Fantasy Fishing: The strategic puzzle of Lake Fork

Written by

Solomon Glenn

Minnesota

Just like that, we are moving right along in the 2025 Elite Series season. Stop five takes us to another legendary fishery in Lake Fork, and this time we are bound to see some giant bass and giant bags. This year, the Elites visit Fork later than the last, and while there may still be fish spawning, the majority are likely going to be postspawn and even moving back out deep.

In 2022, Lee Livesay won on Fork with an unforgettable topwater bite a couple of weeks later than this go around, but I would not be mad about some more topwater action. Postspawn fish hanging around hard spots and other targets is my best guess at the dominating pattern, but there’s no doubt these guys will crush them.

With how much pressure Lake Fork receives on a daily basis and the numerous times the Elites have visited, there aren’t many secrets left. This year’s event will be all about timing and strategy. Getting the spot rotation just right may be the difference between a Top 10 and missing the cut.

Let’s get into some picks!

BUCKET A: PRZEKURAT

I feel like I sound like a broken record on this one, but Jay Przekurat is leading AOY, so it’s worked out good for me so far. Przekurat has been on fire, and I feel like he’s going to make a run at it by the end of the season. He’s been so steady that surely he’s due for a win. With big fish going to be in different transitions, I think Przekurat will continue to dominate. If you go back to 2022, Jay finished 74th; however jumped back with a Top 20 last year.

Solid secondary pick: Trey McKinney flat-out catches big ones and lots of them. While I don’t see it being as crazy as last year, I would expect to see McKinney hanging toward the top.

BUCKET B: PALANIUK

Big bass, big baits, and postspawn fish immediately makes my mind go to Brandon Palaniuk. With one win already this year, I could see him making a run a another. In 2022, Palaniuk finished runner-up to Lee Livesay and put on an absolute offshore clinic. This tournament will require adaptability, and Palaniuk is one of the best.

Solid secondary pick: I was very close to picking Jordan Lee first. He has had great success in Texas, and I know for a fact that he has an Elite win in his near future. He finished 15th last year, and I think this postspawn situation suits him even better.

BUCKET C: FOTHERGILL

It seems like everyone is hopping back on the Easton Fothergill train, and for good reason. After his Classic win, in a stump-filled Texas lake, Fothergill has gone back-to-back Top 10s on the Elites. His adaptability will be crucial this week on Fork, and even though he doesn’t have tournament experience there, I believe the confidence is back in full force and he will continue to ride the momentum.

Solid secondary pick: Tyler Williams could be a sneaky good pick for Lake Fork. He finished 4th last year, and Lake Fork truly fits his style. He normally does very well on all stump lakes, and the postspawn bite could play well in his favor.

BUCKET D: EBARE

Dakota Ebare has had a mediocre start to his Elite Series career, but we are finally going to his home state of Texas, where I think he will find his groove. Ebare is a master at finding the biggest fish in the lake, and when he gets on them, he is going for the win. Watch out when Ebare gets on a roll.

Solid secondary pick: Gerald Swindle finished 3rd in 2022 when the Fork event was held in May. I think this year’s event could set up similarly, and Swindle has had a couple of solid events this year.

BUCKET E: HACKNEY

Now that we’re midway through the season, once you get to Bucket E, most of these guys have been struggling, but there is always a couple that have a breakthrough event. Greg Hackney is always a threat even when he’s down in the standings. In the last three visits to Fork, Hackney always finished in the top 40, as well as 13th last time it was in May.

Solid secondary pick: Caleb Sumrall is really good at running and gunning and doing something off the wall. If there is a good concentration of shallow fish, I think he could do well.