Artificial Lure here, fresh off the water with your Lake Fork fishing report for Monday, April 21, 2025.

Day kicked off with a cool morning around 55 degrees, and we warmed up fast into the low 70s by the afternoon. Expect partly cloudy skies, a light southeast breeze about 5 to 10 miles per hour, and a stained lake holding near full pool. Water temps are running in the low to mid-60s in most areas, ticking up close to 66 degrees in pockets getting the most sun. Sunrise was at 7:12 a.m., and sunset’s set for about 7:47 p.m.

Bass fishing is good and Lake Fork is right in the thick of the spring spawn. Largemouth are shallow—most fish showing up in 1 to 4 feet, especially on the warmer, windblown banks with some grass or vegetation nearby. Look for them staging and bedding around flooded weeds, submerged wood, and on the edges of grass flats. If you’re after numbers, cast chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, or Texas-rigged soft plastics like flukes and creature baits. The hot color’s been watermelon red and green pumpkin in that stained water. Don’t overlook the topwater bite in the early morning—walking baits and frogs over the matted vegetation have been getting some explosive strikes. If you want a big female, flip a wacky-rigged Senko or a bulky beaver-style bait around the outside edges where those bigger fish hang back.

Crappie fishing has been hit or miss with the weather swings, but when you find them, you can load the boat. Some days they’re tight shallow in less than 5 feet, other days they’ve backed off to timber or brush in deeper water. Best bets have been jigs or small minnows. Fly anglers are getting some on small Clouser minnows around the shallows too.

Bream have moved up shallow as well—wooly buggers and small live worms are catching some big ones. Channel cats are cruising in 2 to 4 feet and biting small jigs or cut bait.

Best lures right now: chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, Texas rigged plastics, topwater frogs, and soft jerkbaits. For crappie, go with small jigs or minnows.

A couple of hot spots to check:
– The grass flats and flooded timber east of Little Caney Creek, especially around the edges where the sun warms up the water
– The main lake points and secondary points off the birch and mustang arms, where bass are moving in and out to spawn
– Don’t overlook the shallow brush around the 515 bridge for a mixed bag of crappie and bass

With the lake near full and stained, focus on lures that give off plenty of vibration and flash. Remember, fish are on the move, so keep logging those casts, cover water, and don’t be afraid to change up if you strike out in one area.

Tight lines to everyone—see you on the water!