Help with Spring Trip to Lake Fork

[Fishnski48]

I'm trying to plan a 4 day trip to Lake Fork Spring  of 2021 ( most likely Tues - Sat) and was hoping to find the best time to be there.  I have been told last week of March, first weeks of April? 

There will be 3 or 4 of us going and I looked at a couple of places to stay (see below) and would appreciate it if someone has any recommendations and name of a great guide for us.  We'll be flying in and can bring our own equipment but no boat.

 

https://www.vrbo.com/821042?adultsCount=3&arrival=2021-03-23&departure=2021-03-27&unitId=1368980

                                                                          or

https://www.vrbo.com/1338106?adultsCount=4&arrival=2021-03-23&departure=2021-03-27&unitId=1896442

 

Or anything else you might suggest.

 

Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions....We're hoping to have a great fishing trip!

[Sprocket]

I have been staying at Lake Fork Marina the last 20 or so years.  Super clean, recently remodeled rooms, awesome tackle shop, great restaurant, two ramps and really nice people that own it.  They have a list of reputable guides on their website and a lot of the better guides generally go out of there.   Need to make reservations now for late March, early April.  Especially with a guide as all the good ones will be booked solid. 

 

Retired grass grower

[Fishnski48]

Thanks, that helps a lot and it sounds as if it is the right spot to go for my first trip there.

[ifish4bass]

4 of us have been going to fork from MN with our boats for last few years. We have gone mid or end of March and have found fish pre spawn and on beds both time frames. The weather temps play a big role there but you can find bedded bass from March to may some years. 
it’s a fun time a good lake to fish. 
I do recommend if boating on your own spend the few bucks for lance vicks boating lane chip. Will help you navigate around all those trees in that lake! 

[jbsoonerfan]

Yep, weather is unpredictable in March at Fork. I have been 2 times in March. One time it was perfect weather, too perfect actually. Fish were lock jawed and deep still. That was with a guide, so we took his word for it that they were still deep (we wanted to fish shallow). Second time we fished about 2 hours on the day we got there and caught a few decent fish. Woke up the next morning to 20-30 mph N winds and snow. It snowed for 2 days straight. We watched the NCAA tourney our entire stay instead of fishing. 

[Catt]

I've been fishing east Texas for 50+ yrs, weather this time of year is unpredictable!

 

When packing your clothes, pack everything from down insulated snow suits to shorts & flipflops.

[Fishnski48]

Thanks folks.. We were able to book for April 5th - 9th (6th through 8th with a guide) and we're hoping for the best.  Our first E Texas trip. The guide gave us the same clothing options.. snow suits to flip flops and rain gear.. sounds like it might be a little unpredictable..LOL

[Larry S]

What Guide are you using??  Myself on a typical year I would rather be there in March . EXPECT it to rain!! Don't worry the fish don't care how wet you are though ! lol Now this year as of today the water is silly cold Texas had an abnormally strong cold spell and pretty much iced Fork over which don't happen often. Stay in the boat lanes when on plane, there are trees all over the place. 

[Fishnski48]

Thanks for the heads up.  I am using Mike McFarland and staying at the Burning Stump lodge.  With ice up Mike said that our timing should be excellent for the spawn.  He said expect rain.. and I hear you.. the fish will tell us being wet isn't all that bad  LOL

[TnRiver46]

We camped on the ground at the minnow bucket marina when I went in 06, although I think they have cabins as well. And a cool bait shop with like a 13 lb bass in a tank! We were there mid March and the wind blew so hard at one point it restarted our fire in a downpour........... And the fire was from the day or two before, pretty scary! But everything is truly bigger in texas, including wind gusts. 
 

we took nothing but my old Jon boat w trolling motor, dropped one rod into the water night fishing, but eventually got on some decent fish. My biggest was about 6 lb on a texas rig finesse worm.......... there were people ripping fish into the boat that were much bigger than 6, tons of boats had step ladders on the front deck. I also recall seeing a giant bass following my ex girlfriends rooster tail and chomping down on it multiple times. I was freaking out yelling “set! Reel! You got him!” And she said she never felt a bite haha

[Fishnski48]

17 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I also recall seeing a giant bass following my ex girlfriends rooster tail and chomping down on it multiple times. I was freaking out yelling “set! Reel! You got him!” And she said she never felt a bite haha

Was the fact that she didn't set and reel a cause for the "ex" factor  LOL.  I'm stoked looking forward to this trip.  Since the Phoenix area has limited lakes the fishing pressure has been unreal.

 

They say the lake is big (as in Texas big) and that there should be some good 5 pounders on a regular basis... I hope they're right!

[Larry S]

McFarland is a great dude. Very good fisherman and can teach you about anything you don't know and want to learn about .. Lake is big but it isn't really Texass big .  26-27 thousand acres or so. One thing that is going to really help Fork this year and in a few years to come is all the attention OH ivy is getting.  That will draw a lot some of the pressure off fork.  Good luck and we want to see pics!!! 

[Fishnski48]

Thanks for the good news on Mike and Lake Fork..  I hope everyone goes to OH Ivie when I'm in TX ?.

There will be pics when we get back!