Reports from the Lake Fork Bass Survey
This voluntary survey, launched in March 2003, invites Lake Fork anglers to submit data on any bass that weighs at least 7 pounds or measures at least 24 inches. Fish that fall within the protected 16" to 24" slot limit must be released, but anglers are allowed to estimate the weight of these catches if a scale is not immediately available. Over the course of 121 months, 12,704 fish over 7 pounds have been entered into the survey, an average of 105 fish per month. TPWD appreciates the anglers' cooperation and the assistance of the Lake Fork Chamber of Commerce and the Lake Fork Sportsman's Association in implementing the survey. It has provided the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department with invaluable insight into the quality of Lake Fork's trophy largemouth bass fishery which would not have been available from standard sampling surveys.
| Weight Class (lb.) | Number of Fish |
|---|---|
| 7 | 35 |
| 8 | 27 |
| 9 | 17 |
| 10 | 18 |
| 11 | 4 |
| 12 | 1 |
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | |
| 16 | |
| All | 102 |
| Of fish weighed, 23.7% were over 10 pounds. Of fish measured, 34.3% were over the 24-inch slot. | |
| Weight Class (lb.) | Number of Fish |
|---|---|
| 7 | 5,150 |
| 8 | 3,790 |
| 9 | 2,018 |
| 10 | 1,167 |
| 11 | 417 |
| 12 | 192 |
| 13 | 49 |
| 14 | 15 |
| 15 | 6 |
| 16 | 2 |
| All | 12,806 |
| Of the fish that were weighed, 15.7% were 10 pounds or over. Of fish measured, 34.4% were over the 24-inch slot. | |
More than 500 largemouth bass have been donated to the ShareLunker program since it began in 1986. More than 250 came from Lake Fork. Each weighed 13 pounds or more. Lake Fork was also home to the state record largemouth, an 18.18-pound fish caught in 1992.