Fork

[5bites]

The last week of March or first week of April I'm going with a guy from church. He has family around there. We will be in their boats. I was told I didn't need to bring anything but I'm not leaving without my own equipment. Should be interesting. All I know is it has a lot of trees and they get big there. The spawn should be on the second half by then I'd think. I wish it were possible to go the second week of March.

 

Anyone have any advice to offer?

[dtrs5kprs]

I'd take some Ned stuff for bed fishing, or in case of cold fronts. I have a bunch of guys that buy heads down that way. They aren't talking about it much. 

[Ham]

Ned Rig worked REAL well at Toledo Bend. Really well. Inside edge of weedline. Deadly. Around bridges, Boat docks. Points.

I would expect the same at Fork.

 

[Flysmallie]

Fork is probably my favorite lake to fish in the world. Reminds me a lot of the farm ponds I grew up fishing. I might be the only living person in SW Missouri that probably has more hours of fishing in on Fork than Table Rock. Spent a lot of time burning up that highway between here and there. Spent most of my time in Birch or Little Mustang. Man I have some good memories from there.

All I can say is have fun. I never finessed fished it much. Seems like at times like that it didn't matter what you threw, they weren't hitting. But maybe the Ned would make a difference. Haven't seen many guides down there taking that approach but if they would have been where I could have watched them then it probably wouldn't have been the best choice, so maybe they are.

That time of the year it's just a roll of the dice. It could still be too early, it could be too late, it could just be the wrong moment. But when you hit it right it's pretty special.

They like rattletraps. They really like them. There is a reason that every boat down there is running around with at least one rod with a rattletrap on it during the spring. Those fish love them and its perfect for fishing over the top of the grass. Most everybody will have a red one tied on. Pretty cliché for that lake. I like this one. Chartreuse Shiner.

Have a good time. I hope the weather is perfect for you.

 

[fishinwrench]

A black/red flake Zoom lizard on a pegged 5/16 Texas rig was the bait of choice during March on Lake Fork in the late 90's.   On our second trip it was the only thing we threw.  Tore 'em up pretty good.

[Al Agnew]

I fished it a couple of times years ago.  Had one good trip in late March and one terrific trip in mid-March.  The mid-March trip, the water had just come up after being low for the whole year before.  There was all kinds of weeds, including masses of cockleburs, on the lower shoreline that were now submerged about two to three feet deep, but until we got there, the fish had still been deeper.  But it was one of those rare times when we got there at the perfect time.  After fishing deeper like everybody was saying the first half of the first day with nothing much to show for it, we decided to try those submerged weeds with the biggest size soft jerkbaits we had.  The fish were there, and the anglers weren't.  That last half of the first day we had every cove to ourselves and caught dozens of big bass.  Next day, a few anglers had realized what was happening and we had company in many coves but we still caught a ton of fish.  We ran out of the big Bass Assassins we'd be using and went to the local tackle store that evening and there was a whole section of wall full of them and we bought a bunch.  Third day, you had to wait in line to fish a cove but we still caught fish like crazy.  Ran out of Bass Assassins again and went back to the store that evening and the wall was completely empty.  A cold front came through the next morning, our last day, and for about two hours after it the fishing was terrible, but then they started hitting again and we caught quite a few before leaving in the early afternoon to head back home.  I think three of us ended up catching well over a hundred fish over four pounds, but no huge ones...the biggest was about 7.5 pounds.

[Ketchup]

We were there in June. Biggest was a 7.8. The water was way up from all the rain. 1st suggestion is top water frog early and late over grass. 2nd suggestion is a frog early and late.  I've fished there many times, and any of the locals will tell you to bring several frogs. Caught several on a chatter bait. If your not fishing the grass, then find stumps close to shore to pitch to. That's about as easy as finding chocolate in a Snickers bar.  My better half drug a worm from the back "she was getting bored" and caught some. 

 

Good luck on your trip. Your going at a good time. 

[J-Doc]

Y'all are killing my plans to Guntersville this year.  I can make one long drive a year due to work and time away. 

May have to ponder this one. 

[Trav]

March in Texas. The wind will beat ya up but it is worth it. My best baits in the past have been spinner baits, spinner baits, and spinner baits. If you can get on the water when there is little to no wind(good luck) try spooks and floating rapalas. But trust me on the wind and spinner baits.

[Ham]

Go check out Sam Rayburn when there is a 20 MPH wind from the NW. It's more likely that the Coast Guard is going to save you day than a spinnerbait. You absolutely cant imagine how bad it is until you experience it first hand. Never again for me.