A look at Lake Fork

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The 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series season finale, the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife, will be held this week on Lake Fork out of Quitman, Texas.
The 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series season finale, the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife, will be held this week on Lake Fork out of Quitman, Texas.
Texas Fest offers an increased first-place prize of $125,000 and a berth into the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic. The angler with the biggest bass of the week wins a Toyota Tundra. As the ninth and final event of the season, the Bassmaster Angler of the Year will be crowned and berths to the Classic will be mostly settled via the AOY point standings.
Texas Fest offers an increased first-place prize of $125,000 and a berth into the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic. The angler with the biggest bass of the week wins a Toyota Tundra. As the ninth and final event of the season, the Bassmaster Angler of the Year will be crowned and berths to the Classic will be mostly settled via the AOY point standings.
Lake Fork, a 27,000-acre impoundment of Lake Fork Creek on the Sabine River system, is the jewel of Texas’ famed bass fisheries. Impounded in 1980, Fork has 315 miles of shoreline, and the prominent vegetation is hydrilla, milfoil and duckweed. Also, 80% of the timber was left standing, providing excellent habitat but making running the lake difficult.
Lake Fork, a 27,000-acre impoundment of Lake Fork Creek on the Sabine River system, is the jewel of Texas’ famed bass fisheries. Impounded in 1980, Fork has 315 miles of shoreline, and the prominent vegetation is hydrilla, milfoil and duckweed. Also, 80% of the timber was left standing, providing excellent habitat but making running the lake difficult.
Competition days are Thursday through Sunday, with the Sabine River Authority serving as tournament central. Daily takeoffs are scheduled for 6:40 a.m. CT and weigh-ins set there for 3 p.m.
Competition days are Thursday through Sunday, with the Sabine River Authority serving as tournament central. Daily takeoffs are scheduled for 6:40 a.m. CT and weigh-ins set there for 3 p.m.
Lake Fork is known for trophy bass. It has produced 30 of the top 50 biggest Share Lunker bass caught in Texas, including No. 1, Barry St. Clair’s 18.18-pounder in 1992, pointed out by fisheries biologist Michael Baird. The TPWD began an aggressive stocking plan in farm ponds before impoundment, and in all, there have been more than 14 million Florida-strain largemouth stocked in the lake.
Lake Fork is known for trophy bass. It has produced 30 of the top 50 biggest Share Lunker bass caught in Texas, including No. 1, Barry St. Clair’s 18.18-pounder in 1992, pointed out by fisheries biologist Michael Baird. The TPWD began an aggressive stocking plan in farm ponds before impoundment, and in all, there have been more than 14 million Florida-strain largemouth stocked in the lake.
There were plenty of big doings at last year’s Texas Fest on Lake Fork, where two anglers broke the 100-pound total over four days to earn Century Belts. On Day 1, Luke Palmer’s 8-pound, 12-ounce bass tied for big fish.
There were plenty of big doings at last year’s Texas Fest on Lake Fork, where two anglers broke the 100-pound total over four days to earn Century Belts. On Day 1, Luke Palmer’s 8-pound, 12-ounce bass tied for big fish.
Chad Pipkens held the lead after each of the first two days, catching 31-15 then 30-15. Pipkens put on quite a show for Bassmaster LIVE, including Day 2’s biggest bass at 8-11, a “new personal best.” After two days, he stood 11 pounds ahead of the field, but his magic spot dried up and he struggled on Day 3, eventually finishing eighth.
Chad Pipkens held the lead after each of the first two days, catching 31-15 then 30-15. Pipkens put on quite a show for Bassmaster LIVE, including Day 2’s biggest bass at 8-11, a “new personal best.” After two days, he stood 11 pounds ahead of the field, but his magic spot dried up and he struggled on Day 3, eventually finishing eighth.
Before the event, Garrett Paquette of Michigan offered his guess for the winning weight, one of many topping the century mark. The last time anglers weighed in more than 100 pounds in B.A.S.S. was 2013 at Texas’ Falcon Lake.
Before the event, Garrett Paquette of Michigan offered his guess for the winning weight, one of many topping the century mark. The last time anglers weighed in more than 100 pounds in B.A.S.S. was 2013 at Texas’ Falcon Lake.
The unique format of Texas Fest requires judges to weigh and enter the fish, with the anglers releasing all but one fish above the lake’s slot of 16 to 24 inches. Paquette, reading the scale to verify a weight to be entered in BASSTrakk and his scorecard, had one day under 25 pounds and finished with 101-15. He earned one of the Century Belts but never realistically challenged for the title.
The unique format of Texas Fest requires judges to weigh and enter the fish, with the anglers releasing all but one fish above the lake’s slot of 16 to 24 inches. Paquette, reading the scale to verify a weight to be entered in BASSTrakk and his scorecard, had one day under 25 pounds and finished with 101-15. He earned one of the Century Belts but never realistically challenged for the title.
That’s because Brandon Cobb ran away from the field with 114-0. After Day 1’s second-best limit of 31-11, Cobb fell to sixth with 14-7 then jumped more than 7 pounds atop Paquette after his monster Day 3 of 37-15.
That’s because Brandon Cobb ran away from the field with 114-0. After Day 1’s second-best limit of 31-11, Cobb fell to sixth with 14-7 then jumped more than 7 pounds atop Paquette after his monster Day 3 of 37-15.
Cobb, who landed an 8-8 and 8-13, needed 20 minutes to entice an 11-1 to bite around 2 in the afternoon. That fish earned him a Toyota Tundra, and he was an ounce short of a third 30-pound bag on the final day of fishing for his eye-popping total.
Cobb, who landed an 8-8 and 8-13, needed 20 minutes to entice an 11-1 to bite around 2 in the afternoon. That fish earned him a Toyota Tundra, and he was an ounce short of a third 30-pound bag on the final day of fishing for his eye-popping total.
“That was the most amazing four days of fishing I’ve ever had,” Cobb said. “When you set the hook at Lake Fork, you never know what you’re in for. I’ve wanted to go back there since the moment we rolled out of town.”
“That was the most amazing four days of fishing I’ve ever had,” Cobb said. “When you set the hook at Lake Fork, you never know what you’re in for. I’ve wanted to go back there since the moment we rolled out of town.”
The 2020 Bassmaster Angler of the Year race will be decided this week. Tennessee pro David Mullins is atop the standings after eight events with 623 points, with Minnesota pro Austin Felix in second with 618 and Texas veteran angler Clark Wendlandt third at 607.
The 2020 Bassmaster Angler of the Year race will be decided this week. Tennessee pro David Mullins is atop the standings after eight events with 623 points, with Minnesota pro Austin Felix in second with 618 and Texas veteran angler Clark Wendlandt third at 607.
Coming off a win on Chickamauga Lake, Lee Livesay is rolling and itching to fish on the lake where he guides. While there’s a tight battle for the final AOY spots to get inside the cut to qualify for the Classic, Livesay is on the outside and needs to win at Fork or one of the remaining Opens for a berth. He will be among a number going for broke to receive the win-and-in berth. “This is going to be a tournament where you can catch them any way you want to — deep, shallow, in between; south end, north end, middle,” Livesay said. “I think everything is going to play, and it’s going to be good.”
Coming off a win on Chickamauga Lake, Lee Livesay is rolling and itching to fish on the lake where he guides. While there’s a tight battle for the final AOY spots to get inside the cut to qualify for the Classic, Livesay is on the outside and needs to win at Fork or one of the remaining Opens for a berth. He will be among a number going for broke to receive the win-and-in berth. “This is going to be a tournament where you can catch them any way you want to — deep, shallow, in between; south end, north end, middle,” Livesay said. “I think everything is going to play, and it’s going to be good.”
Bassmaster LIVE will cover the event each day on Bassmaster.com and ESPN3. Championship Sunday will feature additional live coverage on ESPN2. Check local listings for details.
Bassmaster LIVE will cover the event each day on Bassmaster.com and ESPN3. Championship Sunday will feature additional live coverage on ESPN2. Check local listings for details.