Lake Fork Bound

[Ketchup]

Well, the better half and i have been kicking around going back down to Fork the past few weeks. With the rain they've gotten in May, we were up in the air.

Its been awhile since ive been there. I was raised not far from there, and have parents and siblings not far. Think we will head out early friday and get down there at lunch and leave sunday after fishing and lunch.

They opened the dam to draw the lake down, but as of friday, the bite was still on even with the high water. Thats a tough lake when the water rises.

Hoping for the Mrs. to catch her first double digit bass. Will follow up as we catch any hogs.

[Quillback]

Good luck, I want to make it down there one of these days myself.

[J-Doc]

Good luck! I heard that lake can be tough any given day. And with high water, I bet it can play a big factor. Seems it has locally on several lakes. Some folks are catching 16lb tournament bags, but us average guys ain't gettin' no where near that.

I wanted to go to Fork this year but will probably wait another year or two.

[Moswimb8slinger]

If i keep up my top 5 Aoy points standing in the Mo-Yak Fishing Series, I'll be fishing Fork in November for the Tournament of Champions(TOC) kayak fishing tournament

[rps]

Have a great trip!

[Ketchup]

If i keep up my top 5 Aoy points standing in the Mo-Yak Fishing Series, I'll be fishing Fork in November for the Tournament of Champions(TOC) kayak fishing tournament

Thats pretty cool richy. That yak fishing has really taken off the past few years. Good luck the rest of the year.

[Ketchup]

Thanks guys,

It looks like no rain in the forecast until next monday. Supposed to be in the 90's with sunshine, cool of 68 evenings. Looking foreard to getting away for a few days.

[Ketchup]

Made it down today at 3:55pm. We had the boat in the water at 4:10. 7th cast i landed my first fish. This 7.86 pig.

More updates after my night trip.

[rps]

Fantastic start!

[Ketchup]

Made it home last evening.

I learned a few things while down there. The first is i dislike fluro line. I switched all of my rods to fluro the day before we left, on a recommendation from a friend. My experience with it is:

Fishing a lake that is full, and i mean full, of trees isnt the way to go with fluro. No matter what bait i used, it was going to run against, around, over a stump/tree and fray. I retied more this wknd because of that than i have all year. Using topwater and fluro doesnt mix. Most of you that use ot figured this out, but for those thinking of switching to fluro, and fish topwater, bad choice. The line sinks whch causes the topwater to pull down. Luckly Walmart wasnt far away to get new line.

Another is i have not seen more PowerPoles installed on bass boats anywhere than i did there. Due to the shallower lakes in Tx. there is a greater demand i guess. A tourney Friday and Sat. had over 300 boats and i seen 1 boat that wasnt equipped. Poor guy. And the funny thing is, i didnt see 1 boat use theres. I know shallow water/spring is ideal, but thats like owning a snow mobile in Tx. Just not worth it.

I was born not far from Fork. My family lives down that way. I spend a few weekends a year down there camping on Texoma. The heat this weekend on the water was brutal. Talked to a few guys staying at the same place we did, that were fishing that tourney, who said they chose to wuit fishing at noon both days because of the heat and sun. Man it was hot and humid. Zero breeze or clouds.

I read on here of bad experiences on the water, and usually just sigh, as ive spent my entire life on the water as a fisherman and pleasure boater, and can count on 1 hand the bad experiences in all those years........Well, not on Fork. No issues with us per say, but seen several instances where i woulda jumped in a guys boat if it had happened to me. Just the lack of respect from some of the bass guys to other fishermen was mind bogling. I understand Fork is a huge pressured lake, with a chance to catch nice fish, and that they want to win a tourney, but geez, dont come in so fast on a point with 10 other boats, and run into the side of another boat because you didnt shut it down soon enough.

We have trees in our Mo. lakes. If you really want to see what Fork looks like, go across tge bridge on 13 Hwy north of Osceola, Mo. over that area of Truman on the west side and look at the trees, then multiply it. That lake is crazy stumped. Tge lake was still up above full pool, but you could see the stumps just under tge water, and trees sticking up. When the local at the resort said to be careful, he meant it. Luckily we came back with no prop damage, but seen a few guys hit stumps while running big motor.

Overall we had a great time. Trish missed a few fish on a frog early. I caught a few good fish, with that 7.8 above being my best. I lost 2 at the boat that would have been close, due to frayed fluro. I even used jolicious rainbow topwater and caught fish. Missed more blowups on it than i caught.

Think we will head back down in Nov. and try it again.