Lake Fork Reservoir fishing conditions · Texas

Now until 7 pmLargemouth bass

The bite peaks at 72.

Right now: 72 for largemouth bass, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Largemouth bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

723 pm
72
72
726 pm
58
58
589 pm
58
58
58Sun
58
58
583 am
58
58
586 am
58
58
589 am
58
58
5812 pm
58
58
583 pm
58
58
586 pm
58
58
589 pm
58
58
58Mon
58
58

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: No reading
Wind: 0 mph
Light: Daylight
Sky: Mostly Cloudy
Air: 68°F
Barometer: Falling
Moon: 5% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Texas regulations for these waters.

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

72Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Release 16–24".

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Largemouth from 16 to 24" must be released; bass 16" and under may be kept, and only 1 of 24" or longer a day. 5 black bass a day combined.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Lake Fork

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

72Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

10" minimum · 25 a day (Mar 1–Nov 30); 25 a day (Dec 1–Feb 29)

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Mar–Nov: 10" minimum. Dec 1 to the end of February: no minimum, and every crappie caught must be kept. 25 a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Lake Fork

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Nov–May, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on crappie

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

72Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

25 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No minimum length, 25/day channel and blue catfish in any combination, only 10 of them 20" or longer. Texoma is 15 a day; Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend 50 a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Texas

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Feb–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish

Blue catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

72Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Blue catfish bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Holds 10–60 ft down.

Keep

25 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No minimum length, 25/day channel and blue catfish in any combination, only 10 of them 20" or longer. Texoma is 15 a day with only 1 blue 30" or longer; Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend 50 a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Texas

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on blue catfish

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

72Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Texas sets no statewide bag or length limit for fish not on its list, common carp included. Grass carp are a regulated exotic with special harvest requirements.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Texas

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
Barometer30.14 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunset today5:26 pm
Sunrise tomorrow6:46 am
MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
Minor solunarToday 3:50 pm–4:50 pm
Major solunarTonight 10:20 pm–12:20 am
Minor solunarTomorrow 5:50 am–6:50 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Texas Parks & Wildlife publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

Texas's premier trophy-largemouth lake, about 80 miles east of Dallas — it has produced most of the state's top-50 record bass. Flooded timber and creek channels hold giants; crappie and catfish round out the fishery.

Texas, lake-specific: largemouth from 16 to 24" must be released — keep bass 16" and under, plus 1 of 24" or longer — 5 black bass a day. Crappie are 10" Mar–Nov; Dec 1 to the end of February there is no minimum and every crappie caught must be kept, 25 a day.

WaterReservoir
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesTexas
WhereWood County · 32.8400, -95.5500

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Lake Texoma98 mi · TexasBest now until 7 pm

72Worth the trip

Broken Bow Lake103 mi · OklahomaBest now until 7 pm

100Go

Sam Rayburn Reservoir150 mi · TexasBest now until 7 pm

82Worth the trip

Toledo Bend Reservoir157 mi · LouisianaBest now until 7 pm

82Worth the trip

Lake Conroe167 mi · TexasBest now until 7 pm

82Worth the trip

Lake Eufaula170 mi · OklahomaBest now until 5 pmFrost Advisory

69Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Lake Fork Reservoir?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Lake Fork Reservoir you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Lake Fork Reservoir?

Lake Fork Reservoir is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Lake Fork Reservoir?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Lake Fork Reservoir against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Lake Fork Reservoir have?

Lake Fork Reservoir has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Texas, lake-specific: largemouth from 16 to 24" must be released — keep bass 16" and under, plus 1 of 24" or longer — 5 black bass a day. Crappie are 10" Mar–Nov; Dec 1 to the end of February there is no minimum and every crappie caught must be kept, 25 a day.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Lake Fork Reservoir?

state agency regulations apply at Lake Fork Reservoir. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Lake Fork Reservoir tidal water?

No. Lake Fork Reservoir is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.