So I read Ray Sasser's column this week in the DMN about how Lake Fork has fallen off in the area of producing SL's over the last 4 - 5 years. So I got to thinking, where does Fork rank now in the state of Texas? I can only go by what I have read on here and see on TV as Fork is the only Trophy bass lake I have fished in Texas. I assume there are no arguments that Falcon is the top lake? But where does Fork fall in the top 5? I think you have to consider Amistad, Choke Canyon, O.H. Ivie don't you and what about TB?.... so where does that leave Fork?

the best thing about fork is on any cast it can be that 10lb thats the magic about the best lake in texas

You can say that about every lake listed in the OP... Falcon is by far the best lake in America right now... there's not much to debate there...

Just because the SL production at Fork may or may not have fallen off in recent years does not by itself change its status as one of the Top Trophy lakes in Texas and in the US.

It may be just me but I lived in Plano for over 20 years and was never impressed with the amount of coverage or the accuracy of fishing news provided by the DMN. Maybe it has changed in the last 10 years but fishing info was only used as a filler or when the columnist was taken on a free guided trip somewhere.

Personally I would rank Fork and Falcon as the two top Trophy lakes in TX and everything else falls somewhere behind them. Ivie is tough right now. You do hear about some big fish still being caught but not much in the way of numbers. Unless Ivie catches some water it will probably just get tougher. Sure hope that happens because it can be a great lake. Amistad fell way off for a couple of years but seems to be coming back as far as numbers go. Don't really hear much about really big fish yet. Choke has also been tough for a year or so now with only a few big fish reported. It has been slow this spring and you sure would expect to hear of some big ones around spawn time.

Just my opinion and am sure other folks will have their own ideas.

I really have to ask why the obsession to call any lake the best? Who really worries about that [censored]. Other lakes are kicking out bigger fish and numbers than Fork but it seems not many do it for extended periods of time as Fork has. There is no way to compare two lakes that is even anyway. I like 'em all and could care less if Fork is the "best" or anywhere else is. Some people act like they get personally insulted if someone calls one lake better than another. Its borderline silly. Hell just go fishing when you can and where you can and have fun. the rest is just details.

Amen brother

Charlie, call me when you turn your phone back on.

Fork's definitely lost her luster. Much better odds for everyone to head for Falcon, Amisted, Ivie etc. to find their SAL fish of a lifetime. Leave Fork for those of us who are content to settle w/ Fork's piddling offerings these days.

To Agree with Mr. Perry....just go fishing. I would rather catch a lot of 4-8 pound fish then just that one SAL. I can go and do that on Ray Roberts though or even Lewisville.

Again just go fishing

I can be from my door to in the water at Fork in 1 hour, so Fork is the best "trophy" lake FOR ME. I fish Hubbard 3-4 times a week and catch quality fish consistently, its all about if you put in the work to learn catch the fish on a particular lake. Just like all the people on here that whine they go to Fork and do bad, DUH, you expect to show up and just start catching w/o any TOW?? lol
I do agree with Mark , who really cares who says which one is best, they are all GREAT!

This sounds like the old grade school, "but hey my brother can beat up your brother", lol..

I agree with most on this subject. Who really cares and who can prove it one way or another, which is best. Just like in all sports, I hate it when someone asks who is the best pitcher of all time, who is the best QB of all time, who is the best team of all time, etc..... No one can say which lake is the best because next week, someone will prove them wrong in another lake.

I do believe this about Fork. When you consider the fishing pressure Fork has has for the past 30 plus years, I think it is amazing it still produces like it does. All those other lakes mentioned are hard access to get to so they will never have the fishing pressure day in and day out like Fork does.

So I agree with Mr. Perry, just go fishing and have fun. And if you come to Fork, you never know when that next cast will be the one.

On the other hand, I like it when people don't think Fork is as good any more. Don't come! That will ease the fishing pressure and leave more for me and my family and my friends. ha ha

Don't kid yourself. Larry Hodge sent this official TPWD email out last week. Fork hasn't fallen as far as everyone makes out.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 30, 2011

Media Contacts: Larry Hodge, (903) 670-2255; larry.hodge@tpwd.state.tx.us; Kevin Storey, (903) 593-5077, kevin.storey@tpwd.state.tx.us

Trophy Bass Survey Proves Lake Fork Still a Prime Destination for Big Bass

ATHENS-- Entries from Lake Fork into the Toyota ShareLunker Program have been overshadowed recently by reservoirs in other areas of the state, but the Lake Fork Trophy Bass Survey�s eight-year history shows that Lake Fork should remain on the list of any serious trophy bass hunter.

For the last eight years, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has been collecting information on catches of trophy bass seven pounds or greater or 24 inches or longer at Lake Fork. Through February 2011, the survey recorded 11,368 such fish. Anglers weighed 83 percent and measured lengths of 59 percent of these trophies. With an average of 1,421 fish over seven pounds every year, these numbers suggest the lake is still doing well. By comparing eligible fish encountered in creel surveys with survey results for the same days, biologists estimate fewer than 10 percent of actual catches are reported, making these results appear even more astounding.

Entries during the past 12-month period (961) were up 28 percent from the previous year. The proportions of various fish length groups have been surprisingly consistent from year to year, suggesting the size structure of the largest fish in the population has remained stable over the past eight years. In the last 12 months, proportions of trophies weighing and exceeding 10, 12, and 13 pounds were 15.1 percent, 2.2 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively. For the eight-year survey, the averages for these same size categories were 15.6 percent, 2.3 percent, and 0.6 percent. More than a third of all measured entries in the survey were longer than the upper end of the slot length limit, providing evidence that the 16- to 24-inch slot is functioning as intended.

In the 26-year history of the ShareLunker program, Lake Fork has produced 247 entries, at least one per year. Although not as prolific as in its heyday, Lake Fork has averaged between three and four entries each of the last three years. The last time Lake Fork produced more than 10 entries was in the 1996 season, when it contributed 21. For the following 11 years, entries averaged between six and seven. The lowest levels were observed in 1986, the first year of the program, and 2001, two years after a largemouth bass virus fish kill, when Lake Fork contributed one fish. Interestingly, 2001 experienced a poor showing statewide with only five fish entered into the program.

It�s apparent that Lake Fork�s production of ShareLunkers has slowed, but after 30 years the lake has descended from incredible to simply outstanding. It still has few peers, and none when viewed from a perspective longer than three years. Lake Fork has produced 47 percent of its ShareLunkers in March and 15 percent in April, so there�s still time this season to catch a trophy bass from the lake.

The Lake Fork Trophy Bass Survey began in March 2003 as a cooperative project of the Lake Fork Sportsman�s Association, the Lake Fork Chamber of Commerce and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Through this volunteer survey, anglers are encouraged to report catches of largemouth bass 7 pounds and heavier and/or 24 inches and longer to participating marinas on the lake. This unique survey provides TPWD with invaluable information not available through traditional monitoring surveys commonly used by fisheries managers.

Anyone legally catching a 13-pound or bigger largemouth bass from Texas waters, public or private, between October 1 and April 30 may submit the fish to the Toyota ShareLunker program. For complete information and rules of the ShareLunker program, tips on caring for big bass, a list of official Toyota ShareLunker weigh and holding stations and a recap of last year�s season, see www.tpwd.state.tx.us/sharelunker. The site also includes a searchable database of all fish entered into the program along with pictures where available.

Information on current catches, including short videos of interviews with anglers when available, is posted on www.facebook.com/sharelunkerprogram.

The Toyota ShareLunker program is made possible by a grant to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation from Gulf States Toyota. Toyota is a long-time supporter of the Foundation and TexasParks and Wildlife Department, providing major funding for a wide variety of education, fish, parks and wildlife projects.

everyone knows that lake grapevine is the best big bass lake in the state...

I figure my lake is the best in the state. It doesn't have a name so we just call it the Middle Lake. Great fishing.

At least Fork has decent places to stay and eat.