So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[Cooyahn73]

When I approach a grass flat I'll start casting with a Texas Rig from the distance of a long cast feeling for non-visible grass. If I get bite I'll anchor and fan cast the area with both the Texas Rig and a Jig-N-Craw. Bass will cruse this outer "break line" searching fot prey giving the angler easy access.

Now on to the matt itself, as stated earlier I'll look for irregularities and target them with a Texas Rig and Jig-N-Craw.

Funny you should mention the coves on the "north" side of Housen', here's a freebie; I don't fish any of them except during pre-spawn and spawn. I'll fish Hurricane and skip all the way over to Bull and Ashmore.

Now with that being said there is a huge flat just west of the island in the mouth of Hurricane and it runs all the way to Ashmore.

 

Funny, I was taught many years ago this exact approach by my uncles and grandfather, "Great minds think a like! Catt, stay out of the Mounds, nothing to see here!  

[shaneus]

yeah i saw those huge mats, im going to try some more spots in them next time up......gotta get my new 1198 mounted first 

[TBendBassin]

You are going to love your 1198!! If you have any questions on setting it up let me know bc there is some tweaking you have to do to get them just right

[Catt]

TBend I'll split with you

You can have the "Mounds"

Shaneus can have Housen!

I'll take the "Community" flat between the two!

[Bearonthewater]

Hey Catt,

 

When you referred to the community flat area at the mouth of Housen, I was curious as to if / how you apply your "15 ft. rule".

 

In other words, do you stick with your rule of keeping your boat in 15 ft. +/- of water there too?

 

My recollection of that flat and the few times I've been there tells me that the depth is typically shallower there?

 

Am I wrong or are there variation of depths there that I'm not seeing on any of my reference maps?

 

I am aware of the old roadbed that runs through the flat, but that ridge on the east side near the river channel looks like the place to be.

 

On my last trip, I did pick up a few fish on a hump off of the boat  lane coming out of White Oak.

 

Bass_Fanatic says he's caught many fish in that area too.

 

Just curious if you had further insight to that area and possibly seasonal patterns to be aware.

 

Thanks in advance

[Catt]

Look @ your map again

See where the Sabine follows the bank from Indian Mounds south?

It then turns kinda east towards Louisiana, after about 5 or 6 bouys the boat circles around & heads towards Hurricane.

You have just circled the "Community" flat!

Huge aint it?

[Bass_Fanatic]

Ok great!  We are talking about one of my favorite spots on the lake, but Im still trying to learn it.  Catt or anyone else, how do you go about fishing a flat of this size?  I have caught a ton of fish there close to the river turn and around scattered grass patches, but I normally just fish a few "spots" on the flat itself?  There is also the stump line that holds fish too, but I much rather fish the grass.  How do you go about breaking down a flat of such large size, especially the areas that have no grass and little bottom contour?  Or do you just not fish the majority of it and only fish small, areas with cover or structure?

[Catt]

I fish the river side out White Oak, ya just gotta do a lot of searching with map in hand.

I've caught fish every where including just drifting & chunking a trap in spring & fall

There was a bouy TX43 but it was changed to TX50 something, the last or second to last headed towards La before the corner headed around to Housen. Stop & ideal south & tell us what you find!

[Bearonthewater]

If I'm reading my maps correctly and you are referring to the boat lane coming out of White Oak into the main lake, there are a few humps south of the main white oak feeder creek channel.

 

They are located near several drop-offs coming off of the flat.

 

I see a similar conditions with ridges, humps, and drop-offs toward the river near the N/S boat lane just north of the Housen Bay North lane that cuts back right over the community flats.

 

How'd I do?

[Catt]

Now we cooking with peanut oil

[Bearonthewater]

There are some missing buoys in the Housen Bay North Lane between the island off of Hurricane and the Tx. N/S Boat Lane intersection i just pointed out.

 

The coordinate below in the community flat is the general area I am referring to:

N 31.29641 W 93.69008

 

As with anywhere else of TB when you get out of the boat lanes, I am always very cautious traveling this area because of the missing buoys and I have to rely on my  "graph trails" from previous visits and still go through there on idle.

 

Is there anyone very familiar enough to know how truly congested this area is with timber over that flat?

[Catt]

Timber on the flat itself is nonexist, anything north-east-south of the boat lane is timber. There are a few stumps around the mouth of White Oak & the extreme east end.

If the water level is 168 & up I'll cut across the flat

[Bass_Fanatic]

When the water is up its fine to run it, but when the water was low I fished that area a lot and saw a few boats hit stumps.  The worst stump out there is actually in the boat lane just south of the White Oak junction bouy.

[Bearonthewater]

As as side note, I doubt if I'll ever be able to post over 12,000 comments / replies to one website...........so just I want to congratulate you Catt for starting and keeping this thread going for so long.

 

You are to be highly commended for the knowledge you've shared about Toledo Bend and the "schooling" you've given to so many interested anglers.

 

In case anyone who has visited here and hasn't noticed.....he started this nearly 5 years ago to the date.

 

Can't say that I know of any other posts / threads on any Internet forums that have gone so long as this one......

 

I think I can speak for many in saying that we're certainly glad you are still checking in and sharing your wisdom..........and we hope to hear from you for many moons to come.

[Cooyahn73]

Catt, ha,ha, sounds good, but if you see a big white GAMBLER sneaking around on the flats it's me! The Community flats is such a good spot!

 

Bear, I am sure if I showed my uncles this website they would pass out! They are both early 60's and might tell family the information contained in these 12,000 plus posts, but they sure wouldn't put it on here! Secret squirrel stuff you know!! My uncle caught 8 fish in 6 hours on Toledo Bend that weighed close 80 lbs, he has them on a stringer mount in his house! I still have never been to that spot with my uncle! So, IMO, Catt is sharing information some would never ever learn unless they just fished TB for 20-30 years! Sometimes I cringe when I read his posts, not that it's bad, just that he is spot on with his information and techniques and it goes against everything I was taught, you know Secret Squirrel stuff about fishing! I even use plastic water bottles as buoy markers with tinfoil inside, so I can see them but others can't and they don't know the spot I am on! I will keep reading and reporting, one day I'll show my uncles this just to see their reaction!

[Catt]

I believe God gives us certain talents, what good are these talents if we don't share them?

My talent is teaching other to not only fish but how to catch

[TWellsjr]

I read all pages on this post and it is phenomenal how in-depth this post goes. I want to say thanks catt for all the great tips  on this vast body of water. Does anyone have a recent report on the grass in Pirates?

[Cooyahn73]

I believe God gives us certain talents, what good are these talents if we don't share them?

My talent is teaching other to not only fish but how to catch

Catt,

You are doing great!!! Thanks for all you do!!

[Catt]

Sorry TWellsjr I aint been north of Housen' this year

[bassangler08]

_{Sorry for the late reply I wasn't sure if anyone was going to reply so I stopped checking for a while. TBendBassin, and Shaneus I personally want to know everything about flipping or punching haha well everything about fishing in general.  I went out a few weeks ago, and I didn't even know where to start flipping grass. I know that you look for some type of structure where the grass is maybe a creek or something, but I found that at after I left. I have never fished this technique before, or been shown what to do so I'm kinda loss. I'm also sure electronics play a big role in this which I don't have at the moment (down imagaing). Pretty much all I know to do is fish points and find the grass line or some sort of cover/ brush pile etc. I have seen people catch big fish flipping grass, and it makes me want to learn how to do it. I also don't want coordinates, I want to find my own stuff,  some help on locating a good area or place to start would be helpful. Also  right now I like housen bay and want to learn it. Each area to me seems like its own lake. I plan on going back to the lake this month if everthing goes as planned.}

[Catt]

Hey bassangler08 let me shock ya!

I don't down imaging, side imaging, or any kinda imaging!

What I do have is a lust for bass fishing!

[TWellsjr]

Bassangler08

  

                 You look for the irregularities in the grass. What I mean by this is find points or fingers that stick out away from the mat that are not visible by the human eye (High Spots also). Don't be over whelmed by the amount of grass that is matted. It will take some time to find these gold mines, but when you do.. It will be nothing but mining! I have been dropping in the grass for 7 years and I love it period! It will change the way you bass fish in the Summer and Fall. Spend some time graphing before you make a pitch and you will find'em. Game On! 5 pitches = 25+lbs. 

[bassangler08]

TWellsJR thanks for the reply I will go practice. I just need to go and bring only a flipping rod that way I won't stop flipping. My father in law is who I fish with mostly and he isn't into flipping grass, so I gotta learn before I introduce him to it, so he will enjoy it. Thanks again

[Cooyahn73]

Catt,

To you pay attention to moon phase? ie, have you tacked over the years what moon phase you have done better on? Just wondering? I have always done better on a dark moon!

[Catt]

Cooyahn73, do I pay attention to moon phase?

I'm aware of the moon's location every day but I. do not let it control my fishing. In Catt's book of bass fishing the best time to go fishing is any time I can go fishing. If I'm teaching someone to night fish I perfer a full moon only because it's easier for the angler to see. If I'm teaching someone to feel bites on a Texas Rig or Jig a new moon gets it done.

Bassangler, keep in mind the bass are not always on a jig bite so spending all day flipping and not catching will only discourge you.