If fishermen would keep the unders, the lake would get even better as far as trophy bass output. Fork also needs a hefty stocking of Florida fingerlings, as the Florida genetics are getting somewhat "diluted" according to TPWD data.

I LIKED IT WHEN THE SLOT WAS 21", GOING BACK TO THAT WOULD MAKE THINGS MORE INTERESTING FOR TOURNAMENTS AND WOULD NOT HURT THE FISHERY

When the slot was 21" every spring I would see numerous 7-10 lb fish packed in ice by out of state fisherman. It was legal back then but I still did not like to see it year after year. I say leave the slot alone...tourneys don't boost the economy, people coming to the lake for vacation do.

Just give all of your customers a carolina rig.

Just give all of your customers a carolina rig. [/quote]

What would you put on it?? Come on -- tell us the secret.

Leave the slot...thats a huge change for any lake and I dont believe it would make anything better. Looked what negative effect happened when they "improved" the lake by killing all the grass. Why do you want more tournaments anyway, thats just that much more pressure on the lake and for what...a few more hamburger joints? Work on keeping the lake a trophy lake and not a tournament lake and when the economy turns around the people will come back.

We have no reason to harvest any fish. We have more forage (particularly shad) than these fish can eat. If they were starving, and we were catching skinny fish all of the time, I'd be totally on board with a harvest.

Personally, I'd like to see them adjust the slot to 14"-24" or even 12"-24". Fork has been managed over the years to be a trophy fishery - not a tournament fishery. I'd like to keep it that way. It's what makes this lake special. I believe our lake could support a bigger population than what it has and still produce giants. Of course it would also help if the grass and bluegills would come back strong.

I have no dislike for tournaments, but I believe there are plenty of other lakes where we can tournament fish, without Fork being one of them.

I have faith in TPW doing stocking, shocking, creel surveys, trophy bass surveys, angler surveys...if they think something needs to be changed they will change it.

As far as helping the tournament field, I don't see how there can be many more. This does not include private, corporate, closed club ect:

January 2012

JC Outdoors Team Trail,
Minnow Bucket
Bud Light Trail, Sunday, January 15, 2012
Pope�s Landing
JC Outdoors Individual,
Minnow Bucket

February 2012

JC Outdoors Team Trail,
Minnow Bucket
JC Outdoors Individual Trail,
Minnow Bucket
Fishers of Men, Saturday, February 11, 2012
Oakridge Marina
Bud Light Trail, Sunday February 12, 2012
Pope�s Landing
Media Bass Teams, Saturday, February 18, 2012
Minnow Bucket
Lake Fork Carp & Buffalo Challenge, Wednesday-Saturday, February 29-March 3, 2012
Oakridge Marina

March 2012

Bud Light Trail, Sunday, March 11, 2012
Pope�s Landing
Media Bass Teams, Saturday, March 17, 2012
Minnow Bucket
Fishers of Men, Saturday, March 24, 2012
Oakridge Marina
JC Outdoors Individual Trail, Sunday,
Minnow Bucket

April 2012

Ram Mega Bass Tournament, Sunday, April 1, 2012
Lake Fork Marina
Texas Trails Bassmasters, Saturday, April 7, 2012
Lake Fork Marina
Bass Champs Tournament Trail, Saturday, April 14, 2012
Lake Fork Marina
Bud Light Trail, Sunday, April 15, 2012
Pope�s Landing
Media Bass Teams, Saturday, April 21, 2012
Minnow Bucket
Crappie USA Tournament Trail, Saturday, April 21, 2012
Lake Fork Marina
Irving Bass Club Open Tournament, Saturday-Sunday, April 21-22, 2012
Lake Fork Marina
Fishers of Men, Saturday, April 28, 2012
Oakridge Marina
JC Outdoors Individual Trail, Sunday,
Minnow Bucket

May 2012

Lake Fork Swap Meet, TBA
Lake Fork Marina
Bud Light Trail, Sunday, May 6, 2012
Pope�s Landing
Media Bass Teams, Saturday, May 12, 2012
Minnow Bucket
Bass On The Fly Fishing Tournament, Saturday, May 12, 2012
Lake Fork Marina
Legend of Lake Fork Big Bass Tournament, Friday-Sunday, May 18-20, 2012
Lake Fork Marina
JC Outdoors Individual Trail, Sunday,
Minnow Bucket
Fishers of Men, Saturday, May 26, 2012
Oakridge Marina
Bullet Boats Open Tournament, Saturday, May 26, 2012
Lake Fork Marina
Steve�s Custom Props Open, Saturday, May 26, 2012

June 2012

Skeeter Owners Tournament, Saturday-Sunday, June 9-10, 2012
Lake Fork Marina
Fishers of Men, Saturday, June 16, 2012
Oakridge Marina
Media Bass Teams, Saturday, June 16, 2012
Minnow Bucket
Yantis Catfish Classic, Saturday-Sunday, June 23-24, 2012
Minnow Bucket Marina
Bassin� For Babies, Saturday, June 30, 2012
Oakridge Marina

July 2012

Media Bass Teams, Saturday, July 14, 2012
Minnow Bucket

August 2012

Winnsboro Bass Club All Night Open Tournament, TBA
Minnow Bucket Marina

September 2012

Mad Dog Moore Memorial Tournament, Saturday, September 8 2012
Oakridge Marina
Lake Fork Outdoor Expo Fishing Tournament, TBA
Lake Fork Baptist Church
McDonald�s Big Bass Splash, Friday-Sunday, September 21-23, 2012
Lake Fork Marina

October 2012

LFSA Crappie Tournament, Saturday-Sunday,
Minnow Bucket Marina
Irving Bass Club Open Tournament, Saturday-Sunday, October 13-14, 2012
Lake Fork Marina
Berkley Tournament, Saturday-Sunday, October 20-21, 2012
Lake Fork Marina

I think the fluctuations in water level over the past 10-12 years have done more to hurt the fishing than the slot. I know everyone believes that the low levels and subsequent refills improve fishing, but living here in AZ where there are major fluctuations, I have not found that to be the case. The fluctuations do create good fishing for a few years after the lakes refill, but to grow numbers of true trophy's, stable water levels which support healthy aquatic vegetation are much better. I am certainly no biologist, but I do know that when levels are lowering, the fish are constantly in transition and are more concentrated in prime areas making them more susceptible to anglers and predators. Catch and release helps tremendously, but many fish still succumb to catch and eat anglers, poor handling, deep hooks, stress, and other factors. Without the slot, the lake will contain a few large fish, but the 3-7 pound class fish will just not be there given the pressure on the lake. Falcon Lake would seem to be an exception to this, but with increased pressure, it will not grow the numbers of giants like it does today. It will produce large numbers of smaller bass and an occasional trophy in the boom years. That is what we have here in Arizona. We have a few lakes that are relatively stable and those lakes are where numbers of big fish are caught consistently. The lakes that fluctuate are sometimes great for numbers, but a 3 lb fish is a trophy. JMHO.

I agree Fork and Ray Roberts aren't comparable fisheries. They are the two lakes I fish the most. If Fork were closer to me I wouldn't fish Ray Roberts much.

The one thing that made them comparable was the fact there was a slot on both them. Everybody who was for the slot change on RR talked about how much better the economy would be around here when the tournaments came. Since RR went to a state wide minimum stores have closed, restaurants have closed, the motel has closed. The only reason Lantana is still open is because people pay loads of money to have weddings there.

It doesn't help as much as y'all want to believe. It is just another excuse to try to get things your way. Fork is a special place, leave it alone.

THANKS CAMERON---nuff said!!!

Sounds like a Lake Fork "TFF Bass Fish-Fry" should be in the works......That would be AWESOME!

There is a Big Difference in the amount of Brush and Vegetation that grows around Falcon and Fork and what grows in AZ. At least from the lakes I have seen over there.

The Recruitment of Bass Fry and Bait boom on reflood years. What makes Falcon so Special is that when it refills there are thousands of acres that boats can't even get too and therefore 1000's of Fish that can grow without being beaten on by anglers. Without large water fluctuations the thick brush would eventually rot and leave the fish with very little cover.


Fork was starting to mature and this reflood of newlygrown vegetation will give alot of life back to the lake.

I don't care what anyone says, unless that slot is removed or lowered, there will never be another 16+ from that lake.that being said, its a great gimmick lake for tournaments. The over under deal is unique and fun

That there sounds suspiciously like famous last words.


TFP