Bass fishing is usually pretty slow in August. But with the hydrilla gone, the lake 5+ feet low, and tons of 100+ days, even the night fishing has been pretty slow. You've got to be a pretty serious fisherman to be out there now. I had such a good June and July that August has been a real disappointment. In fact, I've talked more people out of going than going this month. Fortunately, it will cool down and things will get better. But for now, my main focus is tournament preparation and white bass fishing.
I fished a tournament last Saturday and have 2 more that I'm allowed to fish coming up. Also, there's the McDonald's tournament that I'm not allowed to fish, but I have clients to take pre-fishing. I expect by then the fishing will get better and we'll see good results, but right now it's pretty slow. I took 3rd in Saturday's 12 hour night tournament with barely over 8 pounds and 1st place was less than 9 pounds. In June and July, 8 pounds wouldn't usually get you in the money on a 3 hour working man's tournament. That should give you an idea of how tough it's been. (Keep in mind slot fish don't count - so in most cases it's the best 5 fish under 16 inches). If you're a serious fisherman, you probably already know this. But if you're an amateur and want to have a good experience you should probably wait a month or so or go fishing for white bass.
As I'm sure you are aware, Lake Fork is overrun with white bass. I don't know if we can make a dent in the population, but I want to do my part. Right now, schooling white bass are semi predictable every morning and evening. The last few times I've tried, I've been able to (starting at sunup) get a limit of white bass (25 per person) and be back at the ramp by 8:00AM.
For the next 2-3 weeks, I'm offering white bass trips for 2 people for only $100 (3 people for $125). This barely covers my costs, but it will help rid the lake of some white bass and catching 50 fish in an hour can be a lot of fun.
We will fish until we get a limit or until the bite slows down to where we go several minutes without a fish. Probably before 8:00AM.
This is a great time to take a kid (or 2) to get into some unforgettable action.
I'm offering these trips weekday mornings (m-f) or evenings (m-thu) until September 15. After that date, I'll be taking clients out in preparation for the McDonald's tournament. Morning is recommended as we can fish a little longer if we don't get a quick limit.
There are cleaning stations with city water at the lake, so you can bring home bags of fillets fresh and ready for the freezer. I can also give lessons on cleaning fish if necessary.
If you are interested in a guided trip, you can book online at http://www.fishingguidenow.com/bookonline.cfm?guideID=2

See our recent pictures at http://www.bassfishing.org/pictures/recent.htm


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Good fishing and good luck. You can't catch them if you don't go.

Looks like an honest report.

Great honest report, and much appreciated. And I can say even the live bait fishing is not what it was back in june and july.

Good report....also got me thinking about going after some white bass...

That's a good deal on the Sand Bass trips.

Sandbass are fun.

sandbass trips at fork,..
whodda thunk it ?

Good work Richie.

Talk about tough fishing - the morning of last week's night tournament, I couldn't catch a fish on a topwater at daybreak. Normally, I could get my limit on that pattern alone.
I fished as hard as I could (by myself) and only had 5 keepers. My last 2 were in my last 15 minutes. I just got lucky to find some schoolers and get a bag big enough to get 3rd string and 3rd big bass without a cull.
I did get 10 fish between 16 and 18 inches, so it wasn't all that bad.

Fork sucks...I don't know why you guys fish out there anyways...Hehehe...Just kidding. It tuff as nails right now to tournament fish...

I had 22lbs with my best 5 in slot fish this weekend but only weighted a little over one pound with one fish. That hurt.

Well this sucks to here. Im heading out there for four days on labor day weekend/week. Gonna try my luck anyhow. Its my first trip to fork and ill be on my kayak. Hopefully they start biting by then!!

Friday was great for us. Managed to boat 23 with a couple 7's. Lost a few nice ones too. Friday night and Saturday morning only produced 4. After 9am they shut down for us. Caught most of the fish c-rigging and a few on jigs and chatterbaits. All fish caught were hanging 15'-26' deep. Can't wait to get back out there.

Thanks for the report Richie and sorry it's been so tough for you.

Tough fishing doesn't bother me so much. I just hate to see people pay good money to fish when it's slow, when all they have to do is wait a month and it will be much better.
It's hard (mentally mostly) on a guide to teach someone how to throw a baitcaster and expect them to pick up worm fishing when they only get bit every couple of hours. It's much better when you can get a few bites to get it down.
But this is the best time to learn the guide's best spots. When they're biting good, I have confidence I can catch fish on places I haven't fished in years. So, I'll usually hit at least one spot every night that I haven't hit all summer. When it's slow, I feel like I have to hit my best holes just to get bit.