Lake Fork Fishing
Where to launch, what TPWD rates as the best fishing, the lake records and today's level on 27,264 acres in Hopkins County, Rains County and Wood County.
- 27,264acres
- 70 ftmax depth
- 23boat ramps
- 18.18 lbrecord bass
Photo, regional stand in for Lake Fork: i_am_jim, CC BY-SA 3.0
Lake Fork, Texas at a glance
Lake Fork covers 27,264 acres with a maximum depth of 70 feet and has held water since 1980. TPWD lists it in the Pineywoods region, in Hopkins County, Rains County and Wood County. Location: on the Sabine River in Hopkins, Rains and Wood Counties, 5 miles northwest of Quitman.
On the state survey ratings, largemouth bass and catfish score excellent. Crappie and sunfish come in as good.
The lake record largemouth weighed 18.18 pounds and was caught in 1992.
Water clarity is usually moderately clear; vegetation includes hydrilla, eurasian milfoil, coontail, american lotus, water primrose, water hyacinth, alligatorweed and pennywort; levels swing moderate, 2-4 ft.
Controlling authority: Sabine River Authority of Texas (903) 878-2262. Lake Fork facts from the TPWD lake page, checked October 2026.
Water level at Lake Fork today
How far Lake Fork sits above or below the top of its conservation pool.
Texas Water Development Board, Water Data for Texas, reading dated 2026-10-08. Retrieved Oct 9, 2026 5:07 am ET. 30 day chart on TWDB.
USGS has no current reading for these gauges.
What bites at Lake Fork
Each bar is the TPWD rating for that species at Lake Fork.
Bars: 4 excellent, 3 good, 2 fair, 1 poor.
Predominant species: Largemouth bass, White & black crappie, Channel catfish, White bass, Sunfish.
Lake Fork has produced Toyota ShareLunker entries, the TPWD program for largemouth bass of 8 pounds or more.
Lake Fork lake records
Top weights TPWD has certified at Lake Fork, by species.
| Species | Weight (lb) | Length (in) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead catfish | 80 | 49 | 2015-03-12 |
| Blue catfish | 71.5 | 52.5 | 1995-03-19 |
| Smallmouth buffalo | 66 | 2012-03-03 | |
| Common carp | 40.4 | 41 | 2013-03-05 |
| Bigmouth buffalo | 36 | 33.5 | 1997-10-19 |
| Freshwater drum | 22.5 | 33 | 2010-04-23 |
| Largemouth bass | 18.18 | 25.5 | 1992-01-24 |
| Channel catfish | 17.73 | 31 | 2003-03-09 |
| Bowfin | 17.65 | 36.5 | 1993-02-21 |
| Hybrid striped bass | 7.96 | 24.25 | 2009-05-26 |
| White x yellow bass | 4.75 | 19 | 2005-03-12 |
| White bass | 3.97 | 18.25 | 2006-02-08 |
Lake Fork records: TPWD water body records, list updated October 8, 2026. Retrieved October 2026.
Boat ramps and access on Lake Fork
TPWD lists 24 access points on this lake, 23 with a boat ramp and 4 with a marina.
Rains County Ramp and Collins Landing Marina
Single lane ramp; marina; no fee; restrooms, parking, boat gas, picnic areas. (903) 456-1844
Lake Fork Ranch
Single lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, parking, courtesy docks, camping. (903) 473-8784
Rolling Fork
Single lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, ADA Accessible, parking, courtesy docks. (903) 473-0991
Axton's Bass City
Single lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, parking, courtesy docks, weigh stations, boat gas. (903) 473-7224
Val's Landing
Two lane ramp; fee charged; cleaning stations, parking, weigh stations, camping. (903) 473-3868
Lake View Lodge
Single lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, parking, courtesy docks, weigh stations. (903) 473-5110
FM 17 Public Ramp
Two lane ramp; no fee; parking. (903) 878-2262
Lake Fork Resort
Single lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, live bait, parking, courtesy docks. (903) 765-2987
Lake Fork Marina
Single lane ramp; marina; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, live bait, parking, courtesy docks. (903) 765-2764
Tackle Factory
Single lane ramp; fee charged; parking. (903) 765-2075
Lake Fork Lighthouse
Single lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, parking, weigh stations, boat gas, picnic areas. (903) 765-3351
Fisherman's Cove
Single lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, parking, courtesy docks, weigh stations. (903) 765-2943
Pope's Landing
2 lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, live bait, parking, courtesy docks. (903) 765-2385
Mustang Resort
One lane ramp; restrooms, cleaning stations, live bait, parking, courtesy docks. (903) 765-2548
Martin's Fishing Resort
Single lane ramp; fee charged; parking. (903) 765-2688
Chaney Point RV Park
Single lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, live bait, parking, courtesy docks. (903) 765-2264
26 mapped points from the TPWD access layer; ramp notes from the Lake Fork page at TPWD, checked October 2026.
Limits that differ from statewide rules at Lake Fork
These exceptions replace the statewide limit for the listed species on this lake only.
| Species | Rule at Lake Fork |
|---|---|
| Black bass | For largemouth bass, length limit is a 16–24” slot. Bass 16 inches and less or 24 inches or greater in length may be retained. Only one largemouth bass 24 inches or greater may be retained each day. For smallmouth bass (if present), minimum length limit = 14 inches. No minimum length limit on Alabama, Guadalupe, and spotted bass (if present). Daily bag limit for all black bass species is 5 in any combination. |
| Crappie | For black and white crappie caught from December 1 through the last day of February, there is no minimum length limit and all crappie caught must be retained. From March through November, minimum length is 10 inches. Year-round daily bag limit is 25 crappie in any combination. |
Limits for Lake Fork from the TPWD Outdoor Annual, 2026-27 (valid Sep. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027), checked October 2026.
Fish stocked in Lake Fork
| Year | Species | Number | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Lone star bass | 518,406 | Fingerling |
| 2026 | Florida largemouth bass | 45,129 | Fingerling |
| 2026 | Sharelunker largemouth bass | 15,095 | Fingerling |
| 2025 | Lone star bass | 509,058 | Fingerling |
| 2024 | Lone star bass | 490,904 | Fingerling |
| 2024 | Channel catfish | 301 | Fingerling |
Lake Fork stocking: TPWD stocking by water body, retrieved October 2026.
Tournaments on Lake Fork
| Date | Event | Organizer | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-20 | 2025 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship scored by TourneyX | B.A.S.S. | completed |
| 2025-05-08 | 2025 Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork | B.A.S.S. | completed |
| 2026-02-21 | Bass Champs 2026 Stop #1 – Lake Fork | Bass Champs | completed |
| 2026-05-09 | 2026 TBN Kayak Division Event 6 – Lake Fork | Texas B.A.S.S. Nation | completed |
| 2026-10-10 | Bass Champs 2026 Team Championship | Bass Champs | upcoming |
| 2027-02-27 | Bass Champs 2027 Stop #1 – Lake Fork | Bass Champs | upcoming |
| 2027-04-22 | 2027 Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork | B.A.S.S. | upcoming |
| 2027-06-05 | Bass Champs 2027 Stop #6 – Lake Fork | Bass Champs | upcoming |
Tournament dates for Lake Fork from each organizer, retrieved October 2026.
Shops and guides near Lake Fork
- Minnow Bucket MarinaQuitman, 3 miles north of the lake, (903) 878-2500
- Johnson Custom BaitsQuitman, 6 miles east of the lake, (903) 763-5028
- Lake Quitman MarinaQuitman, 6 miles northeast of the lake, (903) 878-9191
- Lake Fork MarinaAlba, 7 miles northwest of the lake, (903) 765-2764
- Lockhart LuresYantis, 7 miles north of the lake, (903) 383-7663
- Nech Premium LuresAlba, 7 miles northwest of the lake, (903) 765-2500
- Woodvale Fishing ClubMineola, 14 miles southeast of the lake, (903) 569-5191
- The Bait & Tackle ShopSulphur Springs, 21 miles north of the lake, (903) 885-9858
- Sam Cotton Lake Fork GuideFreshwater guide, (903) 268-3399
- Charlie Wortham Lake Fork Guide SmallFreshwater guide, (972) 262-4999
- Billy Lawson Lake Fork GuideFreshwater guide, (903) 519-1542
- Loomis Lake Fork Lodging & GuideFreshwater guide, (903) 383-3050
- Adventures on Lake ForkFreshwater guide, (903) 638-1868
- Fly Fish ForkFly, (469) 446-8508
- Lake Fork Guide ServiceFreshwater guide, (903) 497-6028
- First Class Guide ServiceFreshwater guide, (903) 878-2473
Shops within 30 miles of Lake Fork: OpenStreetMap contributors and store lists, retrieved October 2026.
Lakes and towns near Lake Fork
Lake Quitman
6 miles northeast, 814 acres
Lake Holbrook
8 miles south, 653 acres
Lake Winnsboro
12 miles northeast, 806 acres
Lake Tawakoni
21 miles west, 37,879 acres
- QuitmanWood County, 5 miles east
- AlbaWood County, 6 miles west
- YantisWood County, 9 miles north
- MineolaWood County, 11 miles south
- Hopkins CountyFishing access across the county
- Rains CountyFishing access across the county
- Wood CountyFishing access across the county
Questions about fishing Lake Fork
How big is Lake Fork?
Lake Fork covers 27,264 surface acres and is 70 feet deep at its deepest point, according to TPWD.
When was Lake Fork built?
The reservoir was impounded in 1980 on Sabine River.
What is the Lake Fork record largemouth bass?
The lake record largemouth bass weighed 18.18 pounds and measured 25.5 inches, caught 1992-01-24, per TPWD water body records.
What other lake records does Lake Fork hold?
Flathead catfish 80 lb; Blue catfish 71.5 lb; Smallmouth buffalo 66 lb.
What fish are best at Lake Fork?
TPWD rates largemouth bass excellent; white bass fair; catfish excellent; crappie good; sunfish good.
How many boat ramps are on Lake Fork?
TPWD lists 23 boat ramps on Lake Fork, and 4 of them charge no fee.
Is there a marina on Lake Fork?
Yes. TPWD lists 4 marinas at Lake Fork: Rains County Ramp and Collins Landing Marina, Lake Fork Marina, Minnow Bucket Marina and Oak Ridge Marina.
How do I check the water level at Lake Fork?
Look at the water level section of this page: it pulls the Lake Fork reading from TWDB every hour.
Does Lake Fork have special fishing regulations?
Yes. TPWD sets lake specific limits here for Black bass and Crappie. See the limits table on this page for the 2026-27 rules.
Is Lake Fork stocked?
Yes. TPWD stocked 518,406 fingerling lone star bass in 2026, and 6 stocking events are on record since 2024.
Are there fishing tournaments on Lake Fork?
Upcoming: Bass Champs 2026 Team Championship on 2026-10-10, run by Bass Champs.
What town is closest to Lake Fork?
Quitman is 5 miles east of the lake center, in Wood County.
More water near Lake Fork
Look over the nearby lakes in case the wind or the water level changes your plans.