Thinking of branching out this year and fishing new lakes... So what do you do to prepare? I'd love to fish fork, but I worry about unknown hazzards etc.

Jump on out there! At Fork only run on pad in the marked boat lanes. Everywhere else just idle around and go fishing and have fun.

i get on here and ask for help.

Google Earth is my best friend!! With the lakes dropping, it will show you some underwater stuff that can pay off!! All Else fails c-rig, IMO Screw fork too many boats searching for the same 8lber. YES Stay on the boat lanes at fork!! Don't follow someone else that is running off the beatin path. Last year saw a guy take off from a point full pad right in front of me. So I kept on fishing the point and he was like 3 feet from nailing a 10" stump just under the water. That's why there is a ton of fiberglass repair guys in the fork area. Be Safe.

glance on google earth and topo maps, then make a vague game plan. If i have money i'll buy a guide and have them show me the lake.

Navionics IPhone app...

Best 10 bucks you'll ever spend

I just fill up with gas and go fishing

Google earth. You can look at a view of the lake and kind of plan where you want to start. I am generally a shallow water fisherman. I fish alot of shallow cover and points. Google earth helps me find these spots. For example if I'm fishing a lake with alot of docks I will go on google earth and other map sights if I have to until I find a picture of the lake when its low. I make a note of the docks that look to still be well in the water (deeper docks). If it's spring time I'm looking for shallow flats in coves with a visible creek channel. This is where I will start. Other than that just go fishing. I will usually ask about the lake on here so I can know about the hazards when running the lake, and there's alot of good people on here that are happy to share a report.

True. This is an amazing app with invaluable information. It is crowd updated as well, so any hazards that get marked by other anglers, you can see as well. At $10 (the price of 1 lure) theres no reason a serious angler shouldn't have it. Its just a shame the chips cost so much.

1: Come on here and search for recent posts about the lake
2: Google Maps to get general layout of the lake and look for good points/coves/cuts/sleughs
3: Navionics mobile app or webapp to check depths, creeks, and structures of areas that looked good on Google maps(lakes with HD maps will show grass beds, stump fields etc)
4: If there are any, stop at area bait shop and get advice from locals

I hope you find one of the nice Guides because when I was younger I asking a Guide how the fishing was he sat there and gave me nothing but lies and [censored] just to be a shithead so I sure hope there are some nice Guides out there

Use your resources! We have more knowledge at our hands than anyone before us did. Let's not let it go to waste. Ask people here, get on TPWD site, check out the desired lake's webpage (most big lakes have their own), check out the webpages of the local tacklestores and marinas around the lake, check out the site of any guides that might be on the lake, phone apps help, buy a lake map, check out google maps...you really should be able to learn all you need to know in today's age. If this doesnt help, well...experience is the best teacher. Like others have said, get on out there and see for yourself

Study the navionics/google earth, set some waypoints that look good, go to lake burn half tank of gas graphing the spots after a few hours of no bites fish the spots I didn't pick or graph and catch fish.

In all seriousness Navionics + a little graph time usually works out for me.

All of the above is pretty good info. The only thing I would add is if your going to fish Fork get a good map chip if you have the capabilities to run it and a good lake map to learn where all the creeks and structure are. Other than that just go commando and have fun. Don't let being new to a lake scare you off.