In December 2021, the water level at Lake Fork was lowered about three feet for dam repairs.
According to the Sabine River Authority, “Engineers recommend that the Sabine River Authority of Texas, Lake Fork Division, make minor repairs to the soil cement along the Lake Fork Dam, some of which are currently located underwater. Recent wave action dislodged numerous small sections of the soil cement along the upstream side of the embankment, which protects the earthen portion of the dam.”
The work was completed early this year. In a normal Texas spring, rainfall would have raised water levels back to normal. But this hot and dry winter and spring weren’t normal, and the lake level has dropped further, to its stage now at 5.58 feet low.
The low water is annoying to homeowners on the lake, who can’t get their boats to their docks, or even fish off their docks, because their docks are completely out of the water.
It’s also challenging for fishermen. While the bass are still aggressive and biting, old standby spots aren’t accessible or are out of the water. Finding new areas has been key, and the bass are there, but so are other fishermen.
The problem was highlighted at the Bassmaster Elite event at Lake Fork that concluded May 22. The full field congregated in the best areas, making it difficult for some pros to work their spots as they would like.
Longview’s Lee Livesay, a HUK pro staffer, took advantage of his knowledge of the lake. The pro located a 40×40-foot high spot reaching into nearby timber in 13-17 feet of water. Devoid of cover, the spot had a hard bottom where large gizzard shad were congregating, and big bass would periodically pull up to feed.
The first two days of the tournament, he caught almost all of his fish in an area he had never fished in his life.
“I’ve covered every piece of water on this lake a million times over and that’s what’s crazy,” he said. “I didn’t catch anything where I normally do.”
Livesay turned in a four-day total of 113 pounds, 11 ounces to win, finishing in second place on Day 1 and leading thereafter, topping Idaho pro Brandon Palaniuk by 4 pounds.
It marked the third Elite title for Livesay, who won at Lake Fork in 2021 and Chickamauga Lake in 2020.
Livesay used a 6th Sense Divine Hybrid Jig with a Netbait Paca Craw, a shaky head with a worm and a flutter spoon.
Palaniuk targeted shallow points in 10 to 25 feet.
“These were places that I somehow managed to have to myself that didn’t have any pressure,” he said. “I think that allowed those fish to set up and stay there.
Palaniuk caught most of his fish on a Rapala DT-16 and a flutter spoon.
Lead photo caption: Lee Livesay fishes near an exposed dock on Lake Fork, where water levels haven’t returned to normal since the lake was lowered for dam repairs. Photo by B.A.S.S.
