Hey folks! It is April and the spring fishing on Lake Fork has really turned on. The last several weeks my clients and I have been catching a lot of big bass. These fish are rushing the shallows and their annual spawning activities are in full swing. If you are in search of a trophy bass, now is an awesome time to hit Lake Fork for some big bass action!
The lake is in great shape and holding at about 3 feet low. We could sure use some of those April showers this month to get the lake filled up. Water clarity is good in the creeks with grass up north and areas mid-lake or south. Most of the other areas are stained or slightly off color. Water temperatures are ranging from the mid 60s to lower 70s as the month begins but you’ll see most areas warm up even more as the month progresses.
Shallow patterns have dominated and I am targeting areas in 2-6 feet for spawning bass. Weightless soft plastic worms and jerk baits like the Berkley Powerbait General have been very productive “dead sticking” them in areas that the bass are spawning. Best colors are watermelon red, black/blue, and green pumpkin. It’s very important to fish slowly right now and allow the bait to settle for a period before you move or twitch it. Fast retrieves with soft plastics will produce few bites from territorial spawning bass. On windy days that I am unable to fish the baits weightless I am adding a split shot about 14-18 inches above the hook to pull the bait down in the wind. I have also been using a Texas rigged Berkley Powerbait 4” Chigger Craw or Power Lizard with a 1/4 oz Elite Tungsten bullet weight and a 4/0 wide gap hook. Most anglers beat the banks this time of year, which is where you want to be, but it is very important during the spawn to understand what kind of bottom you are fishing. All banks are not created equal. Look for a hard bottom, as bass prefer to fan their nest on sandy hard surfaces. You can often tell the type of bottom by observing the bank. The presences of lily pads or vegetation are signs of a firmer bottom. Mud muck and stagnant dead vegetation or decay is usually not areas you will find spawning beds. Sight fishing is also a great way to catch some monster female bass while they are spawning. Having a great pair of Costa polarized sunglasses are essential. I rely on them more than any other piece of fishing equipment that I have in the spring. When you spot a big bass on a nest it’s also very helpful to be able to establish position and not be moving much or running the trolling motor. That’s when my Power Poles go to work. They will hold you in place with ease and allow you to concentrate on catching those bass instead of maneuvering the boat. I like to use natural color soft plastics or jigs for flipping and pitching at bedding bass. Others prefer bright colored bait that they can see while working it around the fish and are able to see the bait be inhaled by the bass.
There are also a lot of bass that are still in pre-spawn mode and even some fish that have spawned early and are moving into post spawn patterns by the end of April. These fish can be caught on a variety of patterns, which is what makes this month so fun. I like to use a lot of big swim baits for trophy bass in April. The NEW Berkley Chop Block swim bait is my top producer. I will use the 8” or 10” size. Swimming this bait on windy banks in spawning areas will get your arms jerked on! Another great moving bait for me is the chatter bait in white or chartreuse/white for stained water. As the month rolls along look for some fish to start on top waters. If the water temperatures reach 70 degrees, there will be a bite on top. Yellow magic’s rule my arsenal this time of year. Everybody has his or her favorite color, but I really do not think it matters. The bass just can’t stand the action of that bait moving through an area that they are guarding fry. If I were to choose colors for you my choice would be baby bass, bone, or Japanese shad. You can also get some great top water action on a frog around shallow vegetation and lily pads so throw it around also. Also, don’t be afraid to fish them in the middle of the day even when it’s bright and sunny. They will bite it all day when they get going on it and it’s a blast!
The offshore bite will start to produce some as we near the end of the month and start to see some of the early spawners move deep. Knowing and reading your electronics is critical as the deep-water bite gets going. I depend on my Garmins, and I SEE U 18” Android monitor to show me the bass. I try to target points and roadbeds at the mouth of major spawning creeks in 14-20 feet of water. Most of the fish that move deep this month with be suspended. Deep diving crank baits are your best bet. I like to use any shad color. I will rig up my Abu Garcia 7’6” Winch series Veritas cranking rod and my Revo Winch reel spooled with 15 lb Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon line. This is the perfect cranking combination for deep water. The A-rig will also produce out deep as well as the Carolina rig and a Talon football head jig if the fish are on the bottom.
Well, I hope this helps anyone that’s coming out this month to chase some big bass around. If you would like to fish with me this year, I still have some dates available. My 2026 schedule is filling fast though so contact me as soon as possible if you are beginning to plan your trip. I also have gift certificates available for those of you that are interested in purchasing a friend or loved one a guided trip on Lake Fork. You can contact me to make your reservation at 903-736-9888 or send me an email at la****************@***oo.com You can also visit my website for more information about Lake Fork and my guide service at www.officiallakeforktrophybass.com You can find me on Facebook and follow my official Lake Fork Trophy Bass Guide page at https://www.facebook.com/lakeforktrophybassguide
I have really enjoyed my Bass Cat boats the past few years and have been thrilled with my 4th new Puma STS this past year. I am expecting the all new 2026 Lynx model any day now to start getting it ready for this season. I couldn’t be happier to be serving my customers on Lake Fork as part of the Bass Cat Team and am looking forward to providing more great trips this year out of my new boat! If you’re interested in checking out any of the Bass Cat models, be sure to reach out to Conroy Motorsports in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. They are the new Bass Cat dealer in Texas, and just a short distance from Lake Fork. They will be serving the area well with their team of sales professionals and service for Bass Cat Boats any of your service needs if you are around Lake Fork. They also carry ATV’s and other outdoor power equipment for all your recreational needs! Contact Steven Stroman and tell him I sent ya.
I would like to thank all my sponsors and some new ones that have teamed up with me for the 2026 season. I appreciate all their support as I serve all my great guide clients throughout the year on Lake Fork as well! Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Cat Boats, Mercury, Conroy Motor Sports, I Am Second, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Garmin, Santone Lures, AFTCO, Costa Sunglasses, Power Pole, I SEE U, Elite Tungsten, Johnson Communications, Pro Guide Batteries, DD26 Fishing, Bass Boat Technologies, BDS Suspension, and Method Wheels.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. -Proverbs 3:6
Tight Lines & God Bless,
James Caldemeyer
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