ring fry

Fluke or swimming senko. Put a 3/16 oz. or larger bullet weight on it if you have to.

All my soft plastics, jig, and spinning reels are lefties. Everything else is right handed. On jigs and soft plastics I like not having to change hands in case there is that instant hit when the bait hits the water.

If it's on the inside of the plastic, I wouldn't. My old green crawdad had it under both ends for flotation. On my newer grey one, you can't see any exposed styro. If it's exposed I'd take it off. If not, I wouldn't.

Snaps on crank baits, jerk baits, and some topwater. I think it gives them a little more action. Snap/swivels, never.

C'mon, how did y'all do? SE Kansas grass grower

I made my first eight and a half hour trip to Fork in 1993. I made my second trip two weeks later. Since then, I've fished it 60+ times. Fork can be a blast and it can also kick your arse.

Hobby Lobby and Michaels can be your friends.

You all will do fine. After the way you guys did on that little lake over by Columbia a couple of years ago, you'll probably win the thing.

I was rooting hard for Watson and Freddie. Freddie had his chances but I couldn't root against Phil.

My favorite Lake Fork Tackle carolina rig bait. Have had it since they first came out. Maybe even a little before, a guide on Fork gave me some in a zip lock bag the first time I used them.

I think pork actually has better action in both cold and warm. HOWEVER, pork dries out so quick in warm weather that if you lay it down for an hour it gets stiff. There are so many more choices for plastic trailers that I haven't used pork in years in cold or warm water.

If you do get to take your boat and get tired of Jacksonville, run over to Nacogdoches and give it a try. Jacksonville is super clear, very little grass (as of a couple of years ago), and lots of boat docks. Nac. is usually a little off color, tons of grass, pads and some TOADS reside there. I don't think it's more than 30 minutes away, but I could be off a little.

Virgil Ward and Harold Ensley were pioneers in outdoor sports television. Harold Ensley did a quail hunting show on my grandfather's farm with my Dad and Grandfather once. Took time out to fish the farm pond for a while, too.

You can't go wrong with Fork or most other east Texas lakes for that matter. There are plenty of places to launch and fish good areas with a small boat. The last few years I've stayed at Fork, fished it and if the bite is slow or the wind is howling, I'll go to Quitman, Purtis Creek, Hollbrook, Athens, Winnesboro or a # of other smaller lakes in the area.

I manage a golf course and there was one here when I started. Tried it a few times and just didn't really like it. It is a biatch to use in swampy type areas and kind of a pain in the backside to go up and down hills. I'll stick to my Stihls and Red Max regular weed eaters. JMHO

I've got a TR-186 and love it. The 67# trolling motor should be fine as it's the same that I have on mine and does a great job. My only concern would be if you fish big lakes that get some wind with a 175. But if you're smart and don't try anything risky, it should be a good boat.

I would be willing to sleep with Nancy Pol......never mind. ;D

Forgot about Nac. Have caught some nice fish there and had my heart broken a couple of times on a couple of really big ones.

I love night fishing. But another thing I've learned is that from the strike, to the fight, to getting the fishin the boat, they shrink 3 fold! ;D

Pat Mayes - Powderly Lot of 3 to 6 pound fish. Buddy caught a 10# a few years ago. Always catch fish when I'm on my way back from Fork. Quitman - Quitman So close to Fork that non locals overlook this little gem. Clear Creek(?) - Cooper Small lake north of Cooper with a bunch of good fish Purtis Creek - Eustace Was a great lake before they killed the grass. My personal best came out of there. Jacksonville - Jacksonville Lot of good bass, clear water, and if you like docks...well there are plenty.

Never heard of them. ;D Wacky rig, texas rig, Carolina rig (my favorite), top water, and recently using it as a jig trailer. I know it sounds strange but it really has a good action and catches fish.

Buddy of mine has one. I borrowed it one weekend and it worked fine. It really worked well on deep hooked fish but I'm stubborn, sticking with my needle nose.

If LFM is full, try Rainswood. Clean rooms, boat ramp, excellent food and close to Birch. Good chance he's not full as he can be a little grumpy. Have stayed there many times. If worse comes to worse you can always stay up in Sulphur Springs. It's less than a half hour to the lake.

Greatest time of the year. ROCK CHALK!!! SE Kansas grass grower

Don't fish Grand much and haven't been there this year but the local reports are that the whites are really starting to move right now. The largemouth on that lake always seem to love spinner baits on windy points close to deep water. 1- seem to work well in the spring on spawning flats. I'll pay more attention to the radio fishing report that they do every morning and let you know if I hear anything exciting.