|
Forums59
Topics1,057,650
Posts14,288,264
Members144,611
| |
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
|
|
 Lake Fork - The Greatest Trophy Bass Fishery of All Time??
#13934422
03/24/21 12:32 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,767
Ken A.
OP
Groovy
|
|
OP
Groovy
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,767 |
I am sure this will spark a spirited debate but I was looking at some of the posts calling OH Ivie the greatest big bass factory of all time. Those of you that know me know I am fiercely proud of anything or anybody from the great state of Texas. Yay Ivie - Go Team!
Here are some numbers:
In an 11 year period Lake Fork produced 182 bass over 13 pounds including Two State Records. In 1991 alone Fork produced 22 fish over 13 pounds including a 17.08 caught from the bank by Emory angler Troy Coates.
I'll give credit where credit is due but Ivie has a LONG way to go to catch the fabled Lake Fork. I know she is long in the tooth and many may say she is even over the hill but I thought it was time for a little history lesson.
Have a great day!
Last edited by Ken A.; 03/24/21 12:33 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Lake Fork - The Greatest Trophy Bass Fishery of All Time??
[Re: Ken A.]
#13934476
03/24/21 01:04 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,163
Walls
Extreme Angler
|
|
Extreme Angler
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,163 |
I agree that Fork was the best big bass lake ever during that period, but "what have you done for me lately?". Is it only because of the massive water fluctuations that lakes like Ivie, Falcon and Amistad (been awhile, but it was not a "new" lake when it had its' big bass time) are able to have these incredible runs at their age? Serious question.
|
|
|
Re: Lake Fork - The Greatest Trophy Bass Fishery of All Time??
[Re: Ken A.]
#13934482
03/24/21 01:08 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,559
Jarrett Latta
TFF Guru
|
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,559 |
Agreed it's Fork on top for big fish and falcon a close second. In it's prime the number of 8-12lbers put out was pretty incredible
|
|
|
Re: Lake Fork - The Greatest Trophy Bass Fishery of All Time??
[Re: Ken A.]
#13934490
03/24/21 01:11 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 39,200
Frank the Tank
TFF Guru
|
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 39,200 |
The question on everyone's mind is will the Great Lady ever make a comeback?!!
Jesus loves all of us
|
|
|
Re: Lake Fork - The Greatest Trophy Bass Fishery of All Time??
[Re: Ken A.]
#13934492
03/24/21 01:12 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 154
FMJag64
Outdoorsman
|
|
Outdoorsman
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 154 |
Literally no lake in Texas even comes close to Fork, per the numbers. Sure, some may fish better bc of the amount of pressure on Fork nonstop but straight data, Fork is the Top dog by a landslide.
|
|
|
Re: Lake Fork - The Greatest Trophy Bass Fishery of All Time??
[Re: Ken A.]
#13934495
03/24/21 01:13 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,438
Dubee
TFF Celebrity
|
|
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,438 |
Ivie is my favorite lake. But it doesn't come close to Fork in it's prime
|
|
|
Re: Lake Fork - The Greatest Trophy Bass Fishery of All Time??
[Re: Ken A.]
#13934536
03/24/21 01:38 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 451
Hobbs McAvoy
Angler
|
|
Angler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 451 |
Fork was the best in the 1990s for big bass. Right now there are a lot of lakes producing bigger bass on a consistent basis. But if we are looking at the "all time" records, then yes fork "was" the best. It won't come close to producing like it did without the vegetation.
|
|
|
Re: Lake Fork - The Greatest Trophy Bass Fishery of All Time??
[Re: Ken A.]
#13934547
03/24/21 01:50 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,033
Rockfisherman
Extreme Angler
|
|
Extreme Angler
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,033 |
Fork = MJ (best ever)
Ivie = Luka (1 of the best current)
![[Linked Image]](http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p611/Rockfisherman/th_Rockfish.jpg) PM me to let me know how it was!
|
|
|
Re: Lake Fork - The Greatest Trophy Bass Fishery of All Time??
[Re: Ken A.]
#13934565
03/24/21 01:59 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,603
UTDmiller
Extreme Angler
|
|
Extreme Angler
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,603 |
Its also hard to know, for both mentioned lakes, how many locals catch big fish and never say anything. A friend of mine just caught a 11 last week on fork, weighed/picture/release back to where she was caught. Wonder how many times that happens with the same or bigger fish on Fork/Ivie/Falcon etc. Just hard to know
John Miller
|
|
|
Re: Lake Fork - The Greatest Trophy Bass Fishery of All Time??
[Re: Frank the Tank]
#13934578
03/24/21 02:09 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 13,764
Cameron
TFF Guru
|
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 13,764 |
The question on everyone's mind is will the Great Lady ever make a comeback?!! Lakes cycle. Fork is in a lull. Giants are here but the population of fish overall is low. I see giants moving around while livescoping all the time but compared to other lakes I just don’t see a big population of bass. Ivie caught a bunch of water. Hopefully they can keep some water in it and the fishing continues to be good for the next several years. I am really glad that at least one lake in Texas is fishing well. Those years where fishing is terrible statewide is bad for everyone. I think the 80s and 90s on Fork were a once in a lifetime deal. It will never return to that level but the awesome fishing from 2002-2010 area will return once we get some grass back. I have seen 3 areas with hydrilla this year that I haven’t seen it in years. Hopefully it will really get serious this year. One benefit of the low bass population is the crappie fishing is incredible. No other lake in Texas produces the size of crappie like Fork has right now.
|
|
|
Re: Lake Fork - The Greatest Trophy Bass Fishery of All Time??
[Re: Frank the Tank]
#13934596
03/24/21 02:20 PM
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 17,729
Chris B
TFF Guru
|
|
TFF Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 17,729 |
The question on everyone's mind is will the Great Lady ever make a comeback?!! Only if the spraying stops and the hydrilla comes back.
|
|
|
Re: Lake Fork - The Greatest Trophy Bass Fishery of All Time??
[Re: Cameron]
#13934653
03/24/21 02:51 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,767
Ken A.
OP
Groovy
|
|
OP
Groovy
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,767 |
The question on everyone's mind is will the Great Lady ever make a comeback?!! Lakes cycle. Fork is in a lull. Giants are here but the population of fish overall is low. I see giants moving around while livescoping all the time but compared to other lakes I just don’t see a big population of bass. Ivie caught a bunch of water. Hopefully they can keep some water in it and the fishing continues to be good for the next several years. I am really glad that at least one lake in Texas is fishing well. Those years where fishing is terrible statewide is bad for everyone. I think the 80s and 90s on Fork were a once in a lifetime deal. It will never return to that level but the awesome fishing from 2002-2010 area will return once we get some grass back. I have seen 3 areas with hydrilla this year that I haven’t seen it in years. Hopefully it will really get serious this year. One benefit of the low bass population is the crappie fishing is incredible. No other lake in Texas produces the size of crappie like Fork has right now. Agreed
|
|
|
Re: Lake Fork - The Greatest Trophy Bass Fishery of All Time??
[Re: Ken A.]
#13934690
03/24/21 03:18 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 30,559
Duck_Hunter
house cleaner
|
|
house cleaner
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 30,559 |
Ivie has been better thank Fork so far this year. Fork is legendary, even if it’s been a decade since it was close to what she was in the 90s. It will be a long, long time, before another Texas lake even comes close to the success Fork has had.
Greatest trophy lake of all time? I’m not sure, but probably.
|
|
|
Re: Lake Fork - The Greatest Trophy Bass Fishery of All Time??
[Re: Ken A.]
#13934812
03/24/21 05:27 PM
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,702
Slide_R
TFF Celebrity
|
|
TFF Celebrity
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,702 |
The quality of, the pressure on and the ever increasing level of available technology will likely prevent another lake from reaching the lofty heights that Fork attained. That and Dairy Cow manure, very important ingredient! Only thing better would be yearly infusions of trout burgers but Texas doesn't quite fit that deli offering.
Robert Oleson
aka Slide_R
|
|
|
Re: Lake Fork - The Greatest Trophy Bass Fishery of All Time??
[Re: Slide_R]
#13934954
03/24/21 07:02 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 554
Gangster
Pro Angler
|
|
Pro Angler
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 554 |
The quality of, the pressure on and the ever increasing level of available technology will likely prevent another lake from reaching the lofty heights that Fork attained. That and Dairy Cow manure, very important ingredient! Only thing better would be yearly infusions of trout burgers but Texas doesn't quite fit that deli offering. I agree with the trout offering. I heard that the lakes in S. Cali have them and with mild/warm winters enjoy a long growing stage. With the current "climate change" Texas is also enjoying milder winters. Even this year with the arctic week we were still back in the 80's the next week. Would be an interesting experiment.
|
|
Moderated by banker-always fishing, chickenman, Derek 🐝, Duck_Hunter, Fish Killer, J-2, Jacob, Jons3825, JustWingem, Nocona Brian, Toon-Troller, Uncle Zeek, Weekender1
|
![[Linked Image]](https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/usergals/2017/07/full-3769-170037-image.png)
![[Linked Image]](http://i.imgur.com/AvUPi.gif)