Hello all, it took me a couple of weeks searching for a good discussion forum for Texas bass fishing and I believe I have found it here.

A buddy and I have decided to take a trip to Lake Fork, we will be coming down from Des Moines, Iowa, March 26 - 29. We are weekend bass fishermen up here, but live for it, and this winter has been too long and we couldn't wait to get out so we pulled the trigger and set this trip up. Since then we have decided we are going to make it an annual trip. I would have liked to get to Lake Fork a couple of weeks earlier but couldn't get our schedules to sync until the last weekend in March.

Questions: Do you think there will be a good pre spawn bite still during this time or are we going to miss it? Sight fishing beds isn't necessarily our favorite tactic but will do what we need to get on the fish.

For next year if you were me, what time would you book a trip to Lake Fork?

Any advice is much appreciated, you have a nice forum site here. It is a good possibility that my next boat might come from a post on this site! LOL

Any time you can get to Fork, is a good time.

Late March should be great. You will be past the spring break crowd (crazy times). Some of the fish will have spawned by then but at least half of the fish on the south end of the lake will just be moving up or still in pre-spawn mode.

Historically Fork has three spawns. The peak of the spawning activity happens around the full moon phase in March & April but water temp plays a big role too.

This year the full moon in March is on the 5th. Depending on the water temp this will usually kick off the spawn. In April the full moon is on the 4th. That could be Lights Out for big fish all over the lake.

Good luck to you guys.

There's a big tournament on the 22 of march , they'll prob be wore out and mouths sore. March 5th the water still be cold 50-52. Mid march-end of march start of April fish up north far north will probably start spawning, but if you fish up there, don't need a boat, you could jump from boat to boat and fish. I'd fish south and avoid the crowd and catch some waiting to spawn or on beds but haven't spawned.

Biggest advice for March, be READY for the North Texas March winds 35+ Gust, they often dictate where people run on pad and where they fish!

Take it from an out of stater who likes to take a trip or two to Fork every year.........like it was said above, prepare for the wind that time of year. Our last trip out, which was late March last year, the wind blew 25 mph plus for three strait days. Around my neck of the woods, I can sorta hide from the wind with the mountains. In East-Central Texas, ain't no mountains to hide behind. In my opinion, the wind will determine where you can fish. But, that time of year, it could be lights out. When you get there, just go fishing. You'll be kinda mesmerized by the timber, it looks like a double digit could be laying by every stick. You'll be hooked on Fork in no time and won't be able to get back quick enough. Have fun and good fishing!

This past weekend before all this weather the lake has been setting up just right for the spawn. Water temps have been around 54-57 in the areas I have been fishing. This weekend the same areas the water temps have dropped big time to 38-42 with cold muddy water running in the lake. In the past few years I started pulling fish off beds around the second week of March. Do NOT see this happening this year because of the very cold weather of late. I will pull up tight and look, but I would be suprised if it did happen.

Wind, Ack. We are windy up here basically all the time so I'm used to it, but don't necessarily like it.

Thanks for all the replies, I can't wait to get down there and get a line wet! We will be staying at the Lake Fork Marina Hotel any comments good or bad about lodging there?

Great place to stay.

LFM will take care of you. The caf� there is great as are plenty of other restaurants around the lake. Enjoy your stay

Bring your good rain gear . It could be raining sideways with the wind blowing forty. But you will catch some fish . And one of them very well could be the fish of a life time.

Oh yes, I don't go anywhere without my rain gear, made that mistake before.

The bass don't get to big up here, my personal best is a 5.27 caught on mothers day in a thunderstorm a couple years ago. Been fishing for 30 years and around here you might only get a couple 3 pounders a year and cracking that 4 mark can take years, unless you are fishing a farm pond. So yea I will admit we are looking to haul some pigs in, but also understand it's called fishing not "catching" so we will see how it goes. I would love to land an 8. I will most certainly post pics and story here about our experience so you all know how Lake Fork treated us.

Since no one else made the guide comment, I will. Best thing you could do is hire a guide the first day or two. This will help the learning curve tremendously. This ain't your grandpa's Fork! Problem will be finding one this late but Lake Fork Marina can help. Hope you get decent weather.

You are correct, finding one this late is a problem, I have checked and schedules are booked. We absolutely will have a guide lined up for next year, in fact I might be booking one for next year before we even leave this year, my buddy is trying to figure out his schedule now with kid visitation and work.

Fork is full of stumps,It looks like all of it is trophy town, but as with all lakes some learning curve..One thing I will say, Cuts dont have to have sexy names to hold..If the weather keeps staying cooler, Go north..or where the guides show you...They like to spawn in hyacinth but not always the case...North is north of 515 bridge..I would be silly to say all rules hold true..A guide would save you the big eye..

If you can not get a guide, Get a Hot Spot map from academy..It has running lanes etc..I would suggest you put in 515 bridge if that is close to where you staying...Everybody has an opinion probly..