Lake Fork fishing report for the week of September 24, 2026. The fall transition is starting on Lake Fork. The days are shorter, the water is beginning to cool, and the shad are moving toward the backs of the creeks. The bass are following them, and the fishing is getting better every week.
What’s Hitting
What’s hitting this week is largemouth bass, which are following the shad into the creek arms and feeding on the surface early and late in the day. Some bigger fish are still holding offshore on the deeper structure. Crappie are stacking up on brush piles and around bridge pilings, and catfish are active throughout the lake.
Where to Find Them
Look for bass in the mid-sections of the major creek arms, like Glade Creek, Birch Creek, and Little Caney. Pay attention to points, flats, and timber near the channel. Watch for schooling fish on the surface in the mornings and evenings. Crappie are on the brush piles in 15 to 25 feet of water and around the bridges on Highway 154 and Highway 515.
Tides & Conditions
Water temperatures are still in the low 80s but are starting to drop, especially in the mornings. The lake level is an important factor on Lake Fork, so check the current level before your trip. Cooler nights are triggering more active feeding.
Tackle & Tactics
For bass chasing shad, a topwater walking bait, a lipless crankbait, or a shallow-running crankbait is a great choice. When the fish are schooling, a small swimbait or a spoon can be deadly. For the offshore fish, a Carolina rig, a deep-diving crankbait, or a football jig is effective. For crappie, a small jig or a live minnow fished vertically over brush works well.
Local Intel This Week
There are many public boat ramps on Lake Fork, including the ramps at the Highway 515 and Highway 154 bridges. Lake Fork Marina and several local tackle shops are good sources for supplies and information. Fish are concentrating in the creek arms and on the brush piles. Lake Fork has special slot limits for largemouth bass that differ from statewide rules, so check current Texas Parks and Wildlife regulations before keeping any fish.
This Week’s Tip
When you see bass schooling on the surface, have a lure ready that can be cast a long way and retrieved quickly. The action is often short-lived, so be ready to cast as soon as you see the fish break.
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