Lake Fork Fishing Report - Big Bites and Summer Patterns

Artificial Lure here with your Lake Fork, Texas fishing update for June 22, 2025.

The sun rose this morning at 6:16 a.m., and you can expect it to set at 8:29 p.m., setting the stage for another heater of a summer day in East Texas. Temps are pushing into the upper 80s and the water temperature is holding steady between 78 and 84 degrees depending on where you’re fishing. The lake’s just above full pool, with water stained in the arms and clearer mid-lake—perfect for a variety of techniques.

Bass action remains excellent, especially in the early hours and late evening. The shad are still thick along points and grass edges at daybreak. If you’re hitting the water early, tie on a topwater—frogs, poppers, or buzzbaits—and work them over shallow grass, lily pads, and flooded timber. According to local guide Marc Mitchell, you’ll get explosive strikes in 2–4 feet of water right after sunrise, especially with some wind pushing bait onto the points.

As the day warms, move out to main-lake and secondary points, roadbeds, and humps in 12–25 feet. Carolina rigs with flukes or big worms—especially in watermelon red or chartreuse pepper—are getting bit hard. Shaky heads, deep-diving crankbaits, and big football jigs in colors like Pake’s Perch, Mexican Heather, and JC’s Spicy Craw have all produced solid catches, including several largemouths in the 2–8 pound class this week, and reports of double-digit fish coming out near Chicken Ridge and under the 164 Bridge. Don’t be afraid to pick up a drop shot when the bite gets finicky, especially on deeper brush piles or isolated timber.

Crappie fishing is heating up too. The summer pattern is in full swing with big slabs stacking up on brush piles, tire reefs, and artificial structures in 16–26 feet. Minnows, soft plastics, and small hand-ties are all working. Channel cats are cruising shallows, 2–4 feet, and are taking clousers or punch bait.

If you’re looking for hot spots, Chicken Ridge is lighting up early and late, while the 164 Bridge and nearby roadbeds are loaded with fish midday. The east and west arms are a little more stained, but the big girls are still holding tight to cover—hit those lily fields and hydrilla with a frog, especially around midday as the bass push deeper to beat the heat.

Best bets for lures today: topwater frogs and buzzbaits at first and last light, Carolina rigs and football jigs for offshore fish, and drop shots or shaky heads for a finesse bite. Natural colors get the nod in clear water, with chartreuse and spicy craw patterns coming on strong.

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