Lake Fork Guide

	Lake Fork Guide Shane Casey
	Lake Fork Guide Info 2006 Bass Cat Puma powered by a Yamaha 250 HPDI Top of the line electronics (Lowrance Color X-19) G-Loomis rods/Shimano reels Tackle provided Free digital photos 9-10 hour trips Beginners & children welcome Gift certificates available Rates $350/full day (9-10 hrs) $275/half day (5 hrs) $150 non-refundable deposit is required in advance. $125 3rd person or trail boat. Click here or call (972) 365-7642 if you would like to book a trip. Japanese Site	Lake Fork Guide Shane Casey (972) 365-7642 Cast & Blast Special Lodging at Whistling Wings

What to bring on your trip with Shane

After booking a trip with Shane, you will be notified with instructions of what to bring and what not to bring. Shane provides all rods and tackle, so you only need to bring drinks, snacks, and plenty of clothing. Shane also provides digital pictures and will email them to you, so bringing a camera is optional.

Shane's Rainout Policy

Some of my best fishing days have been rainy days, so I prefer to fish if it is not extremely cold or unsafe. I have enough raingear for everyone, but I prefer you bring your own if rain is inevitable. Since the weathermen are wrong so often, I don't trust them to adequately predict when it will be stormy. Therefore, the earliest I will call a rainout (especially on a high demanded day) is 30 minutes before we are scheduled to meet. If we are scheduled to meet and it is storming (or a hard rain), I will probably try to contact you to see if you want to wait it out, reschedule, or try to fish. If you don't hear from me, please try to contact me. It is likely that I will wait until I hear from you before getting my dry boat out of the storage. Sometimes just waiting a few minutes can be the difference between fishing out of a wet boat or a dry boat. In the event of an unsafe (stormy or icy) fishing day, we can schedule another trip at both of our convenience and your deposit will be applied toward the other day.

Rescheduling a trip with Shane

If for some reason you or your partner can't make the scheduled date and you give me at least a two week notice, I will allow you to reschedule without forfeiting your deposit. If you have a premium date (Mar-June or weekend) and need to reschedule but don't provide adequate notice for me to rebook, you can reschedule to a non-premium date (July-February weekday) without forfeiting your deposit.

Keeping Fish

One of the things that makes Lake Fork so good is the management of the fish regulations. At the current time, all largemouth bass between 16 and 24 inches must be released.
This means that most every fish between 2 1/2 and 9 pounds must be released. For fishermen, that means more big bass to be caught.
Although it is legal to keep a fish over 24 inches, Shane has a policy that all fish over that length be released. If you want to get a big fish for your wall, you can get a taxidermist to make a replica. That way, the fish lives and you still get a fish on the wall. Replicas last longer, smell better, and look better than dead fish mounts.
If you are interested in keeping fish for eating, you are allowed up to 5 bass per person under 16 inches. Shane prefers that you keep 11 to 14 inch bass and let the 15 and 16 inchers go. There are certain times that are much better than others for eating fish. The Fall is by far the best season. In the Fall, you can catch lots of small bass and even more yellow bass (barfish). Those yellow bass are even better eating than the black bass and you can keep everyone you want.

Group Trips

I can make arrangements to accomodate large numbers of clients. Advance notice will be required in order to coordinate other professional guides. Call or email with your request and we can discuss the details.

Fishing Hours

Full-day trips are typically from safe light until 4:00PM. However, fishing hours may be adjusted to revolve around peak feeding times.

January: 6:30AM - 4:00PM
February: 6:15AM - 4:00PM
March: 6:00AM - 4:00PM
April: 6:30AM - 4:00PM*
May: 6:00AM - 4:00PM
June: night trips only
July: night trips only
August: night trips only
September: 6:30AM - 4:00PM
October: 7:00AM - 5:00PM**
November: 6:00AM - 4:00PM
December: 6:15AM - 4:00PM

1/2-day trips:

5 hour trips beginning at first light or ending with last light

Night trips:

4:00PM to 1:00AM

*March hours until time change in March
**November hours after time change last Sunday of October

Lake Fork Information (TPWD)

Lake Fork Characteristics

Location: On the Sabine River in Hopkins, Rains and Wood Counties, 5 miles northwest of Quitman
Surface area: 27,264 acres
Maximum depth: 70 feet
Impounded: 1980

Lake Fork Water Conditions

Current Lake Level
Conservation Pool Elevation: 403 ft. msl
Fluctuation: Moderate, 2-4 ft.
Normal Clarity: Moderately clear

Lake Fork Reservoir Controlling Authority

Sabine River Authority of Texas
Box 487
Quitman, TX 75783
(903) 878-2262

Lake Fork Aquatic Vegetation

Hydrilla, Eurasian milfoil, coontail, American lotus, water primrose, water hyacinth and pennywort

Lake Fork Predominant Fish Species

Largemouth bass
White & black crappie
Channel catfish
Sunfish

Lake Fork Maps

A small map is available free of charge from the Sabine River Authority. A number of good topographic maps are sold by local businesses. Online topographic maps are also available.

Lake Fork Fishing Regulations

Largemouth bass and crappie at Lake Fork are subject to special regulations:
Largemouth bass are subject to a 16- to 24-inch slot limit. Bass 16 inches and shorter and 24 inches and longer can be harvested with a daily bag limit of 5 fish, of which only 1 fish can be 24 inches or greater.
During the months of December, January and February, there is no minimum length limit on crappie. Daily bag is 25 in any combination of black and white crappie, and all crappie caught must be retained (culling is not permitted.). In other months, crappie are subject to a 10-inch minimum length limit and a daily bag of 25.

Lake Fork Angling Opportunities

Largemouth bass are the most popular sportfish in this reservoir. A combination of restrictive harvest regulations, stocking of Florida strain largemouth bass, and good habitat has contributed to Lake Fork's development as one of the country's premier trophy bass lakes. More than 65% of the Texas Top 50 largest bass (including the current state record) and more than half of those entered in the Budweiser ShareLunker Program, were caught from Lake Fork. Crappie fishing is generally good, especially in standing timber and under the lake's numerous bridges. Channel catfish provide an excellent sport fishery, though this remains a well-kept secret. Sunfish, primarily bluegill, offer additional angling opportunities during spring and summer.

Lake Fork Fishing Cover/Structure

Flooded timber is found throughout Lake Fork and provides excellent fish habitat. Although access through the reservoir is provided by numerous buoyed boat lanes, submerged timber represents a substantial hazard, so care should be exercised while boating in all areas. Areas containing hydrilla, boat houses and docks, and lake points have historically provided some of the best fishing for largemouth bass.

Lake Fork Tips & Tactics

Largemouth bass anglers are most successful on this reservoir during the spring, fall, and winter months. Spinnerbaits, plastic worms and lizards, jigs and jerk baits are all popular baits during peak fishing in the spring (mid-February to April) when fishing is concentrated along the shoreline for spawning fish. Nightime fishing during the hot summer months can be very productive and a good way to beat the Texas heat. At this time, plastic worms, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and topwaters are often used. During late summer and early fall, when fish are schooling, crankbaits and topwater lures can be very effective. In winter jigging spoons, jigs and crankbaits are most productive.

Crappie anglers concentrate their efforts in deep water near the dam during the winter months. In late spring and early fall, most angler fish for crappie under the bridges (Highway 154, Highway 515, CR 2946 and CR 514). Live minnows and crappie jigs are among the most popular baits used. The catfish population is dominated by channel catfish, but also includes flathead cats. Stinkbait and cutbait work well for channel cats, while live bait is preferred for flatheads. Anglers occasionally catch large blue catfish.

Sunfish such as bluegill and redear can be caught in early summer, in shallow water, using crickets, earthworms and small spinners. During the remainder of the year they can be caught using the same baits around piers, boathouses and submerged humps.

Public Access Facilities

The Sabine River Authority (903) 878-2262 operates four public boat ramps and a free day use area. There are also numerous privately-owned access and accommodation facilities in the immediate vicinity of the lake. Accommodations range from motels and cabins to RV sites and tent camping. Individual facilities include services such as bait and tackle shops, convenience stores, fishing piers, gas pumps, and restaurants. For more details, choose a point on the map or a name in the chart below.

A1: Rains County Ramp & Marina
A2: Lake Fork Ranch
A3: Rolling Fork
A4: Axton's Bass City
A5: Val's Landing
A6: Lake View Lodge
B1: FM 17 Ramp
B2: Lake Fork Resort
B3: Stella's Campground & Marina
B4: Lake Fork Marina
C1: Tackle Factory
C2: Lake Fork Lighthouse
C3: Fisherman's Cove
C4: Pope's Landing
C5: Mustang Resort
C6: Martin's Resort
D1: Chaney Point RV Park
E1: Quail Hollow
E2: Hideaway Harbor
E3: Hurley's New Horizon
E4: SRA Day Use Area
E5: Highway 515 East Ramp
F1: Highway 154 Ramp
F2: Minnow Bucket Marina
F3: Oak Ridge Marina

Lake Fork Records

**This information was obtained from the TPWD site (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us) on 1/1/06. Neither the site owner nor the information, as it is presented, is endorsed by the State or any state agency.

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Lake Fork Guide