Lake Fork Is a 27,690 acre big bass building factory . It was impounded in 1978 and opened to fishing in 1980. There are many old roads ,bridges , farm ponds, creek channels, points and ledges and most all have timber or brush on them. Fork was the first lake built that followed the biologist recommendations on the amount of land to clear and leave timbered.
They certainly hit a home run with this lake . She has, and is still producing an amazing amount of fish in the double digit category. She has 39 of the top 50 bass in the state as well as the last two state records . She has 7 fish over 17 pounds and the current record of 18.18 caught in 1992.
Since that time there was a virus found in the lake (LMBV) that really set the old girl on her ear for a while, but she is making a good recovery now ,and there is a good number of 10 plus pound fish being caught. There was 7 over 13 pounds put in the Lone Star Lunker Program this year and several caught since the program cut off in April.
There are numerous marinas,motels, lodges, RV camps and restaurants with cuisine from American ,Mexican, Cajun or Italian so you can find a good quality meal after a day on the lake. You won't have trouble finding a place to launch your boat for there are 4 public ramps and 12 marinas that charge a small launch fee to use their ramp. The lake is well known for its bass fishing but it is a superb crappie ,catfish and bream lake as well .
If you need a break from fishing there are two golf courses on the lake shore and numerous antique shops in the surrounding area ,as well as the largest flea market in the world, which is open the first Monday of each month. There are festivals at different times of the year in nearly all the small towns in the area.
The lake is located 75 miles East of Dallas and 45 miles North of Tyler on State Hwy 154 and FM 515. Interstate Hwy 30, is twenty miles North and Interstate Hwy 20,is twenty six miles South.
