So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[iClass]

Been away for awhile...Life has been happening. Shame I don't see Catt posting any longer. The lake is coming up nicely although when out there last week I still found a stump in the boat row North of the bridge (actually North of Patroon) would be on the East side of the boat row just before the sharp curve to the West. So how about launches farther up North anyone have any information about blue lake or the 1215 area?

[Shanon]

Hi All,

Our annual trip from southeast Louisiana (Gonzales) is coming up at end of the month. I'm so glad to see the water rising. Looks a more rain headed there this weekend. I have a few questions.

I've seen the maps with the newly recut lanes (safe to run at at 163) - That was a smart move - just wish more lanes would have been cut down. With the very low water last summer are the lanes still clearly marked? I knew the LA side had added tons of markers.

Our gang fishes from Negreet to Pirates & Indian to Lowes. Is all the grass still going to be located in the same areas? Meaning did the low water hurt or help grassy areas that may have dried up for months?

On the fishing report side - I've heard mixed reports - Some guys are killing them and some guys are struggling. My local buddies were having a blast in Febuary but it seems to have slowed down in March. Maybe it's all of the extra roaming room the bass have with the rains.

Sure wish Catt would at least check in once in a while. We only fish Toledo Bend once a year (10 days straight at end of March) - But I monitor this forum daily from mid Jan to May. So you guys keep of the great work in posting and keeping us travelers informed.

Shanon

[fishnla]

iClass, I haven't been to Blue Lake this year myself, but a partner of mine went there last week. He said its not really worth trying with a big boat still too shallow. Take that for what its worth, like I said I didnt see it with my own eyes.

[Dam Yankee]

I don't know about you guys but it looks like this rain we are gonna get will put us over the 167 mark which is just less than a foot from the safe boat lane depth of 168. Iclass, you may just be in luck as far as the lanes go. I fish pretty much the same areas as you do and launch out of the army rec site next to pirates.

[fishnla]

Well normal tournament weekend, I went Friday and did some more scouting and thought I figured them out. Well I was wrong. I didn't go to any of the areas I went last week so I wouldn't mess up anything I had there, so I went to new water and it was slow in the morning. From daylight to eleven I caught 9 small keepers and two thirteen inch fish. Then from eleven to eleven thirty I changed what I was doing and caught 18 pounds in that thirty minute span. I'm on them right. WRONG. The water temp dropped even more Saturday night and I manage only 12 pounds for the tournament. Just couldn't get them to bite. But if it helps anyone all I changed on Friday when I went from catching small fish to good quality fish was change from a spinner bait to a chatter bait. I guess that small change made the difference, but didn't catch even one fish on a moving bait on saturday. Everything was on senkos deadsticked.

[Dam Yankee]

176.76 is the level this morning. Almost to 168!!! Thanks for the tip fishnla.

[Bass_Fanatic]

I was planning on going tomorrow, but my dang motor isnt running right! Im about ready to just sell the stupid thing...but then I'd have no boat. Hopefully I can find someone with a boat going tomorrow because I bet it will be on!!

[bayouXpress]

boy what a weekend of weather to get on a fishing trip.

We arrived Wednesday and the forecast was BAD. Lots of rain and wind. Well we got on the water thursday fighting the wind a little but was able to stay dry for most of the time. Ended up with about 55-60 fish. Hit a school of spots that at least 16-18 fish came from and i believe we had 12 keepers. Spots was in about 9 ft of water on a ridge between 2 islands. Sacalait was busting on minnows in buck brush all morning in the back of palo. Most of my fish were on a lucky craft pointer in ghost minnow. but better fish were off brushhog and spinnerbaits. But caught fish on traps, flukes, cranks, senkos. You name it. Everything but topwater.

Thursday night the storm rolled through. Lost power at 3am and have no clue when it came back on. Water got in my storage compartment and messed up my radio. It was Windy and COLD friday morning. We ended up fishing a cove in indian mounds and some north coves in housen and ended up in carrice. I think we ended up with about 12 fish with 3 keepers but much better quality. All were in the 3lb range and 3.9 was the biggest. Carrice had enough boats to walk around on.

Saturday we took a break from bass fishing and got on a sacalait guide. Complete failure. I thought they would have been moving up shallow at this time but he put us on some of his brushpiles in 25-28 feet of water. We caught 1.

That afternoon we ended back up in palo and it was pretty slow. I think we boated 6 fish and all were 13 inches.

we were somehow lucky enough not to get poured on, but the wind and cold sucked. Couldn't hit some of the spots I wanted to. I started with points and ridges out of the coves in 6-10 ft then followed creek channels and ditches into cove targeting grass beds and major stumps. Really no pattern established. It was tough, but we did manage a few fish.

[fishnla]

bayouXpress you are right the sacalait have moved in the shallows. In Carrice we have been catching them in 1.5 to 5 fow.

[Catt]

Stanley wedge 1/2 oz white double willow gold, 6 to 8'

[Wesley]

I get off the rig tomorrow hope to get some fishing in over the next 3 weeks!

[bayouXpress]

good to see you back catt!!

this was my buddy's toledo lunker

[fishnla]

thats a nice backlash too

[six-mile C-Rig]

OUCH, probably have to respool after that birds' nest

[alwayslooking]

Catt, glad to see you're back on,,

[Long Mike]

CATT IS BACK! Welcome home! What took you so long to rejoin us?

[Catt]

I gave what now for the where! 944! 5 bass @ 28.66

[Ranger Jim]

Caught 30 yesterday 2 feet of water fluke. They are in the new flooded grass. Fishing just north of Pendelton.

[bayouXpress]

I gave what now for the where! 944! 5 bass @ 28.66

thats where we launched on the friday. It is where we caught our bigger fish and they all seem to come off that roadbed that looks to be named cattail crossing on the map

I can comment on that backlash. Not sure if it was part of that catch or not. We were in separate boats.

[bayouXpress]

Question

We want to visit the lake at a time of year were the weather is a little more predictable. I want to be able to get out on the main lake and start finding structure. Our last couple trips we have gotten pounded by the wind. When is the weather the most stable on the bend?

[Catt]

June, July, & August @ night

[back water]

Catt!!! Sure is good to see the expert of T. Bend back on the forum. Welcome home!! I have missed you. Dutch

[back water]

We have a small club tournament on the Bend this weekend. Hope the predicted wind of 15-25 are not that high. Keep a tight line. Dutch

[six-mile C-Rig]

wow, terrible weekend to have a club tourney with the 3 MAJOR tourneys going on. FLW-BFL will have 150 boats, Bass-n-Bucks will have 70-80 boats, and the Oilmen's already have 700+ boats registered......

good luck

[fishnla]

Headed up Saturday for a day trip, I didn't realize every one of those tournaments were this weekend. Oh well, glad I'm just going to pass a good time and not in a tournament this weekend.