Lake Fork Report & 12.3 lb'er pics

[TomRedington]

[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]This 12.3 lb lunker came on a jig with a Blue Bruiser Lake Fork Tackle Fork Craw on Feb 4th [/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Michael braved the cold and 30 mph winds before catching his biggest bass ever, 6 lb 8 oz, on Feb 5th [/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]A couple bass over 7 lbs on Jan 31st:[/size][/font]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]A week of warm sunny days has the big ones biting at Lake Fork. We had a number of big bass this past week, including a 12.3 lb lunker on Saturday. The big bass came on a day of fun fishing with my brother—what a rush! You can check her out and a bunch of other good fish we’ve caught lately on the pictures section of my website. [/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]We’ve been catching a lot more bass near shallow spawning areas, although the cold front and cool-down this week will likely push many fish back to the points and creek channels. Although the fish likely won’t be as active after the cold front, the bass will be consolidated in key areas. Methodically work these staging areas and your chances of catching multiple big bass will be very good at Lake Fork in February. Meanwhile, a number of big bass over 7 pounds were caught in 25’ to 40’ last week on deep structure. Shallow or deep, it’s hard to pick a bad time to catch a lunker on Lake Fork for now until mid-summer. [/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Lake Conditions: After another good rain last week, Lake Fork’s water level rose 3” to 398.97’, or 4’0” below full pool. The water clarity is clear to stained in most areas, although the high winds and runoff have muddied some areas. Water temps are running from 50-56 degrees in most locations, perfect temperatures for prespawn bassin’. [/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Location Pattern: As I’ve done for the last 45 days, I’m concentrating on prespawn and staging fish on points and along edges of flats or creek channels. Areas with submerged vegetation (primarily hydrilla, milfoil or coontail) or wood cover will typically have the most active fish; however, don’t overlook coverless points and channel bends as we approach the spawn. Key on stumps, docks, and laydowns within the grassbeds or on any irregular places along the edge of the grass. Main lake grass beds near the mouths of these coves are holding a lot of fish now, as are main and secondary points inside the coves, provided there is deep water nearby. During warming trends, follow bass back into the creeks and check the edges of grass flats and creek channels. [/font][/size]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]For deep structure enthusiasts, points, roadbeds, humps, flats and ledges in 18’ to 45’ will produce some big fish well into the spring. Since many big bass on Fork don’t spawn until early May, these late bloomers won’t be moving shallow for quite a while. Use your electronics to find the schools of bass and baitfish and work them over with spoons and dropshots. I personally prefer fishing shallow in the spring, so my presentation pattern will focus on that.[/size][/font]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Presentation Pattern: My prespawn arsenal is pretty simple for fishing along grasslines and creek channels. First and foremost are red or orange lipless crankbaits in ½ or ¾ oz. Stick with the ½ for grass that is near the surface and go with the ¾ for grass that is deeper. ¼ oz traps work well on the shallowest grass. Buzzing these over the top of the grass on a quick retrieve is working best now, but after cold fronts, letting the trap fall and ripping these out of the grass will trigger most of the bites. ¼ to ½ oz spinnerbaits with double willow blades in white, red, or chartreuse and white will produce some really large bass in the same areas that the lipless cranks work, especially on windy and cloudy days. When the bite slows or the conditions are sunny and calm, I’ll switch to a suspending jerkbait or a jig. Gold jerkbaits with orange bellies and black backs are my primary color. Work these with long pauses over the grass and along the edges. The jig bite is good on some days, especially for big bass. ½ oz black and blue jigs with Lake Fork Tackle Fork Craws in the Blue Bruiser color have been working best for me. For a few bonus fish, work a wacky rigged Twitch Worm or Magic Shad in the areas where you caught fish with the other baits. Shades of watermelon are a sure bet for the plastics.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Cover lots of water until you get bit. Once you catch one, work the area over thoroughly with multiple passes, employing several different baits. Fish tend to stack up in key staging areas during the winter and these spots will replenish themselves with more fish during the prespawn as more and more big bass move shallow. [/font][/size]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Here’s hoping you catch the lunker of your dreams. If I can be of assistance, please contact me at 214-683-9572 (days) or 972-635-6027 (evenings) or e-mail me through [/size][/font][url "http://www.lakeforkguidetrips.com/"][font "Times New Roman"][size 3]http://www.LakeForkGuideTrips.com[/size][/font][/url][font "Times New Roman"][size 3] , where your satisfaction is guaranteed.[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Good Fishing,[/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"] [/font][/size]Tom
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[gdn443]

If you can Tom, post Bobs pics here as well. Thanks [Lundrunner]
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[TomRedington]

Will do. Bob said good things about you today.
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[gdn443]

So how did Bob do? Any pics?
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