Outdoors

By STEVE KNIGHT
Outdoor Writer

Bass fishing on Lake Fork has suddenly gone from smelling like roses to, to, ah well, it's not pleasant.

For the last couple of weeks the lake has been what is commonly called "turning over."

"The shallow water fishing is OK, but the deep water is tough because the lake turned over. When it turns over it pushes the deep fish to the bank," said guide Brian Duplechain.

A common occurrence this time of year around East Texas, the lakes don't actually turn over. The cause of the foul smell and funny-tasting water is an algae bloom caused by a thermo cline in the water which has been created by the weather and lack of rain.

Experts say the situation is often caused when the top starts cooling and begins settling downward. As the surface water gets cooler, it becomes more dense and begins to settle in a gradual process.

In bass-fishing terms it means there is very little oxygen at the deep, cool water depths the fish seek during the summer months. This usually sends bass into shallow water, while a few will congregate in the thermo cline, where the algae attract zooplankton and the zooplankton attract baitfish.

"It depletes the oxygen in the main lake and the fish get in the shallows. The wave action there is oxygenating the water. Also the bait fish are going to be there," Duplechain explained.

The guide said he has had to scramble to find fish that wanted to bite.

"The last day I fished (last Sunday) I went to seven deep spots that had had some fish and I couldn't get a bite. Some had no fish. Finally I found one with some fish and we caught seven, but there were hundreds there. On my way in my Lowrance (fish finder) lit up with fish on a spot. I tried fishing a drop shot, Carolina rig, crankbait, but nothing," the guide said.

In the meantime Duplechain is concentrating his fishing in eight feet or less of water. This strategy has produced a 10-pounder caught in just four feet of water.

"I throw little crankbaits. They are feeding on shad and bluegill. All of the little crawfish are out of the lake right now," he added.

One positive during the downturn is that the thermo cline is cooler water temperatures. That has gotten threadfin shad thinking fall.

"They have started balling up in schools and are heading to the main lake. We are having some schooling action because the bass have started chasing the shad," Duplechain said.

If the thermo cline diminishes in the next couple of weeks before the weather turns too cool, Duplechain believes they will return to a summer pattern. If that happens he will return to soft plastics like the Wave Swim Bug, a bait that was hot before fishing slowed.

What the bass do also depends on what happens with Hurricane Ike. Duplechain predicts if it hangs around a while and dumps enough water, that could speed up the fall fishing season.

When that happens he said he will begin to concentrate on main lake points in 25 to 30 feet of water using Carolina rigs, drop shots and big spoons.