Lake Fork, Texas Trophy Bass Survey...A report of recently caught Lake Fork trophy bass.

Survey results can be found at TPWD's website:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/reports/forktrophysurvey.phtml

The survey entails the collection of data concerning Trophy Bass 8 lbs. and larger and 24 inches and longer. The survey is scheduled for a trial run, to work out any bugs, starting February 1, 2003. The official start date is scheduled for March 1, 2003.

All the major marinas on Lake Fork have been set up as official check stations. A meeting has been set up inviting all the fishing guides that service Lake Fork. The meeting will be at the Yantis Community Center on January 7, 2003 at 7:00 pm. Attending the meeting from the TPW will be Phil Durocher (Director of Inland Fisheries), Bill Provine (Chief of Inland Fisheries), Dave Terre (Regional Fisheries Director), Kevin Story and Randy Meyers( District Fisheries Biologists). The program will be explained to the guides and asked to participate by keeping logs on their boats and reporting their customer’s catches with the marinas. Those fishermen that don’t use guides are asked to take their information to participating marinas to have it recorded.

Randy Myers of the TP&W states, “ information is the key to sound management practices and this is a way to collect information that we would not normally get.” Dave Terre also of the TP&W says, “this program is a win-win situation for all involved. The TP&W, for the statistical information that it will receive, the marinas, fishing guides and fishermen in finding out and knowing the Trophy Bass are alive and well in Lake Fork. As far as we know there is no other program in the country like this. If it works out then it can be a tool we can use on other lakes.” Kevin Story also of the TP&W goes on to say, “ with this information we can fine tune and update some of our management practices. The information we will get from this will be invaluable.” Micheal Rogge of the Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association and the Lake Fork Chamber of Commerce had this to say, “ Lake Fork had a set back a couple of years ago with the LMBV (virus) but we knew that a large amount of big fish survived. This is a way to let everyone know. Not only will the TP&W get valuable information, it will benefit the entire lake economically. It will also kill any rumors that Lake Fork is dead as far as big fish are concerned. We need everybody’s help and cooperation in this program.”

The program is simple. All of the official check stations will have a form to collect the information. All of the participating fishing guides will have booklets on their boats to collect this information. All the ramps on the lake will have a poster posted stating where to find the official check stations.

Fishermen, DO NOT bring in fish that are in the slot! The forms have and actual and an estimated section for weight and length. If you have a scale on the boat and weigh the fish, it will be considered actual. If you have a measuring device on the boat and measure the fish, it will be considered actual. If neither of these items are on the boat then estimated figures will be accepted. Remember TP&W is looking for weigh + length. For example, if you catch what you think is a program fish, you measure it or estimate the length, then you either weigh it or estimate the weight. This is the information they need.

Remember, this is a win-win program for all. The TP&W, the Lake Fork Chamber of Commerce and the Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association thank you for your help.

FISH ON!! HOLY COW, GET THE NET!! GET THE NET!!! This is a cry heard on Lake Fork almost from the time the gates were closed and the lake started filling up in 1980, 22 years ago. That makes Lake Fork a very young lake in comparison to most lakes in Texas. Young as Lake Fork is, it has gained a reputation that has spread worldwide. It is known as the place to fish if you want to catch a fish of a lifetime. Little did the Texas Parks and Wildlife, Sabine River Authority, City of Dallas, or all the surrounding towns in Wood and Rains County know what was in store for them. Little did they know that in 6 short years, Lake Fork would produce it’s first state record Largemouth Bass, let alone in subsequent years, it would produce great numbers of large bass. To date, Lake Fork has produced 34 of the top 50 largest bass in the state. It had as high as 37 on the list and still holds the top six places. The current state record stands at 18.18 lbs., caught by Barry St.Clair on 1-24-92. In 1986 the Budweiser Lone Star Lunker Program was started with Ethel (17.67 lbs.), the first state record caught at Lake Fork, caught by Mark Stevenson on 11-26-86. Since that time Lake Fork has supplied the program with 201 fish over 13 lbs. or 59% of all the fish entered into the program.

When Lake Fork was in it’s construction phase, the Texas Parks and Wildlife started an aggressive program of stocking area brood ponds with the famed Florida Largemouth Bass strain of bass. This strain was known to produce large fish. Little did they know at the time what the outcome would be, but their goal was to bring Lake Fork along as a test lake for the Florida strain. They knew they would get big fish but never dreamed they would get what they got. The Florida Bass along with the fertile farm and timberlands that were covered when the lake was filled, spawned a lake ideal to producing monster bass. When TP&W realized what was happening to the lake, they started aggressive management programs. One of these was a slot limit on the size of fish that could not be retained. It now stands at 16-24 inches. They have also started restocking the lake with pure Florida strain fingerling bass, approximately 500,000 per year. They do regular shocking surveys and creel surveys.

Now a new program to gather information has been started with the cooperation of the Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association, the Lake Fork Chamber of Commerce, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. This program is designed to record and monitor trophy bass that are caught at Lake Fork. The program will include marina owners, fishing guides, and area businesses around the lake. What the program will entail will be the reporting of any fish 8 lbs. or larger and 24 inches and longer. Fisherman are asked to report to any official check station on the lake, any catch they make. These stations will be at all the major marinas on the lake. If a fisherman catches a fish 8 lbs. or larger (do not bring a slot limit fish in), they are asked to weigh and measure it, or if scales or a measuring device are not available, estimate the weight and length, then go to an official station and report it. It is not necessary to bring the fish in, only the information. The TP&W acknowledges that they are very limited in studying the large fish population with their current methods. They state that there is no other program like this anywhere and are excited about the wealth of information they can get from this study.

This program is a win-win situation for everyone involved, the merchants, the fishing guides, the fishermen and most importantly, Lake Fork. So let’s all get involved. This program will only work with your help.

Micheal Rogge