| Author | Message | ||
| Redskeeter
Moderator Username: Redskeeter Post Number: 213 Registered: 8-2007  Rating: N/A |
I posted this on the TFF, but thought I'd share with the gang here as well.. ************************************* My how time fly’s, a friend and I were discussing how much the scenery has changed on Lakes like Fork, T-bend and Big Sam.. Mere shadows of what they looked like in the good ol days.. I have been fortunate enough to witness Forks transformation; I missed out on Big Sam and T-bend. But would love to hear and learn about those two Lakes with as much enthusiasm as I have for Fork. Anyone still alive from the hay days on those Lakes when they were forest among the waves. I can remember Fork as far back as 1977 when the 515 bridges were under construction and we drove over them awaiting the water FAR in the distance. Birch creek looked like something out of a Tarzan movie, Coffee creek from the 514 bridge was a thing of absolute beauty looking down the boat lane up towards 515 bridges FAR in the distance. The lake seemed alive; you would hear things and smell things not common today. The water was a tanic brown tea color, but clear. The fish looked like they had a MEAN frown on their face once landed to the net. I cherish those memories, we had NO idea what Fork would be come back then, it's all history now. In 1986 around Thanksgiving if I remember right, we were fishing Birch creek (in between duck hunting morning and evenings) near Lynn creek; when word on the water of a new Texas State record had just been caught by a guide, Mark Stevens. It was the famed Ethel, 17-lbs + you can see a replica of her in Bass Pro in Grapevine today.. An absolutely fantastic fish of girth and length I can’t imagine really existed. I have a ton of these stories buried in my memory, but I would rather hear some of yours, If your willing to share.. I just had a land mark birthday; and it got me too thinking, where has it all gone? I found it !! Deep in my thoughts form long ago, and their still fresh as yesterday. KBD Fishing | ||
| Zeeter
Bluegill Username: Zeeter Post Number: 164 Registered: 3-2007  Rating: N/A |
Billy, thats awesome man I wish I had the pleasure of seeing Fork back then. What a monster she has become and you were around in the begining, truely cool boss. The only 2 lakes I can remember from the early stages and how they changed since I fished it is Ray Bob and Alan Henry. I can remember going out there when the trees were so green you didn't care about running full blast through the tops of the cedars. Of course we weren't fishing out of brand new skeeters back then just an old bass tracker with a 50 on it. Man if that boat could talk. All you would need is a white or white w/ chartruese spinnerbait and you could load the boat with two and three pounders. I can remember days just like Fork in the 80's of 50-60 fish days and not seeing another boat. We even used to take our boat and slide it down the rip rap of the bridge on the very north end of the lake, it was a bioootch getting it back up but the fishing was off the chains. And the water mocasins oh my god. Its amazing how lakes change over the years with the timber rotting away. I always used to say that Ray bob would get to Fork status but man that didn't happen and glad that Fork has made it through year after year. The same thing happened to Alan Henry, when I was guiding there ther was only two other guides besides myself and one was my roomate. Before the lake filled it was pretty much just like fishing a large creek. Green mesquites lined the bank all the out to 30 ft deep and there was no shortage of 3-4 lbers. You used to have to put a boat in on a dirt boat ramp and maybe saw one other boat. It was a guides dream lake. Once the big girls started getting caught the lake took off like a wildfire and you would have to get in line to fish the major creeks. The lake is only 1700 acres, but my what a fisherie in the 2000-2003 years. One year while I was guiding we had 26 fish between 10-13lbs (me and my clients) unbelievable for a lake that size. I still keep up with whats going out there and it is a great disappoinment to me to hear the big girls are far and few between now. Just my story on the two lakes I was blessed to fish from their beginnings. It really humbles me everytime I put that ol skeet in on Fork and am able to fish a lake that has withstood the pressure that she has gotten. It's awesome man. Catching Big Ole PIGS... It's Awesome Man Zach Hughes http://www.vicious-fishing.com http://www.sundogeyewear.com http://www.proanglersassociation.com PAA Skeeter Boats / Yamaha Outboards | ||
| Redskeeter
Moderator Username: Redskeeter Post Number: 214 Registered: 8-2007 Rating: N/A |
That's awesome Zach... You truely wittnessed the beginning of two great fisheries.. As time passes you realize how lucky you have been.. 1-5,000 may share what you've seen and done. Kewl ain't it.. KBD Fishing |
