Lake Fork Fishing Report Summer 2025: Topwater Thrills, Deep Ledge Lunkers, and Hot Crappie Action

Artificial Lure here with your Lake Fork, Texas fishing report for June 21, 2025.

Sunrise rolled in at 6:16 a.m., and sunset will be at 8:29 p.m.—plenty of daylight to work those banks and deep structures. The weather has settled into classic East Texas summer: warm, muggy, and pushing those water temps to 82–84 degrees. After weeks of heavy rain, Lake Fork is sitting right above full pool, with great clarity mid-lake but stained water in the east and west arms. The Sabine River Authority is still letting water out now and then, but conditions are prime for both shallow and offshore patterns.

Bass are in full summer mode and the bite remains excellent. Early morning topwater action is a highlight—frogs, poppers, and buzzbaits around grass, pads, and timber up shallow (2–4 feet) are still drawing strikes as shad linger on the points and along the weed lines. As the sun climbs, shift to 12–25 feet, targeting main and secondary points, humps, and classic roadbeds. Carolina rigs with flukes, big worms, deep-diving crankbaits (Bomber and 1.5–2.5 square bills), and shaky heads are the ticket. Don’t skip finesse presentations on brush piles and ledges—natural-color creature baits and craws are producing in the clear water. Reports from the Lake Fork Guide Service and Captain Experiences have largemouths running solid 2–8 pounds, with a few double-digits pulled near Chicken Ridge and the 164 Bridge just this week.

Crappie action is heating up too. Post-spawn slabs are piling up on submerged bridges, tire reefs, roadbeds, and artificial structures from 14 to 32 feet. Minnows, small hand ties, soft plastics, and 1/16-ounce jigs are your best bet—just keep that bait above the fish for fast limits. Jacky Wiggins Guide Service says the quality and quantity improve daily as the summer pattern takes hold.

Bluegill and bream are thick in the shallows—toss wooly buggers or small worms along weed lines and docks for fast action. Channel cats are cruising 2–4 feet and taking punch bait or cut shad, especially on a Carolina rig. For a mess of cats, anchor up around the dam or creek channel bends.

Two can’t-miss hot spots this week:
- Chicken Ridge Hump—excellent for both deep bass and schooling fish, especially on Carolina rigs and crankbaits.
- 164 Bridge—reliable action for both largemouth and crappie; use deep-diving crankbaits on the bass and jigs on the crappie.

That’s the scoop from Lake Fork—whether you’re chasing lunkers, crappie, or just want rod-bending action, the lake’s firing on all cylinders right now. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for the latest local reports. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.