So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[Basscat89]

Thank you catt and all of the members who continue to contribute on this thread as I approach retirement after 25 years in the army. The one thing I have enjoyed most is the experience of the outdoors throughout the country with my two sons. It is through members like the ones found here on this forum who have a true sportsmanship and passion to share thier knowledge, that has made that possible. Took my oldsest son out to fish yesterday mow that he is home from basic training  and ait and we had one of our best days on the lake since I got stations at fort Polk last year. Thanks again and keep the info flowing. I am still learning. Unfortunately I don't feel I have near enough experience to contribute. Happy father's day and God bless.

 

[Catt]

@Basscat89 y'all welcome

 

All you need to contribute is post what, where, & on what!

[Bearonthewater]

On 6/16/2017 at 0:56 PM, Brett_Hebert said:

If anyone has a little imput on colors I just got rid of a bunch of old crank baits and will be going splurge on all new XD crank baits. Any help on some hot colors for Toledo this time of year? I'll be headed to the lake in a few days to change it up from the marsh bash fishing. 

Two primary colors I've had much success with @ this time of year:

Green Gizzard Shad

Tennessee Shad

[jcdogfish]

Kinda tough on me Saturday.  Morning trip caught 11 total with 2 maybe 3 keepers.  Small fish.  Saturday afternoon was worse.  6 fish total with 2 small keepers again.  At least I got a few to pull on the line.

[RonnieF]

Here's my late report from 1.5 weeks ago. Found the bass busting shad along the grass by my boat house. I caught 4 and missed 2 others all on a baby bass ribbit. The biggest was 3lbs. All turned loose to be caught again. Later that morning I caught some deep on a hump with a Carolina rigged fluke and V&M swamp hog.

The next day I fished 1215 with my boat positioned over a creek. I just put an Ultrex on, so I was able to spotlock for 3.5 hours catching fish. Caught close to 25 with a 6th sense 300DD, 250MD and the majority on a Carolina rigged fluke. Some fish were on the slopes of the roadbed and some were on the drop into the creek. Most bites with the CR felt like the weight was rolling down the slope, they'd grab it and swim toward me. I also caught a few on a Tx rigged zoom trick worm, watermelon/red magic.

The next day I caught 15-20 in the same place, but bow facing south, since the wind had switched. Same lures, just slower action.

[Bryanhester]

1 hour ago, RonnieF said:

Here's my late report from 1.5 weeks ago. Found the bass busting shad along the grass by my boat house. I caught 4 and missed 2 others all on a baby bass ribbit. The biggest was 3lbs. All turned loose to be caught again. Later that morning I caught some deep on a hump with a Carolina rigged fluke and V&M swamp hog.

The next day I fished 1215 with my boat positioned over a creek. I just put an Ultrex on, so I was able to spotlock for 3.5 hours catching fish. Caught close to 25 with a 6th sense 300DD, 250MD and the majority on a Carolina rigged fluke. Some fish were on the slopes of the roadbed and some were on the drop into the creek. Most bites with the CR felt like the weight was rolling down the slope, they'd grab it and swim toward me. I also caught a few on a Tx rigged zoom trick worm, watermelon/red magic.

The next day I caught 15-20 in the same place, but bow facing south, since the wind had switched. Same lures, just slower action.

Ronnie, how do ya like your ultrex ? Mine is suppose to show up from fed-ex today. Can't wait to get it on  and head to the lake. This should be very beneficial on the bend !! 

[RonnieF]

4 hours ago, Bryanhester said:

Ronnie, how do ya like your ultrex ? Mine is suppose to show up from fed-ex today. Can't wait to get it on  and head to the lake. This should be very beneficial on the bend !! 

Bryan, 

I love it. It's crazy how the sporlock will hold you in position & you can concentrate on fishing. Put the bow into the wind and get comfortable. I've moved my but/leaning seat to the back deck to fish from there if the wind dictates that position. It's very responsive when using the foot control. 

When there's no wind, the head will spin around a lot more. It has lost position during slack wind, but I just move back and reapply spotlock. 

You'll absolutely love it. 

[jacob2000]

Hello, I was wondering if I could get some opinions on what exactly I'm seeing on my electronics. Took these today out in Palo Gaucho. Anyone able to show me what I'm seeing? I'd really like to better understand the graphs because I think it would help me in locating bass.

Hello, I was wondering if I could get some opinions on what exactly I'm seeing on my electronics. Took these today out in Palo Gaucho. Anyone able to show me what I'm seeing? I'd really like to better understand the graphs because I think it would help me in locating bass.

Also, anyone have a clue where the fish are during this tropical storm or what they may bite?

[RCCA]

Hey bud. I'm still trying to learn my electronics and it's hard to see your downscan with the rain drops but I will tell ya that there are some very nice fish shallow right now. Good luck. 

[A5BLASTER]

Yep, been catching a few nice ones in 2 to 5 foot of water on a 1/4 once crome and black back trap along some grass.

[A5BLASTER]

If y'all ain't on the water yet y'all need to be me and dad had our first 100 fish day of the year this morning.

 

The shallow bite on crome and black back traps is on fire on San Miguel.

 

Dad landed 64 and I landed 53 from first light till about 11 today be back on the water at 6 this afternoon for the evening bite.

 

Most bass came in at 12 to 13 inches all total we landed enough keepers to limit out but we only keep 6 just enough to fry some for supper tonight.

 

Bass are holding on grass lines in 2 to 5 foot of water that is within 20 yards of a creek channel that is 10 foot are deeper the grass line run's along a sand bar that is no more then 5 foot deep, where there is a current running pass the grass they are slamming the shad by the bucket loads.

 

Hope this helps someone get on some fish, tight lines fella's.

[Catt]

TPW nets duo after angler's tale sounds fishy!

 

http://m.lufkindailynews.com/news/local/article_f84efd4e-5957-11e7-9fb6-cb864c6ea351.html?mode=jqm

[A5BLASTER]

Sad really sad, money is the rut of all evil and brings out the worse in people.

 

On a side note the pattern is still holding this evening only change was the numbers were down but the size is way up, I landed twelve and keep my 8 all bass were between 2 and 3 pounds, I had 14 throw the hook on me and couldn'tfigure it out till I was packing to head home and noticedboth treble hooks were missing two barbs. 

 

So put some new hooks on and be ready for the morning bite.

[RCCA]

I been fishin Rayburn. It was pretty good. I decided to try Toledo this afternoon and it was all I could do to catch 4. New area and a terrible northeast-east wind but still!  Nice job Blaster. 

[A5BLASTER]

Thanks, they have been on fire up by the house on my favorite sand bar and grass line.

 

They wanted the trap burned to the max speed along the grass line this evening.

 

I literal couldn't crank it any faster then what I was and my reels are 6.4:1 ratio when they would hit it, it was like running head first into a stump, it would just stop and start jerk the rod around.

 

I had to put a new trap on this evening because the paint had been wore off the one I took out the pack yesterday, the one I was useing this evening ain't looking togood right now.

[jacob2000]

Does anyone know what the thermocline at Toledo may range from, specifically in muddier parts of the lake like Palo Gaucho? I'm doing some research and trying to figure out how deep the bass go during the winter and hot summer around here. Thanks.

[A5BLASTER]

Not sure I can tell you on San Miguel during the dog days of summer you can find them anywheres from 8 to 25 feet most any day.

 

I think the reason the bass have been up shallow by my house and feeding like they have is because there is a huge water flow going on in SAN Miguel  right now and it has the bass up shallow on grass lines plus the few days of cloud cover we had didn't hurt either.

 

My 8 keepers from last night.

 

Just finished cleaning them and the grease is getting hot.

[jacob2000]

So whats the best way to make your graph recognize the thermoclines? And don't the bass basically always stay right above them?

[RCCA]

You'll be able to see it on your downscan. Shouldn't have to do anything. It will look like an imaginary line with "fuzz" below it. I haven't seen it yet this year. 

As far as the bass staying above it... that's what I've read and heard. 

[A5BLASTER]

Not sure my fish finder is kind of old and danky I have never picked up the thermoclines  on it.

 

I just try to use it to find the bottom contour I'm looking for and match it to my map then drop anchor and fish it up, down and side to side till I find them and how they want it.

 

I'm still in the stone age when it comes to electronics in my boat.

[jacob2000]

Thanks, and does anyone know how much water visibility affects how deep the bass will go?

[FishNChip]

Bass can hang out above or below the thermocline.  The difference is those above tend to be active (and catchable) and those below tend to be inactive.  A very good tournament angler that lives on the south end of the lake showed me his method to find it.  He uses his 2D sonar while running.  It shows up as a horizontal band of noise that typically tops out in the 20-25ft range.  According to him, any hump or ridge that pierces up through the thermocline is "in play", anything below is not.

[FishNChip]

Also, don't think of bass depth in terms of water clarity/visibility.  Bass will go as deep as they need to for any number of reasons.

[j bab]

Headed there now, hopefully I'll have a good report tomorrow 

[RCCA]

Good luck!