August is the month to stay inside during the midday heat, and try fishing a split day early morning and late evening trip, or go on a nighttime fishing excursion. Fishing under the stars can be real productive for bass, especially large bass, and it is definitely cooler. Many anglers and guides stay out all night long, hunting for the elusive largemouth bass. Bass feed more freely during the dark, and often an anglers best chances of catching their personal best will come during the darkness of night fishing on Lake Fork. If you desire to fish when it is cooler, then give night bass fishing a try! Lake Fork is a little below normal pool level. We received no rain in July to contribute to Lake Fork’s watershed. It seems as if someone just turned off the rain handle on July 1. Water temps are in the upper 80’s, and the water clarity is clear to stained. We have had little to no wind during July, making the heat index even hotter and more stuffy than normal. The grass and other flooded vegetation is in great shape, with lots of hydrilla growing around Dale Creek and Little Caney, as well as other major coves on the east and west arm. The bass are in very good shape, and are putting up a good fight all the way back to the boat after being caught. Main lake points and humps are yielding quite a few big lunkers, during the day and at nighttime. The key is fishing slow and methodical, using techniques that appeal to the bass’ senses. Use a Carolina rigged Bass Assassin 4.5” Twitch, 4” Fry Assassin, or the 5.5” lizard in Red Bug, Gourd Green, Pumpkin, shad color, or watermelon/red flake. Work the lure in 15 – 30 feet, using a Top Brass Tackle brass weight, ¾ to 1 oz, on a 2 – 4 feet leader. I use the Carolina Rig medium-heavy made by Kistler Rods. (for information on these fantastic rods, call 1-281-259-8033) Another technique that always works well in hot and/or cold weather is the jigging spoon or the one ounce Lockhart Chuck-N-Spin jigged vertically. Use this presentation on the sides of humps and points, around bridge pilings and submerged bridges and roadbeds. A black/blue or brown/black jig tipped with a Gene Larew Hawg Craw worked along trees on points and creek channels will appeal to large bass. Crankbaits and large spinnerbaits will get the attention of some bass also. Use the new Kistler Composite Crank Bait rod – medium action and you will see what you have been missing using other rods for your crankbaits! Early morning and late evening try a Lockhart buzzbait, or a Chug Bug, Torpedo, or Spook work fairly quickly around grasslines, the sides of secondary points, pond dams, and roadbeds. Hang on, because the bite is pretty tough when these big fish hit! Good areas to concentrate your fishing efforts is the Little Caney area, along the dam, SRA point, Public Hump, Chainsaw, The Dinnertable, Horseshoe, Hurley, Bell Hump and point, Little Mustang and Big Mustang point, Oak Ridge Island, Ford, Ward, Grimes, Dale Creek, Searcy, and Chaney. All of these areas have excellent structure and cover. They abound with submerged roads, bridges, points, creeks, ponds, grass, and deep water. This is one time of the year to let all the other anglers have the shallow water and you stay with the deep water! Lake Fork’s bass slot limit is 16” – 23”. You may keep 5 bass under 16”, or you may keep 4 bass under 16” and one bass over 23” per day. Please practice “Catch and Release”, “Safe Handling” of all bass, and be courteous on the lake. Texas Parks & Wildlife info, call 1-800-792-1112. Computer generated license, 1-800-895-4248, Visa and MasterCard only. The McDonald’s Tournament is September 22, 23, & 24, 2000, and the Skeeter Owners Tournament is scheduled for September 30 & October 1, 2000.

Water Temp: 85