Special Crappie Season




The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department implemented a three-month special restriction for crappie at Lake Fork. From Dec. 1 until the last day of February, anglers must retain the first 25 crappie caught regardless of size.

The remainder of the year the standard, statewide rules for crappie or 10-inch minimum length limit apply. Both seasons have a 25-fish bag limit.

The special regulations were put in place to protect crappie during the colder winter months when they congregate in large schools in deep water, 25-40 feet. Pulling a small crappie up from these depths quickly can cause the fish to become paralyzed due to not being able to decompress quickly enough.

The cooler water temperatures cause the shad to form large schools and the crappie take advantage of the shad.

The Longview-Journal Outdoors reports limits or near limits being reported. Main lake points in the 20-30 foot range are good place to start looking for the fish. Find the shad and crappie will be there soon enough.

Live bait is recommended for younger or less experienced crappie anglers. Tie two jigs on 6 pound test fluorocarbon about 18 inches apart on medium to light spinning gear. Try to present the bait just above the school. Keep it mobile.

 




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Lake Fork Current Weather Alerts

There are no active watches, warnings or advisories.

 

Lake Fork Weather Forecast

Thursday

Thunderstorms Likely

Hi: 80

Thursday Night

Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 64

Friday

Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 82

Friday Night

Slight Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 64

Saturday

Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 84

Saturday Night

Mostly Cloudy

Lo: 64

Sunday

Partly Sunny

Hi: 84

Sunday Night

Mostly Cloudy

Lo: 66


Lake Fork Water Level (last 30 days)


Water Level on 4/25: 402.80 (-0.20)



Lake Fork

Fishing Report from TPWD (Apr. 23)

GOOD. Water Stained; 63 degrees; 0.25 feet below pool. Bass fishing has been slow with some early morning catching near areas with the shad spawn using DieZel chatterbaits. Once bass move off the shore, switch to squarebill crankbaits in 3-5 feet, or Yum dingers and flukes around grass, and frogs in the grass. Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Guide Service. Black bass are post spawn and the top water bite is on! Frog patterns are working in the shallow vegetation. The crappie are moving shallow, small clousers are producing well. Large bream have moved shallow, wooly buggers are producing good fish. Channel catfish are cruising 2-4 feet biting clousers. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. The crappie fishing on Lake Fork is moving rapidly into the post spawn pattern. Fish are loading up on brush piles, ledges, underwater bridges, road beds, bridges and post spawn trees in 14-25 feet. The fish are hungry after the spawn and they will bite just about anything you out in front of them. We are having great luck with small hand tied jigs but minnows and soft plastics will also work for the next few months until water temps heat way up. Seeing a lot of small fish this year mixed in so some days you will catch and release a lot of short fish. Report by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins Guide Service.

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