Lake Fork Fishing Report: Transition Bites and Fall Patterns

It’s Artificial Lure here with your Lake Fork fishing report for Saturday, November 15, 2025. At sunup, which hit around 6:53 a.m. with sunset forecast for 5:22 p.m., mild weather set the stage—temperatures started in the high 50s, warming to the low 70s, mostly clear skies, and just a touch of light wind out of the north. No tidal swings to worry about on a reservoir like Fork. Lake Fork water’s holding steady at a normal stain and a cool 68 degrees, sitting about a foot and a half below pool. We’ve had those first few real fall cold fronts sweep through, so the bite’s a little tricky—expect it to slow down directly after a front, but pick back up fast when the days get stable again, as reported by the North Texas E-News. Bass are in their full fall transition; you’ll see ‘em cruising shallow early, gorging on big schools of shad before pulling back out a bit deeper as the sun comes up. Folks fishing this week did best on spinnerbaits in white or black and blue, bladed jigs, and squarebill crankbaits around shallow grass, reeds, and standing timber, especially in 3-7 feet. Casting a Texas-rigged creature bait or a jig up tight to submerged wood is pulling good bites too. If you’re working main lake points, try a DT-10 crankbait in muted shad, or drag a Carolina-rigged worm off deeper breaks. According to the Bass Pro Tour’s rundown of top performers, don’t overlook a 3/8-ounce bladed jig or a flipping craw worked in the timber—those are putting big fish in the boat. Local guides are still seeing plenty of 5-pounders, and a few double-digit bass have been logged in recent weeks. Crappie are getting stacked up on deep brush piles and submerged bridges—most are sitting in 20 to 25 feet. Drop a minnow or a black and blue jig and shake it for best results. The slab hunters are covering water, but it pays off when you find those thick schools. Don’t be surprised to catch a couple of catfish while you’re at it—blues and channels are biting strong on cut shad or punch baits fished in the timber and along creek channels in 10 to 20 feet, with prepared baits the go-to for those looking to fill a cooler. Sand bass and hybrids are a bit slower, but some action is showing up off main lake humps with slab spoons or trolling deep crankbaits. Early mornings—right around that sunrise window—are producing the most bites. For lures, keep a few things handy: - **Spinnerbaits** (white, chartreuse) - **Bladed jigs** (black and blue, white) - **Squarebills and medium diving crankbaits** - **Texas rigs and flipping jigs** for timber/bushes - **Minnows and hand-tied jigs** for crappie - **Cut bait or punch bait** for catfish Hot spots right now include the **SRA Point** for schooling bass early and the **Standing Timber on the West Side** for crappie and catfish action. Don’t skip the old **515 bridge pilings** for a fast bite when the wind picks up. That’s your Lake Fork scoop for mid-November—fish are chewing if you know where to look and what to throw. Thanks This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.