Lake Fork cheat sheet
Every fish, the licence and the slot, the bass rigs and the one box of tackle. One page to take to the water.
Lake Fork
February to May is the trophy window. Autumn is the strong second window. Summer is deep, at dawn, dusk and after dark.
Licence
You need a Texas fishing licence (freshwater package). Buy it at tpwd.texas.gov, the Texas Outdoor Annual app, or a marina, tackle shop or Walmart. Non-resident freshwater about $58 for the 2025–26 licence year (TPWD, 2026). No separate freshwater stamp.
The bass slot
The rule that defines the lake: largemouth 16 to 24 inches (about 41 to 61 cm) must be released immediately. Keep under 16 in or over 24 in; only one over 24 in a day; five bass a day total. Carry a bump board.
The freezer fish
Crappie 10 in (about 25 cm) minimum, 25 a day (Mar–Nov; Dec–Feb no minimum and all kept). Catfish (channel and blue) 25 a day, only 10 over 20 in (about 51 cm). Wet hands, release the slot bass quickly.
Bank vs boat · season · time → rig
| Fish | From the bank / causeway | From a boat | Best time | Rig |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass (cover) | Limited; some causeway and park margins | Yes, the way to fish it: timber and grass | First and last light; spring spawn | Texas rig or a flipping jig |
| Largemouth bass (points/ledges) | No | Yes, on the channel edges and points | Dawn and dusk; pre-spawn and autumn | Carolina rig, crankbait or swimbait |
| Largemouth bass (pressured/shallow) | No | Yes | Low light, clear water | Ned / wacky / neko |
| Crappie | At the causeway and bridge pilings | Yes, the timber and brush | Spring best; year-round | Light jig or minnow to the timber |
| Catfish | Yes, the banks, causeways and parks | Yes, the channels and flats | Warm months; after dark in summer | Bottom rig (catfish rig style) |
| Sunfish | Yes, the shallow margins | Yes | Spring to autumn, warm shallows | Small float and bait |
Bank only is a crappie, catfish and sunfish trip. A boat is how you reach the trophy bass.
The rigs
Fluoro 12–17 lb (or braid + fluoro leader) → sliding bullet weight 3.5–14 g (1/8–1/2 oz) → offset/EWG hook 2/0–5/0 → soft plastic 10–18 cm (4–7"), weedless
PalomarBraid 30–50 lb → sliding weight 10–28 g (3/8–1 oz) → bead → swivel → fluoro leader 12–17 lb, 45–75 cm (18–30 in) → offset/EWG hook → soft plastic
Palomar (swivel, leader and hook)Light line → mushroom finesse jighead → small soft stick bait
PalomarLight line → wacky hook through the middle of a stick worm, no weight
PalomarLight line → finesse hook + a small nail weight in the worm's head
PalomarStrong main line → running-leger weight → bead → swivel → leader → wide-gape/circle hook + cut bait
PalomarWhat you need
One medium bass outfit and a box of soft plastics, hooks and weights build the bass rigs. The bump board is the one thing you must not forget.
The knots
| Knot | Ties | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| Palomar | Hook, swivel, jighead; strong on braid and fluoro, the workhorse. | Every bass rig here |
| Non-slip loop | A fixed loop at a hard bait or jighead for free movement. | Swimbaits, crankbaits, a jighead (optional) |
Learn the Palomar first; it ties almost everything here. Wet every knot before you pull it tight.
This one page is the printable I take to the water.
Give me an email and I will show it to you, ready to print. A one-page reference: what's on by month, the licence and rules, a rig for every fish, the shared tackle box and the knots.
I'll send you the cheat sheet, and email you when I add a new place to fish. Nothing else.