Lake Fork Fishing Report - Late Summer Grind and Hot Spots for Bass, Crappie, and Catfish

This is Artificial Lure with your Saturday, August 23rd, 2025 Lake Fork fishing report. We’re rolling into the late summer grind, and anglers are waking up to a clear sunrise at 6:45 a.m. today, with sunset set for 8:03 p.m. The weather’s dialing back a bit after yesterday’s scorcher, topping out near 96 this afternoon—still hot, but the breeze from the northwest might give brief relief across the main lake.

Lake Fork is holding steady at just under half a foot below pool, with water temps ranging from 86 up to 95 degrees depending on your location. Visibility is cloudy to clear in most arms right now. If you’re headed out, there’s no active weather advisories—just bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

Early risers are still finding a solid bass bite on shallow grass and riprap around docks and walkways. Chatterbaits and square bills in shad or blueback patterns have been the big producers, especially in 1–4 feet of water. This window flattens out by mid-morning, but if you move out to the first drop-offs—think 5 to 8 feet—switch to Texas rigs or Carolina rigs with big worms or flukes. Green pumpkin or watermelon red’s getting bit, and the bite’s even better if you find a patch of windblown grass.

By late morning, deep crankbaits like Strike King 6XDs or DD22s in chartreuse with blue back have been effective over channel bends, road beds, and the humps scattered in 17–25 feet. That’s where a lot of the better-quality fish are coming from, especially on main-lake structure near SRA Point and out by Little Caney. Guide reports, like from Marc Mitchell’s outfit, are seeing a decent average for August—anglers landed several fish in the 3- to 5-pound class over the last two days, and at least two in the 7-pound range.

Crappie are holding steady on brush piles and standing timber in 18–25 feet—live minnows have been best. A couple locals in Big Mustang brought in limits and caught fish pushing 2 pounds. For catfish, according to Chris Whitaker’s guided hand fishing trips, the night bite is heating up. They’re running cut shad and chicken liver tight to the creek channels after dark and pulling plenty of eaters with the occasional big blue to keep things interesting.

There’s been some chatter about monster gar up toward the back ends of Birch and Running Creek. Folks targeting them are using cut bait and heavy tackle, and at least one crew filmed a catch with LakeForkGuy just yesterday—head up that way if you want to tangle with a true Texas dinosaur.

If you’re bringing kids or want a multispecies day, don’t overlook the docks and walkways at Val’s Landing early for sunfish and a lucky bass or two; a small popper or live worm under a float will put a smile on any face.

Hot spots today:
- SRA Point humps—deep crankbaits for bass
- Big Mustang—brush and minnows for slabs
- Little Caney—early topwater, late deep bite

Best lures and bait:
- Chatterbaits, square bills, and flukes early, deep crankbaits and Texas/Carolina rigs midday
- Live minnows for crappie, cut shad or chicken liver after dark for cats

Today’s tide isn’t a factor for us, but with warmer temps and a gentle breeze, fish are feeding early then moving deep; timing is everything.

That’s your boots-on-the-ground report for Lake Fork this Saturday. Thanks for tuning in, y’all—don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss what’s biting. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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