Lake Fork Fishing Report February 2001 by: Guide – Sherry D. Ruslink February, being one of the favorite months for anglers to fish Lake Fork, is a top rated month to catch lunker bass! The huge females begin their pilgrimage to staging areas in anticipation of the yearly spawn. Many anglers like the stage better than the spawn because the females are predictable in their stopovers, and are more vulnerable in their feeding habits. Large female bass feed heavily to fulfill the hunger pangs of her unborn baby bass, which can ad several more pounds to her weight when full of roe. February is typically not a numbers of bass month, but it is the month to catch the trophy Largemouth Bass you have always dreamed of. We invite you to come and fish our beautiful Trophy Bass reservoir – Lake Fork. Mix business and pleasure, or bring the family, and enjoy the fishing, golfing, and antiquing that abounds in east Texas. East Texas has had more rain since October than we had all of 1999. The ground is totally saturated, therefore any new rain just runs into the creeks, and eventually into the lakes. We have had colder weather, more rain, ice, and snow, than was received in several years, helping to kill off some of the plentiful shad that Lake Fork has been host to. Water temps are in the very low 40’s, and the water color is stained. The lake and fish are in good shape for entering spring and the spawn, which should yield a good year of fishing, hunting, eagle watching, and recreation The Sabine River Authority has been releasing water off and on for over a month, with Lake Fork being at pool level of 403 feet. You can view the SRA website which lists 24 hours worth of data about the water storage at: http://tx.water.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/uv/?station=08018800. There will be bass staging, and some bass will remain in a winter pattern for a little while longer, For the staging bass, go after them with medium to deep diving crankbaits in red or firetiger thrown into tree stands on sharp dropping points and ledges, colors of choice is red, smokey joe, or firetiger, lipless crankbaits worked around grass lines with be a winning ticket, as will the Carolina Rigged Bass Assassin or a lizard in watermelon, red, black, pumpkin worked down pond dams, ledges, points and humps, and slow roll a chartreuse spinnerbait around stumps, trees, fence rows, and roadbeds. For the bass that are just too cold to start their annual trek, fish in the creek bends with a jigging spoon, Texas rigged worm, or Carolina rigged centipede. Other lures that are productive around these deeper areas is the jig/pig in dark colors, Gene Larew Hawg Craw using a large sinker and 5/0 Gamakatsu hook, and a Carolina rigged Gene Larew Salt Fry or the Bass Assassin Fry Assassin in watermelon, junebug, pumpkin, or red shad, using a 3 feet leader using the Kistler Carolina Rig Rod will be some good rigs to try. Good areas to check out are White Oak, Penson, Burch Creek, Boardtree, Garrett, Glade, Rogers, Long Branch, and Running Creek for the staging females, and if your relying on the winter holding bass, then I would recommend all the creeks down by the dam. Just remember to fish SLOW! The Texas Parks and Wildlife enforces a slot limit on bass in Lake Fork bass which is 16″ – 24″. All bass which measure between 16 and 24 inches must be returned to the waters of Lake Fork immediately. There is a daily bag limit of 5 bass, which 5 under 16 inches, or 4 under 16 inches and one over 24 inches may be retained 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. A great fishing tool that is a must have is the new Martin’s Map or CD Rom which will enable the angler to find many structures that Lake Fork has to offer for bass habitat. With the aid of a computer, you are able to zoom in or out on contour lines, structure, see pictures before the lake was filled, receive fishing info from myself and Kerry Stafford, as well as print off the information that you want. Every angler that fishes Lake Fork ought to have this new CD Rom. Call me for details on retail or wholesale, and mail order purchases. Sherry Ruslink is a licensed guide on Lake Fork. She runs a full service Bass Fishing Guide Business. Sherry’s guide service offers individual, corporate/ group, instructional, and tournament prefish trips. Day trips, night trips, and ½ day bass fishing trips, Crappie trips, and gift certificates. Duck hunts, catfish trips, and full package fishing and / or hunting trips to Lake Guerro, Mexico can be arranged. Sherry can be reached at 903-383-7310, 1-877-523-9227, email: ladybass@koyote.com, URL: https://texs.com/ladybass/fork.htm. Sponsor’s include – Triton Boats/Mercury Motors, Kistler Rods, Shimano Reels, Lowrance, Motorguide, Lockhart Lures, Gene Larew Lures, Top Brass Tackle, and Bass Assassin.
Water Temp: 42
