Return
to home page
Boy, what a cold front! A lot of cold nights and cold days. It’s the day after Christmas and I’ve got to fish two days this week. It’s going to get in the 60’s each day, so there should be some active bass each morning and each afternoon on the deeper grass beds. I’m going to use a ½ ounce Johnson spinnerbait slow rolled on the outside of the grass beds. I like to try to bump the edges with the slow stop and go retrieve. I will also hop a ¼ ounce jig down the slope of the grass. These two methods have produced some really big bass for me and for my clients this time of the year.
After fishing the grass early, I will move to the creek channel. I like to look for areas where the sides are 10 – 12 feet deep, falling into an 18 – 20 foot creek channel. I prefer to use 1 ¾ ounce spinnerbait or a ½ ounce jig along the creek sides. This is how I caught my biggest bass on Lake Fork.
During the middle of the day, some good bass can be caught on jigging spoons in 25 – 35 foot of water. This is really hit and miss on the bass bite, but boy, you can catch a lot of yellow bass and crappie to eat!
January looks really good this year because of all the good grass. There will be a lot of the warmer days that some great fishing can be had on Rattle Traps and Spinnerbaits. Come February, look out! If you want a giant bass this can be the month to really catch some of the biggest. You just have to be prepared for cool to cold weather and be ready to work hard.
Give us a call to get your trip set up for the day you want. The spring bookings always get going right after New Years. So call soon to get your spring fishing trip set up.
Last year was the best for big bass in the last 8 years, and 2005 shows promise to be even better. Next fishing report will be in 2 weeks
Great Fishin’
Mark, Barbara and A.R.
A R Sachtleben sachtl@lcii.net 903/765-3619
Mark Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net 903/765-3120
Barbara Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net903/765-3120
Well, the Skeeter tournament is over with and that means it is time to night fish. The lake is full, which means August and September should be extra good fishing. I have fished three nights during the dark of the moon and it was great! We boated 57 bass on lizards and jigs. We had a 9-1, 9-13, 4 over 8 pounds, 3 over 7 pounds, and the rest ran from 3 1/2 to 6 1/2 pounds. We lost 2 more big fish that broke off. We also got bit by mosquitoes... until we loaded up with Off!
The day fishing has been good from about 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 in the morning, then it slows down. Most of the fish are coming from 20 foot to 27 foot on worms, jigs, and Johnson 3/4 ounce spinnerbait.
Small bass from 10 inches to 14 inches can be caught on the grassbeds with 4 inch worms Texas rigged or a wacky worm on light line. These fish normally slow down about mid morning too, but a lot can be caught if you hit a school as it moves through the grassbed.
This looks like it is going to be a great year for the August and September night fishing. The chances of a good bass (over 9 pounds) at night this year have really gone up, with all the Florida bass that the T.P.&W. stocked 4 & 5 years ago. Most of the bigger bass are coming off of timber, but the grass fish should start as the water clarity clears up a little more.
This year, August, September, and October, we will be doing Catfish trips over baited holes. A lot of fun and good eating. Also doing 1/2 day trips on Lake Tawakoni for Sand bass, Hybrids, and Stripers. Lots of action! 60 - 90 fish in the morning and your off the water before it gets to hot!! Call for details.
Good fishing
Mark, Barbara and A.R.
P.S. As soon as the computer will download our camera's (slight glitch) we will have some good pictures to display.
A R Sachtleben sachtl@lcii.net 903/765-3619
Mark Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net 903/765-3120
Barbara Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net903/765-3120
The second wave of bass moved in 5 days ago and more are coming in. It's supposed to be in the 30's tonight so that will slow them down a little. The water temp. is still 65 today and they bite topwaters all day long. The spawn should last until the first week of May.
I’m starting to find more spawning fish at the mouth of the coves and the main lake. When this happens there will be some big fish caught soon. Lots of fish are being caught sight fishing, but I'm catching most of my bigger fish backing off and casting a topwater, Senko, or lizard to the shallow water and working it out to the 5' water.
For the rest of April and May the topwater bite will get better and better. We still have some good days in May left, so if you want to get in some great topwater action give us a call.
The last week of May will start our good worm and jig fishing time. If you like to catch‘em on plastics and jigs, this is the time to come down.
Current baits
1. Yellow Magic
or Pop'R - Shad or chrome colors
2. Senko - Green
Pumpkin, Watermelon, Watermelon/Red flake
3. Mad Man lizard
- Black/Red flake, Tomato Shad
June we will start night fishing so plan now so you can get the night you want.
Good fishing
Barbara, A.R., and Mark
A R Sachtleben sachtl@lcii.net 903/765-3619
Mark Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net 903/765-3120
Barbara Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net903/765-3120
It's the first week of December and it's finally cooling off. The water is 59-60 degrees and that means there will be a good rattletrap and spinnerbait bite for about 2 more weeks. What this cooler water temperature also means is that the jig bite for the bigger fish will be starting up.
Right now we have been catching 2-7 lb bass in shallow grass beds on rattletraps and spinnerbaits. Then when the wind lets us, we have been fishing the 20' to 28' deep creeks and ledges. Most of these fish are coming on Texas rigged worms, Carolina rigs and Johnson Jiggin Spoons.
I have started fishing the jig on the creeks and humps really not a lot of bites but they are good fish. This will really improve in the coming weeks. If you want to jig fish for a big one or learn more about jig fishing now is the time. Call for a jig trip for the next 3 weeks.
Baits:
Mark Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net 903/765-3120
Barbara Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net903/765-3120
Summer is almost over, June and July really produced some fine day and night fishing. August night fishing was really good or pretty slow.We caught a lot of small fish during the day, but the larger fish in the deep water really slowed down.
Now we are getting some rain and the first cold front is on the way. September will produce a lot of good days with the lake level up and lots of grass for the first time in many years. We are already seeing a lot of schooling bass along the creeks and grass.
Mid September until the last of October will produce a lot of big fish in the shallow water. We are starting to catch good fish along the grass and shallow creeks on Johnson Buzzbaits, Yellow Magic, Yamamoto Senko’s, and light weighted Texas rigged worms.
From October to the end of November jig fishing in a little deeper water along the creeks and treelines will produce more really big bass. In fact, from whatwe saw this spring, there should be a bumper crop of bass over 8 lbs.
I almost forgot the other bait that has produced many good fish on the grass. It’s a 10” worm with a light weight. ( black/blue tail and blue fleck)
I
really feel this is going to be the best fall we have had in many years.
All the millions of Florida strain bass that TP&W has been stocking
for the last five years are really going to
show up this fall.
Baits that will produce this fall: 1/2 & 3/8 oz. Johnson Jigblack/blue and pumpkin neon. 10” wormsblack/blueblue fleck,plum,red shad. Yellow Magicshad color. 1/2 oz Rattletrapchrome/blue,Smokey Joe. 1/2 oz Buzzbaitwhite andchart/white.
Give us a call and book soon, lets go catch some fish.
Good fishing, Mark
A R Sachtleben sachtl@lcii.net 903/765-3619
Mark Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net 903/765-3120
Barbara Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net903/765-3120
April 11, 2003
___
3. A nice bass caught by David fishing
with son Daniel and Barbara.
4. My 9lb. 8 oz. bass caught while
fishing with David and Daniel.
And a good St. Patrick's day
of fishing for Hanz & Tim
Enjoyed it, see you next time.
A R 
March 13, 2003
Let's go fishing,
Barbara, Mark & A R
A R Sachtleben sachtl@peoplescom.net 903/765-3619
Mark Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net 903/765-3120
Barbara Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net903/765-3120
December 9, 2002
I fished a lot before and after Thanksgiving
and with the exception of one day, the fishing was really good for good
slot fish. 4-9 pounds. Most of these bass were caught on Johnson
1/2 oz. spinnerbait, 1/2 oz Trap, and Stevenson Lake Fork Jig. These fish
came off of main lake grass beds and timberlines, 4-10 ft deep. They
were some of the healthiest fish you ever hope to catch. This kind
of fishing should last until around Christmas.
The deep fish are really stacked up but the size hasn't really gotten good yet, but on a good day, you can catch a lot of fish. I'm catching them on spoons, worms and jigs at a depth of 25 ft to 35 ft. These fish are on the humps, off of points and some creek bends.
The crappie fishing is great. If you want to get some great eating fish, call and set up a trip for the next 4-5 weeks. I've got all the crappie tackle, just show up and lets go catch some.
Right now is a great time to catch a really big fish. Put on the warm closhes and give me a call.
Forecast 12/09/02 to 12/31/02 - Good shallow fishing on the grass beds for quality fish. Good chance of some really big fish if you really fish for just big fish. Good deep water fishing for numbers and every once in a while a big one.
My 2001 boat is for sale, if you want a good buy on a fully rigged 901 CDC Nitro, give me a call at 903/765-3120
Good fishing,
Mark
A R Sachtleben sachtl@peoplescom.net 903/765-3619
Mark Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net 903/765-3120
Barbara Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net903/765-3120
The McDonald's tournament has come and gone. This tournament marks the start of the fall big bass fishing and is a good indicator of the condition of the lake. It shows what is to come. There were lots of fish caught and a lot of fish over the slot. Some 12's were caught and lots and lots of slot fish. One fish was caught that weighed over 12 lbs and was only 23 7/8" long. A friend of mine had one on the first day that was 23 3/4" and was bigger around than it was long. He turned it loose and went on fishing. He caught around 65 fish for the rest of the tournament.
We fished in the rain last Wednesday & Thursday. We caught 29 & 26 bass on spinnerbaits. We had a lot of 4-5 lb fish and an 8 & 9 pounder.
This November & December are going to be really good for big slots and a really good chance to catch a 10 pound plus fish if you will spend the time to fish for bigger fish and not worry about catching lots of fish. If our clients want better bass or a chance to catch a big one, we will be fishing a jig, a 3/4 oz spinnerbait and a jigging spoon. These will be our main big fish baits. The jigging spoon will also catch yellow bass, crapie and catfish.
We are starting to see a lot of movement by bass into the creeks. This is where a lot of big fish will start to come from for the next 2 months. I've seen 2 schools of 5 pound plus fish schooling at the mouth of creeks this last week. That will get your blood boiling. This fall is really going to be good. The bass are in the best shape that we've seen in 6 or 7 years, and we've caught more 8 pound plus fish this year than we have in 5 or 6 years.
We are also doing the crappie trip we offered last year. The kids loved it. We fish about 8 hours, furnish the tackle for 3 people, and clean the fish for $ 225.00.
Give us a call and lets go catch some fiah. Lake Fork is back for Big Bass.
Mark, Barbara & A R
A R Sachtleben sachtl@peoplescom.net 903/765-3619
Mark Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net 903/765-3120
Barbara Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net903/765-3120
Right now we are catching them early in the backs of creeks and then moving to the deep water late, or you can start deep and stay that way the remainder of the day. Either way will get some good fish for you.
In the last few days A R's and Barbara's clients have hooked some big fish over 10 lbs. on spoons in about 25' of water. I've been catching my better fish on a 1/2 oz. Johnson Pumpkin Neon Jig and a Johnson 3/4 oz. Charreuse / White spinnerbait, also around 25' deep.
The shallow bass are the best on a light weighted brushhogs around the grass. Getting some good blowups on a buzz bait, but they are really hard to stick.
We are starting to book and run night trips and looks like it's really going to be a good 2 1/2 months for it. Barbara has been out twice and has done pretty good on plastic. I'm fishing the next 3 nights and will update after these trips. With grass in parts of the lake, there should be some good spinnerbaiting at night. Of course the big worms and jigs should also do good.
Give us a call if you would like a cool night trip.
July Forecast:
Days - Should be as good as last year. The deep fish will be bunched up and ready to go. In fact the deep fishing will be better than June.
The crappie trips we've had have been very steady. If you want to bring the kids, this is a good way to get them started fishing.
Nights - July and August are usually the best. We have some of out best nights with little or no moon.
Let's go fishing,
Mark, Barbara & A R
A R Sachtleben sachtl@peoplescom.net 903/765-3619
Mark Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net 903/765-3120
Barbara Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net903/765-3120
Mike
Tom
___
___
Jeremy & Berkley
All fished with A R in the last
week or so.......Let's go fishing,
A R, Mark & Barbara
A R Sachtleben sachtl@peoplescom.net 903/765-3619
Mark Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net 903/765-3120
Barbara Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net903/765-3120
___
Jeff
with nice 8 lb fish with guide Barbara Stevenson.A R Sachtleben sachtl@peoplescom.net 903/765-3619
Mark Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net 903/765-3120
Barbara Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net903/765-3120
Congrats to all three ShareLunker fish and fishermen:
Jim Harrell of Texarkana -- 16.12 on a plastic lizard.
Johnny Six of Tulsa -- 15.65 Jig and pork trailer.
Richard Scharninghausen of Cudahy, Wisconsin -- 13.91 on a plastic lizard.
Let's go fishing,
Mark, Barbara & A R
A R Sachtleben sachtl@peoplescom.net 903/765-3619
Mark Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net 903/765-3120
Barbara Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net903/765-3120
Wow, 3 ShareLunker fish in 1 Day -- 13.91, 15.65 & 16.12 ----
1 weighed in at Lake View Lodge, 1 at Minnow
Bucket & 1 at Oakridge. We have no more details yet, but what
a day for Lake Fork!
It's the first week of March and the water is the coldest on average than I have seen it in many years. There are a lot of good 3 1/2 to 7 lb bass in 1 to 4 feet of water.
We're catching them on Traps and Johnson 3/8 oz white spinners with gold blades. Most of the fish are hitting the best real real early around scattered grass and some wood. A lot of the days the blade works best slow rolling it throught the grass and the bites come as you rip the bait out of the grass. I've been having the best luck on a chartreuse trap or a red/chartreuse one.
The rest of the day we are throwing plastic. A lizard, a tube, and a soft plastic jerk bait are working the best. Good colors are black/red flake, watermelon, pumpkin or green pumpkin. The big key is slow, almost deadsticking it. Again the shallow depths seem to produce the most bites.
The water temp is in the low 50's but the first wave of bass are ready to spawn. We just need 3 or 4 warmer sunny days without much wind. If you get in a real calm spot in the back of a creek with fairly clear water you can see some fish swimming around, so they are ready just not warm enough.
BEST BAITS:
1. 3/8 oz White Johnson Spinnerbait
2. 1/4 oz Texas Rigged Black/Red Flake
or Watermelon Lizard.
3. 1/2 Trap Red or Red/Chartreuse
4. 3/8 oz. Carolina Rigged Centipede with
18" leader.
FORECAST:
Last half of March -- Fish moving onto beds.
April -- Because of the full moon the last or March and full moon the last of April, April this year should be absolutely great. There will be numbers of fish caught & a lot of big ones.
May -- With the grass growing and the late spawn this month will be like last year, lots of good topwater and jig fish.
Let's go fishing,
Mark, Barbara & A R
A R Sachtleben sachtl@peoplescom.net 903/765-3619
Mark Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net 903/765-3120
Barbara Stevenson stevensn@peoplescom.net903/765-3120
Have a look at our:
'01
Lake Fork Fishing Report
'00
Lake Fork Fishing Report
'99
Lake Fork Fishing Report
'98
Lake Fork Fishing Report
'97
Lake Fork Fishing Report
Click to return to home page
