Lake Fork Report 5-23-2021

The water level on Lake Fork is currently 100% full (403.28) and the surface temperatures range from 68-74 degrees depending on the day. The lake is overall in great shape setting us up for a terrific summer season.

This past week I have been starting out my mornings fishing various shell beds before heading back to the shallows to check on the last remaining bed-fish and fry guarders. It’s important to note, as of this morning (5-23-21) I am finding we are just about done catching bed fish this time of year. I am doing a lot of running and beginning to check out some deep spots.

We’ve had an epic frog bite here on Lake Fork the last week or so with one client catching a beautiful 9.5 and later a 7 with a bunch of good slot fish mixed in. By the end of the week, we were catching fish out deeper on Crankbaits, C-Rig and Swimbaits. We are still not seeing a whole bunch of fish off shore but starting to catch a few good ones.

If you are planning to come out to Lake Fork here in the next couple of weeks, this report should hold up and help y’all out. Have a great Memorial Day weekend and y’all be safe.


SHELL BEDS

*Zara Spook (Bone)

*Underspin 3/8 oz with a Skinny Dipper (White Trash)

*Carolina Rig 3/0 hook - 3/8 oz weight and 5’ leader with a Zoom Fluke (Watermelon Red Magic)

*Square Bill

FROGS/BED-FISH (very few bedding fish as of 5-23-21)

*Popping Spro Junior (Solid Black)
*Walking Spro Junior (Natural Green)

*Zoom 7″ Trick Work Wacky Rig (Plum) - I am throwing this along the timber when not biting the frog.

DEEP BITE

*Strike King - 6 XD (Chartreuse Blue Back)
*Strike King -10 XD (Chartreuse Blue Back)

*Carolina Rig 3/0 -1 oz weight and 5’ leader - Zoom Fluke (Watermelon Red Magic)

Thanks for such a detailed report...did I read that right 5' leader on the C-rig!? How the hell do you cast that as it's practically the length of the rod.

Thanks for such a detailed report...did I read that right 5' leader on the C-rig!? How the hell do you cast that as it's practically the length of the rod.

Nice report Eric! What electronics are you running?

Great report Eric, almost makes me want to take up bass fishing again,...

Good times on Fork. Awesome post.

Awesome report Eric, thank you
5' leader.....WOW that's gotta be difficult to cast.
Good looking fish.

Thanks for the info. 4 of us went down on 5/13-5/15. It was tough all around. Lake was up and gates were open. Fish seemed to be in transition. We did manage about 40 with a few over 4 and 5#s on frogs/topwaters. Not a consistent shad spawn bite and very little offshore. Fished a lot in Little Caney and Big Caney.

4' to 5' my whole life and I prefer to use a 7.6 rod -

Casting a 5' leader isn't hard. Yeah you can't do it with a 6'6" but with a true 7'6"-7'10" c-rig rod it's not as hard as ya think it would be.

You just do a lob cast. Paul Elias who is known for throwing a C-rig quite a bit said that he experimented with short and long leaders and what he came up with for a 7ft 6in rod is to have the bait hang somewhere between the last two guides on the rod. I do that and it works very well.

Good report bud.
I’m a firm believer of the longer leader out deep. 5’-7’ is the normal for me. We will back off to a 3’ leader fishing shallower though.

Huh....I've been using a 2-3' leader for so long...maybe it's time to try it another way.

Where is Big Caney ?

We'll be out there for Skeeter Owners, thanks for the update. "Gonna come back here and ring that victory bell. Like we always wanted to!" Grease fans will know what Im talking about.

I believe he was referring to the far east arm, up to Glade area.

Same here. I am down to 2-4' right now, but 3-7' is what I fished up until the last year or so. Lob it !

Nice post! I looking to go to Fork in July. I'll hit you up for an update then!

c-rig holding up yesterday for David

good job Eric!

Thanks for the report and the updates. I hope the deep bite continues to mature.

One question - in areas where you c-rig, do you find that the bass will also respond to a crank or jig, or is it typically one or the other? I know every spot/day can be different, just curious if there is a general thought/rule of how the fish behave on Fork.

c-rig tonight was on fire!

Last night was real tough - went back out this evening with Bruce and Arron and they were smashing. Bruce with the 9.15 - Y'all be safe this weekend and catch some giants!

Nice fish.

I use a 8' lamiglass for long c-rigs like that