Lake Fork trip #4...the quest continues.
Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 1:31 pm
Howdy. This year we were forced to go during the summer heat due to work schedule conflicts. Texas heat and humidity is a killer! This year we decided to once again drive to Lake Fork from my in-law's house in Houston. This is a 550 mile round trip!
Arrived at Lake Fork Marina on 6/29/10. This is a great place to stay on the lake. Nice staff, clean rooms, and a great restaurant on the property.
Our wing of the motel was almost empty. Such a drastic difference from when we usually go in the spring.
Bright and early on the 30th, we met guide Jason Hoffman at a Brookshires store a few miles from the motel. Our guide informed us that the bite was a little off the day before, so he suggested that we spend the first half of the day at a nearby lake called Lake Athens where the bass were schooling and hitting topwaters in the mornings. He told me that this will be a lake to watch for in the years to come.
My wife totally kicked my butt this whole trip! This is a nice 4 pounder she caught on a spinnerbait.
Foggy Lens! This is a decent 3.5 pounder I caught on a Zara Spook type walking bait made by Excalibur. Catching these fish on top was a blast! The anticipation of the strike is exciting, but you're never ready when it happens. We searched for busting schools of fish for a few hours. If we were able to get a lure near the fish, we would usually pick up 2 or 3. Nothing really big, but a lot of fun. Weird feeling catching fish on topwaters in 50 feet of water! The weather was now getting pretty bad, so we decided to head back to Lake Fork for lunch at the restaurant and then fish the rest of the day there looking for a big 'un.
This is the 17 pound bass caught by another guide I hired 2 years ago. It is on display at the restaurant. No doubt this serves to fire people up to get back on the water after lunch! We were fishing deep with football head jigs and big plastic worms. I had never really done deep fishing before so it was fun and interesting for me. The wind was picking up so it was hard to feel the bites though.
I think this is the same fish in these 2 pics. My wife outdid me again by catching her personal best 6lb, 2oz bass, thus equaling my best despite not even trying. I guess she's a natural
I am very proud of her though. She fought it skilfully and took to instruction by our guide very well. I should mention that Jason was an excellent guide. www.lakefork.us He never stopped putting out maximum effort to find fish for us, despite the worsening weather. We were running all over the lake trying to stay away from the rain. He was also good company and very honest with us. He didn't exaggerate his catch rates like some do, and he even declined a portion of his payment because the weather forced us off the water just a little bit early.
My wife was using her Bass Pro Extreme MH spin rod with a Daiwa Sol 2500 reel and 12 lb. Trilene XL line. The lure was a shaky head jig with a 7" Power Worm.
I caught several fish, but nothing big. I was using my Abu Garcia Vendetta rod, Curado 201E reel, and 12 lb. Yozuri Hybrid line which has the strength and diameter of most 17 lb. lines. Time was running out and I had still not caught a big one. I knew Jason was doing all he could do to make it happen for me, but the weather was just too much. We were getting drenched. Finally, when we saw lightning, we called it quits. Oh well, at least my wife got her PB. Hopefully we can try again next year if the budget allows. My wife and will have to break our tie. I will prevail!
Jason Hoffman and I taking shelter from the rain.
Sunrise over Lake Fork. Hawaii isn't the only place with pretty sunrises.
I wish we came across a school like this on the lake! Taken at Cabela's in Fort Worth,TX.
Typical Asian dude with a camera all the time. I was so excited to visit a Cabela's for the first time. Really great store.
Of course I couldn't forget about BPS!
In a town called Canton, there is a big flea market called "First Mondays" held every month. So much stuff to look at. We were there for a couple of hours but only saw about a fourth of the flea market. I picked up all these lures for only $25!! They had a lot of classic tackle costing up to $1000.
More stuff I'll rarely use, but couldn't resist buying.
Astros game at Minute Maid park. Too bad they lost
Dobyns Champion Extreme DX702C and BPS Carbonlite reel. Should be a fun combo on Lake Wilson. Such a beautiful rod. Took me several days to pull the trigger on that purchase. 15% off sale sealed the deal.
WHATABURGER! Wish we had them here in Hawaii. Yum!
Train crossing. Interesting to me, annoying to the locals.
I have Bass Pro Shops and my wife has this. Blah.
Arrived at Lake Fork Marina on 6/29/10. This is a great place to stay on the lake. Nice staff, clean rooms, and a great restaurant on the property.
Our wing of the motel was almost empty. Such a drastic difference from when we usually go in the spring.
Bright and early on the 30th, we met guide Jason Hoffman at a Brookshires store a few miles from the motel. Our guide informed us that the bite was a little off the day before, so he suggested that we spend the first half of the day at a nearby lake called Lake Athens where the bass were schooling and hitting topwaters in the mornings. He told me that this will be a lake to watch for in the years to come.
My wife totally kicked my butt this whole trip! This is a nice 4 pounder she caught on a spinnerbait.
Foggy Lens! This is a decent 3.5 pounder I caught on a Zara Spook type walking bait made by Excalibur. Catching these fish on top was a blast! The anticipation of the strike is exciting, but you're never ready when it happens. We searched for busting schools of fish for a few hours. If we were able to get a lure near the fish, we would usually pick up 2 or 3. Nothing really big, but a lot of fun. Weird feeling catching fish on topwaters in 50 feet of water! The weather was now getting pretty bad, so we decided to head back to Lake Fork for lunch at the restaurant and then fish the rest of the day there looking for a big 'un.
This is the 17 pound bass caught by another guide I hired 2 years ago. It is on display at the restaurant. No doubt this serves to fire people up to get back on the water after lunch! We were fishing deep with football head jigs and big plastic worms. I had never really done deep fishing before so it was fun and interesting for me. The wind was picking up so it was hard to feel the bites though.
I think this is the same fish in these 2 pics. My wife outdid me again by catching her personal best 6lb, 2oz bass, thus equaling my best despite not even trying. I guess she's a natural
I am very proud of her though. She fought it skilfully and took to instruction by our guide very well. I should mention that Jason was an excellent guide. www.lakefork.us He never stopped putting out maximum effort to find fish for us, despite the worsening weather. We were running all over the lake trying to stay away from the rain. He was also good company and very honest with us. He didn't exaggerate his catch rates like some do, and he even declined a portion of his payment because the weather forced us off the water just a little bit early.
My wife was using her Bass Pro Extreme MH spin rod with a Daiwa Sol 2500 reel and 12 lb. Trilene XL line. The lure was a shaky head jig with a 7" Power Worm.
I caught several fish, but nothing big. I was using my Abu Garcia Vendetta rod, Curado 201E reel, and 12 lb. Yozuri Hybrid line which has the strength and diameter of most 17 lb. lines. Time was running out and I had still not caught a big one. I knew Jason was doing all he could do to make it happen for me, but the weather was just too much. We were getting drenched. Finally, when we saw lightning, we called it quits. Oh well, at least my wife got her PB. Hopefully we can try again next year if the budget allows. My wife and will have to break our tie. I will prevail!
Jason Hoffman and I taking shelter from the rain.
Sunrise over Lake Fork. Hawaii isn't the only place with pretty sunrises.
I wish we came across a school like this on the lake! Taken at Cabela's in Fort Worth,TX.
Typical Asian dude with a camera all the time. I was so excited to visit a Cabela's for the first time. Really great store.
Of course I couldn't forget about BPS!
In a town called Canton, there is a big flea market called "First Mondays" held every month. So much stuff to look at. We were there for a couple of hours but only saw about a fourth of the flea market. I picked up all these lures for only $25!! They had a lot of classic tackle costing up to $1000.
More stuff I'll rarely use, but couldn't resist buying.
Astros game at Minute Maid park. Too bad they lost
Dobyns Champion Extreme DX702C and BPS Carbonlite reel. Should be a fun combo on Lake Wilson. Such a beautiful rod. Took me several days to pull the trigger on that purchase. 15% off sale sealed the deal.
WHATABURGER! Wish we had them here in Hawaii. Yum!
Train crossing. Interesting to me, annoying to the locals.
I have Bass Pro Shops and my wife has this. Blah.
