Ets Lake Fork Fishing Report (2024)

FAQs

Where are the crappie biting on Lake Fork? ›

Crappie anglers concentrate their efforts in deep water near the dam during the winter months. In late spring and early fall, most anglers fish for crappie under the bridges (Highway 154, Highway 515, CR 2946 and CR 514). Live minnows and crappie jigs are among the most popular baits used.

The East Fork Lake Fishing Area offers quality fishing with excellent catches of largemouth and smallmouth bass and crappie, and fair catches of bluegill. For the sport angler, East Fork is stocked with hybrid striper. A fishing pier is located on at the North Shore Boat Ramp area.

The surface area of Lake Fork is normally 27,680 acres and has a maximum depth of 70 feet.

Water clarity is decent to about 1-3 feet in most areas. Water temperatures are fluctuating from 84-90 degrees on most of the lake right now with the very hot days sending some surface temps well into the 90's.

In stained water (coffee color or with tannic acid) with bright-light conditions, my four predominate crappie catching colors are: green, chartreuse, lime and orange. Lures that contrast two of these colors, or matching them with brown or white are great. Orange-white is good at times, but all-white is not so good.

The two primary baits are jigs and live minnows. Tie two jigs 12-18 inches apart and get to work. Use contrasting color jigs. The first few fish will likely choose one color over the other.

The lake has a daily limit of 30 crappie with a minimum length requirement of 9 inches. East Fork Lake (Clermont County) – Hybrid-striped bass have been stocked in East Fork Lake since 1983. A survey in the fall of 2023 found hybrid-striped bass up to 27 inches long and weighing 10 pounds.

Pick the right spot: Lake Fork largemouth love swimming in areas with lots of protection; think near rocks, under docks, near boat ramps, and in weed beds. This gives them cover and places to feed and spawn. If you can find the right spot, chances are good you'll find big fish.

Water depth at the dam is normally 113 feet, making it the second deepest lake in Ohio. The Summer Pool Elevation MSL is 733 and the Winter Pool is 729; the water level is typically lowered around September and begins refilling around March taking sometimes 6 weeks depending on local rainfall.

Lures like swim jigs, chatter baits, and lipless crankbaits can be very good. If the water is clear enough, a swimbait is my first choice. If there isn't any wind, I will pick up a texas rigged craw or creature bait and pitch around, or drag through the cover.

What is the crappie limit in Lake Fork? ›

Year-round daily bag limit is 25 crappie in any combination.

Completed in 1980, Lake Fork gained the reputation for being the hottest bass fishing lake in Texas after its first state record bass was caught in 1986.

Between the top and middle of the water column, which is typically between 10 and 15 feet, but changes according to the depth of the lake you're fishing in, is where you'll find bass under ideal weather conditions.

Lake Fork spent much of 2022 down more than 6 feet between drought conditions, evaporation, water demand and a drawdown for dam repairs.

Lake Fork is the holder of the Texas Largemouth Bass rod and reel state record since 1992. Barry St. Clair reeled in an enviable 18.18 lb beast that was 25.5 inches long. The hefty fella was so heavy that Barry thought he had hooked a log!

Docks and piers provide direct access to crappie because they span a range of depths and provide structure for the fish to relate to, often right below your feet.

Pick the right spot: Lake Fork largemouth love swimming in areas with lots of protection; think near rocks, under docks, near boat ramps, and in weed beds. This gives them cover and places to feed and spawn. If you can find the right spot, chances are good you'll find big fish.

In most places, the top choice is minnows. Other good bait options include worms, insects, and even small crawfish. When starting out, rig a few baits at different depths to find where the fish are holding. After that, fish on a bobber to stay near the surface or add some weight to hold deeper.

Look for deep holes with lots of timber in the water that reduces current. Find these locations and you may find crappies resting and feeding on the small fish and insect larvae that call these places home. Not only is this a great way to find unpressured, concentrated fish, but it also allows you to cover more water.