QUITMAN, Texas — Lake Fork ranks among the smaller lakes that are typically scheduled on the Bassmaster Elite Series. At full pool, it features 27,000 surface acres. But as a result of repairs to the dam, the lake is 5 ½ feet low, reducing its size to an estimated 23,000 acres.
But that reduced size will serve to concentrate the fish in what is widely recognized as one of the best bass fisheries in the U.S. It’s taken over 100 pounds to win the three previous Elite Series events here, and many are predicting another winning weight topping 100 pounds when the four-day Simms Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork begins Thursday.
Lee Livesay, who won here in April 2021 with 104-12 and guides on this lake, believes Paul Elias’s all-time five-bass limit Elite Series record of 132-8 could be broken. It was set on Falcon Lake in 2008.
“It’s the best chance we’re going to have to break it,” Livesay said. “I think we’ll have more century belts that we’ve ever had.”
That would be a near-impossible accomplishment. All 12 Day 4 finalists topped 100 pounds in 2008 at Falcon Lake. Only 10 anglers qualify for Day 4 final in the current Elite Series format. But you understand the point that Livesay is making: This tournament has a chance to be one for the record books, in some form or fashion.
“It’s been stingy in practice,” said Patrick Walters, who, despite that, predicted a winning weight of 117 pounds. “The fish are transitioning. There’s still a decent bite early on the remnant of a shad spawn. Fish are moving offshore. I don’t think the big ones will be caught until 1:30.”
Takeoff is at 7 a.m. and the first flight of the 92-angler field will check-in at 3 p.m.
“Most of the shallow points where I caught fish before are now out of the water,” said Walters, who has earned two century belts at Lake Fork, winning here in 2020 with 101-15 and finishing second in 2021 with 102-12.
Much of the timber was left untouched when Lake Fork was inundated. It’s fascinating to see the lake at 5 ½ feet below normal because the top of so much standing timber is visible now. Keith Combs thinks that will be a key.
“There are not as many options as we normally have here,” said Combs. “That’s a drawback. But I’ve seen enough to feel pretty good. Some guys will just concentrate on timber fishing because it’s visible. You can get up in four-foot of water and see the bigger limbs and logs. There are a lot of big ones to be caught flipping wood and shallow cranking.”
Livesay said he will fish depths ranging from one foot to 30 feet and all points in between. Brandon Palaniuk agreed that fish can be caught at all those depths at Lake Fork right now.
“They’re doing a little bit of everything,” Palaniuk said. “There are still some fish spawning. There’s not a ton of fish deep yet, and there are fish in between. From zero to 30 feet you can catch a bass right now.”
However, Palaniuk said he’s going to concentrate on deeper water.
“I spent most of my practice fishing deep,” he said. “I think it will be won offshore, just because it can happen so fast. It’s nothing to catch 25 pounds in 30 minutes if you get on the right school.”
Palaniuk predicts a winning weight of 110 pounds.
This should be fun.
