As of November 16, 2024, Lake Fork in Texas is offering some excellent fishing opportunities, despite the ongoing fall season adjustments.
### Weather and Water Conditions
The weather is cooling down, making it an ideal time for fishing. The water temperature is ranging from the mid to upper 70s, which is optimal for fishing. The lake level is about 2 feet below full pool elevation, currently at 401.10 feet. Water clarity is good in the mid-lake to south areas, although some areas to the north are stained due to the lake's annual fall turnover.
### Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise today is at around 6:53 AM, and sunset will be at approximately 5:13 PM, giving you a good window for both morning and afternoon fishing.
### Fish Activity
Bass fishing is particularly good right now. Early mornings are seeing a lot of topwater action, with bass feeding on shad around points. Using lures like the Berkley Bullet Pop or J-Walker when there's little wind, and the Berkley Choppo when there's a breeze, has been very effective. Best colors include Danald, bone, or black.
After the topwater action subsides, switching to a Berkley Square Bull crankbait in the timber up shallow has been productive. The 5.5 size in colors like Gilly, Sexier shad, and black/chartreuse are recommended. For those big bites, especially in windy conditions, big swimbaits like the "Nessie" and Cull Shad are catching large fish.
Deep-water spots such as humps, points, roadbeds, pond dams, and ridges in 14-22 feet of water are also worth targeting. Here, a Carolina rig with a 1oz weight, 4-5 foot leader, and a 3/0 wide gap hook is effective.
### Best Lures and Bait
- Topwater: Berkley Bullet Pop, J-Walker, Berkley Choppo
- Crankbait: Berkley Square Bull
- Swimbaits: "Nessie" and Cull Shad
- Deep Water: Carolina rig with a 1oz weight and a 3/0 wide gap hook
- Bait: Minnows for crappie, cattle cubes or sour grain for catfish
### Hot Spots
- Mid-lake to south areas for clearer water and better topwater action.
- Timber areas around pole timber and Bois D Arc trees for crappie and bass.
- Deep-water structures like humps, points, and roadbeds for schooling bass.
Crappie fishing is also phenomenal, with fish found in depths from 14-58 feet, particularly around timber and bridges. Catfish are abundant in the 20-25 feet range around timber, making it easy to catch them with prepared catfish bait.
Overall, Lake Fork is in great shape for fishing, and with the right lures and knowledge of the hot spots, you're set for a successful day on the water.
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