March madness has begun on Lake Fork and what a great month it is to catch the giant bass of your dreams. The season has already started off well, as there have been several fish from 10-12 lbs caught including an 11.52 lber by one of my clients a couple days ago. It shouldn’t be long before we see the first one over 13 lbs entered into the state’s TPWD Share Lunker Program. The best is yet to come as the bass move to the shallows this month to begin their annual spawn and anglers head out to the lake in droves to pursue these trophy bass. If you are coming out to Lake Fork this spring also, here are some helpful tips and tricks that will help you catch fish when you get here.
Lake Fork is in great shape right now despite low water conditions. We are currently sitting at 400.06 which is close to 3 feet low. If we have normal precipitation amounts this spring though, we could find ourselves with an overflow of water. The water conditions are great with fairly clear water 2-3 ft in most areas except the backs of some of the creeks and windblown areas. The water temperatures have been in the 58-62 degree range, which is above normal for this time of year, after an unseasonably warm fall and winter. Occasionally if we get a serious cold front, you could see the water temps dip temporarily. I’m excited to see a lot of the grass that is rebounding and continue to hold on through winter. I think if the temperatures remain mild, we will see a lot of new grass in a lot of different areas this spring. Fresh and healthy vegetation is always fun to fish in!
The best pattern for me in March is always in the shallow to mid-depth regions. I like to target main lake areas or secondary points at the mouth of any of the major creeks. A lot of fish stage out in these areas until the water temperatures rise in the spring and the backs of the creeks are conducive for spawning. I start off shallow in the 2-8 ft range and fish reaction baits like a red/orange, gold, or chrome lipless crank bait or square bill like the new Berkley Shallow Money Badger. If you can reel it past, rip it off the grass, bang it off a tree, etc.… These fish will react to it and bite it. I also use a ½ oz chatter bait like the Berkley Slobberknocker a lot this time of year in white or chartreuse/white. Covering water and making lots of casts at cover along the bank will pay off. Remember to hit everything at different casting angles to ensure that you are covering the areas thoroughly. If you catch a few fish in a certain stretch of bank, be sure and back track and make multiple passes through that area. There is always a key feature holding fish in these areas. Sometimes it’s a depth change like a ditch or drain, bottom change from rock, to sand, or vegetation that is causing the fish to hold there. If the fishing gets tough up shallow I like to back off a little deeper. I will also break out the suspending jerk bait like a Berkley Stunna 112 on an Abu Garcia Zenon rod with the new Zenon MGX reel so that I can cast it long distances. The jerk bait can really save the day especially when it’s cold and the sun is up high under calm wind conditions. I like to throw gold, shad fillet, stunna shad, and Pro blue. I like to use a smaller line on these like 12 lb Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon if I can get away with it. Otherwise, if I am in heavy cover I opt for 15 lb. Sometimes I opt for the Jr. size in a +1 if I am Livescoping them. I will also pull out to the creek channel edges this time of year and flip timber. The depths I target are 8-12 ft. With the low water conditions, you can really read the water and tell exactly where the creeks run through the middle of the areas you are fishing. I will take a Santone Lures 3/8 oz or 1/2 oz Rattlin jig and pitch at every tree along the channel edges. Pay attention to the direction the wind is blowing, as the fish will position themselves a certain way on the timber according to wind direction and channel drops. I like to focus on areas where the creeks make a bend and especially if it makes a bend near a point or any other bottom structure. My favorite jig colors in January are black/blue, black /blue/purple, JC’s Spicy Craw, or Fouzman. I will trail my jig with a Berkley Power bait Chigger Craw or the Pit Boss in matching colors. The big female bass on Lake Fork can’t resist this jig combination. As the water warms and the surface temperatures reach the 58-60 degree mark the bass will begin spawning. You will find most of these bass on beds in 2-6 feet of water and very active! Another one of my favorite baits for targeting these bass as they spawn is a weightless or split shot rigged Berkley Powerbait “Jerk” or the “General”. Dead sticking these baits in the flats and spawning areas is very effective. You must remember that the bass have moved from a feeding bite and to a territorial bite. You are presenting your bait in a manner that invades their space and they strike it. Moving the bait a lot will defeat the purpose so be sure to really slow down! When you think you are fishing slowly, slow down some more! Another big favorite of mine for spawning bass is the Santone Lures “Piglet” shaky head with a Berkley Powerbait Chigger Craw. Best colors are black/blue, blue fleck and green pumpkin. You also can’t go wrong throwing the big swimbaits in March. The new Berkley Chop Block has been really good! Especially on windy days. If the wind will not allow you to fish these baits another great way to catch spawning bass is with the good ole Texas rig. I usually use an Elite Tungsten weight in the 1/8 to 3/8 oz sizes with a 4/0 or 5/0 hook. I like to use the Berkley Pit Boss or just a plain Berkley Powerbait lizard in black/blue, green pumpkin, Okeechobee, California or watermelon candy colors. The bass will be spawning tight to standing timber in a lot of areas of the lake and using the tree’s root system to hold their eggs in. Flipping or pitching these baits on the stumps is very intrusive to the bass and they will strike it hard. The fish are on beds this month too so have some good Costa polarized sunglasses on so you can flip at the big ones on nests. You also will want to keep a drop shot rod handy. These bass that are holding tight to timber will attack a small worm on a drop shot rig hovering around them at the base of these trees. Be sure you have your drag set properly because you will have some big ones try to take you for a ride!
Well, I hope this helps anyone that’s coming out for the new year’s fishing season 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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