LAKE FORK GUIDE ANDREW GRILLS

Trophy bass fishing on world famous Lake Fork

Tag – santone jigs

Lake Fork Guide Report

Although it hasn’t really felt like it, it’s getting close to summertime here on Lake Fork! It’s been a longer spring season this year as far as fishing patterns go. Starting with the big freeze around Valentine’s Day, then all the cooler than normal weather in March, I believe it got the fish behind on schedule. That’s been a good thing overall, and made for some better fishing later in May than usual.

Right now we’re dealing with a lot of extra water. The rainfall total for the last couple of months has to be close to record setting. SRA had no choice but to let us get full, and there have been a few times we got a little above pool. That’s been a huge blessing to the fish and many of us who enjoy fishing the shallow cover. Many fish that would normally be venturing out to their offshore haunts at this time of year are still in shallow water.

As the temperature warms up, I believe a lot of fish will transition to typical summertime patters. I love the deep offshore bite on Lake Fork. I’ll be looking at deep points, humps, and other types of structure. When I find them grouped up, I’ll usually have a Santone football jig as my first option. Then I’ll try other techniques like deep cranking, Carolina rigs, and big spoons. You just have to experiment to see what works best in any given situation.

The water temperature right now is in the upper 70’s. It will be climbing over the next few days I’m sure. The water level is still slightly above full pool. 

Good luck on your next fishing trip, and if I can be of any assistance please don’t hesitate to contact me. Here are some recent big bass we’ve had in my Skeeter here on Lake Fork!

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Lake Fork Report

July ended being a good month for my customers and I here on Lake Fork! It was great to see some customers catch their personal best bass, and several of those were on father/son trips. I always enjoy those!

 

The lake is in good shape right now, just under 1′ below full pool. The water temperature is in the mid 80’s. The fish are on deeper offshore structure for the most part, but there are still some fish that stay shallow throughout the summer. The Santone football jig has produced several big fish this past month, as usual. The jig is such a great bait on Lake Fork because we have an abundant crawfish population. A couple weeks ago, we caught a fish with a big, bright red pincher sticking out of his throat!

 

We’ve also been using some Texas rigged plastics, Carolina rigs, and even topwater on some days. I just try to keep an open mind every day, because you never know how you may end up catching them. The key has been finding something the crowds have overlooked.

 

Here are a few nice fish we’ve put in the boat recently. If I can be of any assistance on your upcoming trip to Lake Fork, please let me know!

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Lake Fork Summer Report

Summer has set in here on Lake Fork. It feels like it’s gonna be a hot one this year! The fish started transitioning into summer patterns a couple weeks ago, but there are still some shallow fish to be caught for sure. 

Right now the water level is full. That’s great for the fishery, especially this time of year. Every bit of cover we can have available for the fry from this years spawn  is important. Water temperature is now in the low to mid 80’s. 

We are transitioning from the more shallow patterns of spring, to traditional summertime fishing. While fish can still be caught shallow all summer, the majority of the quality bass will be deeper.

 

We are already finding bass on deep offshore structure, and many more will show up out there soon. The depth they are holding really just depends on the area of the lake, but at the time of this report most of the deeper fish seem to prefer a depth somewhere from 15 to 20’. I find them a little more shallow on the upper ends of the lake.

 

There are many techniques that can be effective, but my favorite is a jig. I have caught more big bass on jigs than I can remember, and we are already catching some this year with it. It hangs up a lot, so you’ve gotta be clever at getting them back, but that’s part of it when it comes to fishing this lake.

 

For the jig, I always use a Santone football head jig. I use several different colors. My favorites are “beans and carrots”, “pb&j”, and “Mexican heather”. If the water is clear, ” bullfrog” is my top choice.

Be safe out there this summer, and if I can be of any assistance, please let me know. 2020 has been a trying year for our country, and this verse has been on my mind a lot. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

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December Lake Fork Report and Big Bass Pictures!

As you can see from the pictures below, we’ve had some big fish recently! November wasn’t quite the numbers month it had been in years past, but it turned out to be a great month for big bass. Each big fish we boated came from deep, offshore structure.

The water temperature right now is in the mid 50’s. Hopefully it continues to go down. The fishing is better for me when we have a normal winter. The water level is about 1.5′ below full pool. As of right now, the deeper fish are holding around 20′. However, we are at the time of year where I start to go a little more shallow.

It’s no secret that I love the winter months. Winter is all about quality over quantity. Being cold blooded, they do slow down in the winter. Although, big bass, especially the females, have to eat in order to maintain their body weight and support the developing eggs they’ll be laying in spring.

Big bass always like deep water access close by, but this seems to be more important in the colder months. Big fish will position in areas where the can move vertically to change depth and still relate to the bottom. A ledge is a perfect form of structure for a bass in the winter. If the sun is out and warms the surface a bass can easily rise in the water column to “soak up some rays”. However, if a cold front comes along, all the fish will need to do is drop down a few feet to a more stable temperature.

Creek channels, ditches, and drains are prime areas for the bigger fish in winter. I like the 8-12′ depth best, but will often target areas in shallow water if conditions call for it. The presence of aquatic vegetation is a big bonus. The grass will hold some warmth from the sun, produce oxygen, and provide as cover for protection.

I’m looking forward to the next couple months. Winter is nice and quiet around here. I enjoy having the lake to myself and the anticipation of that big bite! Remember, the Texas State Record Largemouth was caught on Lake Fork in January!

Check out these giant Lake Fork bass! There are no two pictures of the same fish.

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Fishing the Santone M-Series Jig on Lake Fork

The leaves are falling and so is the water temperature! That gets me excited, because the cool months are my favorite for big bass. The Santone M-Series jig is a top producer for me in cold water.

 

I’d like to share when, where, and how I fish the M-Series. These factors are extraordinarily important when jig fishing, especially on Lake Fork. The vast amount of standing timber can make it seem like searching for a needle in a haystack. There are also times to put the jig down and opt for a different approach. My goal is to help you narrow it down and simplify what many find to be a difficult technique to learn.

 

In my opinion, fish seem to bite jigs best during the colder months leading up to the prespawn period. A football jig is a major player here throughout the summer and fall. however we are focusing on a traditional pitching jig for now. I usually check the jig bite in late October, but it doesn’t seem to become a viable pattern until mid-November. The early jig season is usually very productive because the fish aren’t seeing jigs go by on a daily basis and don’t seem as conditioned to the technique.

 

I continue to fish a jig regularly throughout most of March, but when the water warms and fish are comfortable venturing from ledges towards spawning areas the effectiveness of the technique seems to wane. An increase in fishing pressure may have something to do with it or it could be a transition in their primary forage base. I have had customers catch some really big fish later in the spring on jigs, however the numbers of bites are much lower and there seems to be better ways to catch them.

 

As for determining where to fish a jig, I try to imagine the lake has zero standing timber and look for structure bass should be relating to in the winter and early spring. The stumps are just a bonus as cover. Fish use areas such as points, secondary points, and creek channels as they stage on their way to bedding areas. They then use the stumps as cover for safety and ambush of prey, but keep in mind they are there because of bottom contour, not cover.

 

I find that sharp breaks are most productive throughout the cold periods. Bass seem to want to be close to deeper water as cold fronts are passing through on a regular basis during the winter. You will find this on the edges of points and secondary points, but most importantly along the creek channels. Creek channels are highways for the bass and baitfish as they travel to their springtime haunts, and they provide deep water access as well. Ditches and drains are just as important to pay attention to. Any area with a low spot where water would run to the original channel prior to impoundment is likely to hold some fish.

 

Often, the hardest channels to read are the best. We can usually look at the standing timber and get a good idea where the creek channel is. The gap in heavily timbered areas, leaning stumps (as leaning stumps often lean over the creek), and the presence of live oak stumps can help you identify the original creek channel. Live oaks are often the biggest stumps in a given area and grow near a water source. Built in maps or map chips on your depth finder can sometimes point you in the right direction, however they are rarely accurate as to the exact location of the channel. I also pay attention to where the trot lines and jug lines are set if I am in an unfamiliar area, as they can sometimes help lead you to the channel. Learning how a particular channel runs takes time and patience, but it is worth the effort.

 

Being near the creek channel, drain, or ditch isn’t enough. I have found that boat positioning is a critical factor in success. I like to keep my boat in the deeper channel and cast to the top of the ledge and bring the jig back as it rolls over the tree roots descending down into the channel. If the low spot or channel is too narrow I will position the boat outside of the channel and cast across it, making sure to work down the outside bends. The outside bends often have the steepest ledge due to the original current flow prior to impoundment. I always get excited when fishing the outside of hard channel bends, as these seem to be prime big fish hangouts.

 

Creek channel fish can be in a wide range of depths. In any given creek, I believe there will be small wolf-packs of prespawn females staging in various areas along the way. Some may feel comfortable where the channel is 8′ deep and the top side of the ledge is 4-6′, and others may be in areas where the channel is as deep as 25′ closer to the mouth of the creek. The key is the ledge.

 

I feel that the presentation is a matter of confidence. Most anglers I have guided or fished with tend to fish a jig much faster and with more of a hopping motion than I do. I find that an extremely slow crawl works best for me. Even though I’m creeping the jig along, I still feel the bite is a reaction bite, in that most of my strikes come as the jig rolls over a root or branch. With the slow approach, it gives you the opportunity to sneak the jig up to the bass without it feeling or hearing it coming. Often, if I work through an area slowly garnering a few bites, I will go back through it with a more aggressive “stroking” type retrieve to see if I can pick up a few more reaction bites.

 

The M-Series is my favorite pitching style jig. The “arkie” style head design will hook fish right every time. Certain head designs naturally turn during the hookset. This results in poorly hooked fish. You don’t get too many bites jig fishing, so you don’t want to lose any. The M-Series solves that problem. Jigs are cheap, and I would make my own before I would use or promote a product I didn’t believe in.

 

Hopefully this information helps give you some confidence in jig fishing. Right now is a great time to catch a giant bass on a jig. As always, feel free to contact me if I can be of any assistance on your upcoming trip to Lake Fork.

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Lake Fork Report, July 14

The big ones just keep coming! There have been a few more tough days in the mix the past two weeks, but I’m still impressed with the quality of fish we are catching here on Lake Fork. This has been an above average summer as far as fishing goes, and the lake is in great shape.

Lake Fork is still holding steady at full-pool. That is highly unusual this time of year. This tends to make the fishing in the summer a little more difficult, but it is excellent for the overall health of the lake. My customers often comment on how healthy the lake looks. Water color is nice, the shorelines are green, and the bass are chunky. The water temperature is in the mid 80’s.

This must be the year of the Santone jig. I don’t recall a summer that I’ve caught more bass on football jigs. The fact that I love throwing a jig might be the reason we’re doing so good with it, but other guides have been having good success as well. This may also be a factor in the quality of fish we have been catching. The jig gets big bites. That’s why I love it.

Color doesn’t matter one bit. If it did, I wouldn’t be posting pictures of fish mouths with my favorite color Santone jigs lodged in their throats! If one color was important, I’d keep that fact to myself. Green, black, brown… they’re working.

Other techniques are producing well too. I’m also doing a good deal of cranking, and others are getting bit on carolina rigs, spoons, and (yuck) drop shots. 15-25 feet deep is the range. I know that is vague. While one specific depth is going to be best, you’ll find some a little deeper and some a little more shallow.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you’re planning a trip to Lake Fork. I’ll help any way I can. July is flying by. Next thing you know it’ll be hoodie time. Be sure to get your fall and winter dates reserved ahead of time.

Here are some recent good days on the water!

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And incase you missed it, we had a 42lb bag a couple weeks ago!

 

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Giant Bag on Lake Fork! 42lbs 7oz.

42lbs 7oz for our best five bass on Lake Fork! What an incredible day! I’ve had several great days where our top five breached 40lbs, but never in June. Fishing has been great for big fish lately, but this was an extra-special day.

You’ll see I caught a few good ones too. Don and Frank insisted I fish as well. Anytime a “sweet spot” was identified I turned around and casted the opposite direction. I only caught 4 out of the 25-30 fish for the day. Don broke his personal best twice!

Our weights were as follows (pounds/ounces): 9.4, 9.1, 8.9, 8.5, 7.4. We also had one that I caught that would’ve culled the 7.4, but probably would’ve only added a pound. We didn’t weigh that one, so I didn’t include it in the top five.

We caught almost every single fish on a Santone football jig. We caught them from 15′ deep down to 25′. If you’re coming to Lake Fork, or choosing on of the Lake Fork guides, I hope you’ll give me a call and let me help you on your upcoming trip.

Here are some of our fish from the big day.

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