the numbers or size of fish they catch.

then how do you know/what makes you think they have more 8+lb'ers caught? lol

I think he was asking bout public lakes not stock ponds

Yes, public lakes only. Why is Fork so good? The slot and lake management? I would think the fishing pressure would get to it, but apparently not.

Are there semi-private lakes in Texas? We have a few here. Like Barrett, you HAVE TO BUY YOUR FISHING PASS ON TICKETMASTER (limited number if you can even get one, only open spring to fall 3 days a week, $100 a ticket for the day, etc.). OR Vail Lake ($2,500 a year for a pass).

it is just the perfect setup, they knew it from the day they planned the lake. the nutrients and cover are just perfect. they built ponds loaded with Florida strain bass before lake even filled. I believe the slot is reason you can catch so many 5-8 pounders. you were talking about 8 pounders, but there are days on Fork when you get into 3-5 pound slot fish that is just crazy. not uncommon for 50-100+ bite days with nothing under 16". heck, it is harder to catch the unders on Fork to win those tournaments.

that said, Fork can kick your butt and often! I have fished with 8 different guides on Fork and many days myself where you grind for 2-3 bites.

2-3 bites is norm where I fish! Serious. I can't wait to get on Fork. And Lake Austin sounds interesting. Has anyone from California caught a Sharelunker?

With the low water here, there are no places within 300 miles of me that has stumps and trees to fish. Havasu and Delta would be the closest, and only 6 hours away without traffic.

I didn't look through all Sharelunkers. Just found one from the main lakes.

285 01/28/1999 Toby Edwards Orland, CA 14.02 24 23 Lake Fork Edwards's fish

the bass surveys can be found near the cash registers at the bigger marinas at Lake Fork. This is a publication by TPWD fisheries unit and they use the info to estimate the number of larger bass caught at the lake each year.

The Lake Fork Sportsmans Assoc contibuted to seeing this get stared at least ten years ago.

I believe they only count what comes in on the sheets as 10% of the total caught.

Several years ago they published their findings.

I encourage groups in other parts of Texas to perhaps get TPWD to do the same for your lake.

Rob seems to think this is a bogus deal. And yes because of the slot many fish are weighed on hand scales. But then when you catch a 7.29 or 9.01 (like I caught last week) you want to believe that your scale is correct. I did not post them on the survey.

Just to lazy I guess.

Hubbard Creek!

Pinkston