Bass Pro Tour Stage Three Arrives at Lake Fork at the Right Time for Lunkers

Bryan Howell, Randy Whitehead, Jody Bradshaw, Blair Bradshaw, Cliff Kettler and Chad Yoak show off some Lake Fork lunkers. Photos courtesy Texas Parks and Wildlife

March 11, 2020 • Dave Landahl • Bass Pro Tour

LAKE FORK, Texas – Lake Fork is one of a small handful of bass lakes in the U.S. that a generation or two of anglers have collectively dreamed of fishing. Any cast might produce a bass of a lifetime on this Texas lake: 12-pounders are a real deal here, not just a fantasy.

There are records (and photos) to prove it. Lake Fork has produced 371 entries into the Toyota ShareLunker program, which recognizes fish 8 pounds or better. That includes more than 260 “Legacy” fish 13 pounds or better, and the existing Texas state record of 18 pounds, 3 ounces.

MLF pro Kelly Jordon considers Lake Fork his home waters. He’s fished it for decades and believes it just might show out when the Bass Pro Tour arrives on its fabled shores March 13-17 for the General Tire Stage Three Presented by TrueTimber.

“The Bass Pro Tour couldn’t have planned the time to fish Fork any better,” Jordon said. “I can’t guarantee hundreds of 10-pounders being caught, but I will say that I believe a couple of 10s will be caught, and maybe a 12-pound-plus bass. There is a chance. It’s not the Fork of the 1990s, but it still has a load of fish and offers a shot at a true giant.”

Lake Fork Scouting Report

Fork is a different lake than it was 10 years ago for sure. There’s no more vegetation like coontail or hydrilla, and it’s more off-color than it previously has been. Jordon suggests anglers check out the lower end for the clearest water and the upper end for the more off-colored variety, especially if it rains (which the long-range forecast says it will).

Even with the lake’s lack of vegetation, there’s quite a bit of submerged cover for the field of 80 to explore, and a year class of big bass ready to bite.

“This time of year, I expect fish to be moving shallow,” says Jordon. “From 2012 to 2015, fish spawning and recruitment was poor on Fork. The water was down 7 feet. It was so low for so long that plenty of shoreline willow trees grew, and so did other cover. Now with the water higher since 2015, there’s plenty of submerged shoreline cover, though it deteriorates every year. There are lots of docks to fish too, and there was a tremendous spawn in 2015.

“There are lots of 5-year-old bass in this lake. A huge class of fish at this age. We should have opportunities to catch giants. It’s always that way on Lake Fork, but this tournament could be huge.”

KJ’s hard-earned Lake Fork knowledge tells him that some 10s will show up on SCORETRACKER® next week during Stage Three. Photo by Phoenix Moore

Some Texas Spawn-Fishing Basics

Jordon suggests that the basics will be the best for anglers fishing for Lake Fork lunkers.

“Your basic spawn fishing stuff is what we’ll be throwing,” Jordon said “We’ll be flipping, casting squarebill crankbaits, vibrating jigs, Texas-rigged plastics, Senkos, flukes, swimbaits, and even a frog if the bass are on beds.”

“And maybe somebody will find some pre-spawn fish a little deeper using a Carolina rig, slow-rolling a spinnerbait, deep cranking, or dragging a football jig. I’ll be trying that out, but likely, if the water warms up, the pre-spawn bite is gone. We likely won’t be able to see a lot of them to sight fish, but instead, just go fishing. Still, you never know, some areas may be clear enough to ‘window shop.’”

Watching the Weather

Lake Fork has experienced some very cold water temperatures this winter (some as low as the upper 40s). Fishing has been reported to be pretty tough with the rain and cold, but that may be changing as Stage Three approaches.

“We could experience the first wave of a full-blown spawn,” Jordon said. “The magic water temperature is 60 degrees. It’s been in the mid-50s and warming. If the weather holds as predicted with days in the 80s and nights in the 60s during practice and the first tournament day – followed by slightly cooler daytime temps but still in the 60s at night – look out. Those big fish will move up shallow and they’re usually easier to catch. That first wave of big fish is coming, just can’t predict which day.”

With several Texas anglers in the field, does being a local provide an advantage on this potential big bass fest?

“One thing is for sure, I don’t have a local advantage in this event,” Jordon observed. “This is likely going to be a shallow-water event. If it were later in the year, I may have an advantage knowing some offshore spots, but not against our guys. When the bass are on the bank, they’re on the bank. I have no secret spots.”

Stage Three Begins Friday, March 13

Action begins Friday, March 13 in the first Qualifying Round of the General Tire Stage Three Presented by TrueTimber. Competition time for the event is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; catch all the action on the MLF NOW! live stream, starting at 9:45 a.m. daily.