Last night I visited with a Lake Fork Legend - Guide Hollice Joiner at the Minnow Bucket Guide Banquet. For those of you that do not know Hollice, here is a little bit about him.

Lake Fork Guide since 1984.
63 Bass over 10 lbs.
Clients big bass - 13.1
Day and Night guide
Does Guide on Cypress Springs, Bob Sandlin and Lake Winnsboro.

It was neat visiting with him and it got me to thinking about all of the questions he could answer from over 45 years of Bass fishing, 26 full time guiding.

So here is what I need. I told him I wanted to do a question / answer with him, he agreed. So I am coming to the TFF members for questions about Lake Fork, Bass Fishing and anything that you feel like you would like to ask related to fishing. I'll try to have this closed and answers posted by January 1.

If you were targeting a BIG bass, what time of year and presentation would you concentrate on that you feel would be most likely to produce the one big HOG.

What you do you feel is your most rewarding moment of your guiding history? And why so?

With all the advances of modern bass fishing equipment, (i.e. boats/rods/reels/baits) do you feel that we have better fishermen today or that the equipment makes up for lack of talent/knowledge.

I love getting a change to Q&A someone that knows there stuff.

What is the one item/event/product in your career, that had the biggest impact on Bass Fishing and changed it forever?

I know Hollis. He is a nice guy and a good guide. His brother is a good guy too. Tell him I said hello Clint.

Ken

How big of a factor does water clarity play in your winter/prespawn fishing??As far as locating fish goes in the winter,generally what is your starting point late december,early january?

1) What is the most scared he has ever been in a boat (these are always interesting)

2) What advice does he have for the weekend warrior on fork who only gets out there maybe 20 times a year. It's a tough lake do they have a chance to boat significant numbers of fish, and what woudl be his game plan maybe by season?

3) Given that there are dozens and dozens of guides on the lake by sheer math they all cannot be great. Is there a way besides word of mouth/experience to judge guides or could you devise a system to do so?

WHEN ARE THE BEST TIMES TO FISH A JIGGING SPOON ? AFTER A HARD COLD FRONT OR WHAT CONDITIONS DURING THE WINTER WHEN TRAPS AND SPINNER BAITS WON'T WORK AS WELL ?

What do you consider, in order of presedence, when you pre-plan your fishing day,..ie; weather, pattern, baits, depths,...etc and explain why.

Of all of the bass over 10lbs you have caught, what type of lure and presentation do you find most effective for giant bass?

How do you get off the under bite in a tournament??

Meaning I can catch a whole bunch of fish that are 13 15/16, but not 14 and over.

I have had the worst luck with that this year. Cannot get the bigger keeper fish.

As a visitor to Fork that only fishes there a few times each year what one area of the lake should I concentrate on to learn and create my best advantage for a solid limit of unders and maybe a shot at a real over?