Dock talk at Lake Fork

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You can’t come to Lake Fork Reservoir without making a stop at the classic mom-and-pop bait shops. Crappie Haven is a standout. Here you can pick up bait and a BBQ sandwich, cooked on a pit inside an old engine manifold. All captions: Craig Lamb
You can’t come to Lake Fork Reservoir without making a stop at the classic mom-and-pop bait shops. Crappie Haven is a standout. Here you can pick up bait and a BBQ sandwich, cooked on a pit inside an old engine manifold.

All captions: Craig Lamb

Behind Crappie Haven is a public boat ramp, on the west arm of the lake. It’s where Andy Crawford and myself set out to find out about one burning question about what might come down in the Land of the Giants.
Behind Crappie Haven is a public boat ramp, on the west arm of the lake. It’s where Andy Crawford and myself set out to find out about one burning question about what might come down in the Land of the Giants.
Will someone win a coveted Century Belt for breaking the 100-pound mark? After all, it is April on the premier trophy fishery managed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. Here’s what we found out from the anglers launching on the upper west side of the lake. We report the facts, you decide whether or not it’s just dock talk.
Will someone win a coveted Century Belt for breaking the 100-pound mark? After all, it is April on the premier trophy fishery managed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. Here’s what we found out from the anglers launching on the upper west side of the lake. We report the facts, you decide whether or not it’s just dock talk.
Brandon Lester: “It’s going to be an all-out sight fishing extravaganza,” said Lester. “There are a lot of fish actively spawning.
Brandon Lester: “It’s going to be an all-out sight fishing extravaganza,” said Lester. “There are a lot of fish actively spawning.”
“The last two days I’ve been covering water, marking as many beds as I can,” said Lester. “I’m trying to find beds that are tucked away, that don’t stick out, that somebody else hasn’t already found.”
“The last two days I’ve been covering water, marking as many beds as I can,” said Lester. “I’m trying to find beds that are tucked away, that don’t stick out, that somebody else hasn’t already found.”
“The interesting dynamic here is that you are going to be releasing the same fish you just caught, where you caught it,” said Lester. “On Day 2, you are probably going to be sight fishing for a fish that was caught the previous day, or even more as the tournament goes on.”
“The interesting dynamic here is that you are going to be releasing the same fish you just caught, where you caught it,” said Lester. “On Day 2, you are probably going to be sight fishing for a fish that was caught the previous day, or even more as the tournament goes on.”
Shane LeHew: “There a lot of bed fish, so there is going to be a lot of bed fishing going on this week,” said LeHew.
Shane LeHew: “There a lot of bed fish, so there is going to be a lot of bed fishing going on this week,” said LeHew.
“There will be a lot of doing that, and so many that the fish will really be spooky,” said LeHew. “Downsizing my lure choice will be a big deal.”
“There will be a lot of doing that, and so many that the fish will really be spooky,” said LeHew. “Downsizing my lure choice will be a big deal.”
“I’m going to be using this Berkely PowerBait Chigger Craw for my bed fish,” said LeHew.
“I’m going to be using this Berkely PowerBait Chigger Craw for my bed fish,” said LeHew.
Greg DiPalma: “The dominant pattern will be bed fishing,” said DiPalma. “Today it seemed like a lot of females moved up and are hovering around the bedding areas.”
Greg DiPalma: “The dominant pattern will be bed fishing,” said DiPalma. “Today it seemed like a lot of females moved up and are hovering around the bedding areas.”
“Today was a different day,” said DiPalma. “That cold weather overnight must have done something to them, as in the opposite because they did not move out. The water temperature only dropped about two or three degrees.”
“Today was a different day,” said DiPalma. “That cold weather overnight must have done something to them, as in the opposite because they did not move out. The water temperature only dropped about two or three degrees.”
“I think if you can make it to the weekend it’s going to be crazy,” said DiPalma.
“I think if you can make it to the weekend it’s going to be crazy,” said DiPalma.
Jason Christie: “There is a little bit of everything, but not a lot of everything going on out there,” said Christie. “For me, it’s one of those deals where you can get bit doing whatever you want.”
Jason Christie: “There is a little bit of everything, but not a lot of everything going on out there,” said Christie. “For me, it’s one of those deals where you can get bit doing whatever you want.”
“I know the history of this lake and if you are not catching big ones, then you’ve got to go do something else,” said Christie.
“I know the history of this lake and if you are not catching big ones, then you’ve got to go do something else,” said Christie.
“It’s a hard lake to fish because you really don’t’ know if you need to be fishing for 25, 30 pounds or even more for a daily limit,” said Christie.
“It’s a hard lake to fish because you really don’t’ know if you need to be fishing for 25, 30 pounds or even more for a daily limit,” said Christie.
Rick Morris: “Most of the fish are on the beds; some are coming off,” said Morris. “Power fishing is not happening, so a lot of guys are looking for beds.”
Rick Morris: “Most of the fish are on the beds; some are coming off,” said Morris. “Power fishing is not happening, so a lot of guys are looking for beds.”
“I’ve seen a few on beds, but I’m not going to do that,” said Morris.
“I’ve seen a few on beds, but I’m not going to do that,” said Morris.
“I’m doing some non-bed fishing things and had 20 pounds doing that,” said Morris. “I’m just trying to gain on some points.”
“I’m doing some non-bed fishing things and had 20 pounds doing that,” said Morris. “I’m just trying to gain on some points.”
Garrett Paquette: “The spawn was delayed with the cold weather, and we are in the midst of the spawn,” said Paquette. “There are 3- to 4-pound fish everywhere on the bank.”
Garrett Paquette: “The spawn was delayed with the cold weather, and we are in the midst of the spawn,” said Paquette. “There are 3- to 4-pound fish everywhere on the bank.”
“It’ll be the guy a guy who sets up where the big females are going to be moving in, and he probably won’t even know it until it happens,” said Paquette.
“It’ll be the guy a guy who sets up where the big females are going to be moving in, and he probably won’t even know it until it happens,” said Paquette.
“They are going to just keep coming in, and I think you’ll see 35-pound limits come from all over the place,” said Paquette. “I think guys will catch them on the shad spawn, and even offshore. It’ll come down to whether or not the wind and clouds will set up just right.”
“They are going to just keep coming in, and I think you’ll see 35-pound limits come from all over the place,” said Paquette. “I think guys will catch them on the shad spawn, and even offshore. It’ll come down to whether or not the wind and clouds will set up just right.”
Drew Cook: “Dean Rojas had better watch out, because I think his record could be broken this week,” said Cook. “I know I could’ve done it the first day of practice.”
Drew Cook: “Dean Rojas had better watch out, because I think his record could be broken this week,” said Cook. “I know I could’ve done it the first day of practice.”
“There is only one bait that I will be using, and that will be a Big Bite Baits Dean Rojas Fighting Frog,” said Cook.
“There is only one bait that I will be using, and that will be a Big Bite Baits Dean Rojas Fighting Frog,” said Cook.
Justin Atkins: “We are going to blast them; this place is full of big fish,” said Atkins. “It seems like the shad are going to try and start spawning.”
Justin Atkins: “We are going to blast them; this place is full of big fish,” said Atkins. “It seems like the shad are going to try and start spawning.”
“It’s going to be a smash-fest; I just hope I can try and keep up,” said Atkins. “The biggest deal is being able to keep pace with everyone in weight.”
“It’s going to be a smash-fest; I just hope I can try and keep up,” said Atkins. “The biggest deal is being able to keep pace with everyone in weight.”