So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[RCCA]

When I say channels I mean the ones I traced off of google earth on a low water year. The ones on navionics are only right sometimes. 

[FishNChip]

This is true, the Navionics phone app maps are not always accurate.  Are your  Lowrance HDS Gen 3's combo units with both sonar and charts?  These should be close.

 

In response to whether or not a small creek can hold fish, keep in mind the top of the dorsal fin to the bottom of the pectoral fin on a 10lb bass is <12-inches.  She can hide in not much change in bottom depth so don't rule out smaller creek channels especially where they meet up with bigger creeks.

 

You have to hit it from all angles to determine how the fish want the lure that day.

[Amateur Hour]

This is true, the Navionics phone app maps are not always accurate.  Are your  Lowrance HDS Gen 3's combo units with both sonar and charts?  These should be close.

 

Yes, and I am running a card in them.

[RCCA]

You can import the aforementioned creek channels you trace in google earth into your units as trails is all I was saying. Very helpful. 

[Amateur Hour]

Dang.  That sounds pretty cool.  Are the creek channels on the chip accurate?  In the app it just shows a straight line indicating that a creek runs there but doesn’t show the actual creek.  

[Catt]

On 10/12/2017 at 10:19 AM, Amateur Hour said:

Can we have a general discussion about finding productive offshore areas to fish not specific to an area of the lake?  For example, it is often spoken that deep water nearby is always a good thing to have.  What is considered nearby?  Is it 50 yards or a quarter  of a mile?  Also, when I look at many coves on the map I can see creek bed running up into them.  Are these what you guys refer to as creek channels or are you referring to the main channels that are found in the main arm of lanan or san miguel

 

It's hard to a discussion & not be specific?

 

Here's what I look at first;

Where's the Sabine River, does it come into play?

If not what's the closest creek channel?

 

 

You question"what's considered close?

 

The answer changes from location to location!

 

Example: Community Flat outside of Housen' Bayou, the flat is surrounded by the Sabine River, White Oak Creek, & Housen' Bayou. There's fish scattered all over this couple hundred acre flat but the big fish are located near the river or creek channels.

[RCCA]

It is awesome. Way more accurate and detailed. Shows every twist and turn as opposed to the general location which may be off up to 200 feet. 

[Amateur Hour]

Gotcha.  I would love to discuss San Miguel.

 

What I meant by “not specific” was not particular spots but how to identify a productive point or hump.  I grabbed my map and tried to following the first page but I don’t know what millionaire Point is and I could not find oilfield cove.  I did find oilfield lake though.  I am currently on page 55 of this thread.

 

Also, is that area where the Gaines intersects N/S a good area for this time?

[RCCA]

I can't help you on San Miguel cause I don't know it at all but I love the 1215 area just north of it when the water is at 170 or higher. 

[Amateur Hour]

What is the level now, 168?

[Bass_Fanatic]

Yes it's 168 right now

[RonnieF]

Welcome Amateur. I'm also in San Miguel, very close to where 1215 hits the water. I'm unable to see your pics because the company offshore has me blocked. I also fish Clear Creek, especially out by Patroon bayou. I'm still trying to learn how to find fish on my electronics also. My Lakemaster card isn't too accurate in San Miguel.

[RCCA]

Yep. 168. Not saying you couldn't catch some now but I prefer it at 170 or more cause I like visible above water targets and most of those may be high and dry. I bet the creek channels would still be good ?

[Catt]

5 hours ago, Amateur Hour said:

Gotcha.  I would love to discuss San Miguel.

 

What I meant by “not specific” was not particular spots but how to identify a productive point or hump.  I grabbed my map and tried to following the first page but I don’t know what millionaire Point is and I could not find oilfield cove.  I did find oilfield lake though.  I am currently on page 55 of this thread.

 

Also, is that area where the Gaines intersects N/S a good area for this time?

 

Millionaire's Point is the south point of Lowe's Creek. Oilwell Cove is due south of Millionaire's Point. From Gaines intersection with N/S north to Stewart Ridge is good this time of years.

[Amateur Hour]

Well, that explains it.  I was looking at little Lowe’s creek down by mill creek.

[Catt]

13 hours ago, Amateur Hour said:

Well, that explains it.  I was looking at little Lowe’s creek down by mill creek.

To confuse it more there's a Mill Creek in Big Lowe's Creek!

 

As for your earlier question about smaller creeks, some of the most productive structure I fish is very subtle.

 

I think high-end electronics can be detrimental to inexperienced anglers. I do not own side/down imaging or GPS, I do own topographical maps with 1 foot increments. I don't ride around looking for fish, I know the structure, & I know the bass do not move far with the exception of fall & spring. 

[Amateur Hour]

Catt, have the fish started the fall transition?  We leave for the bend in two days and I know several deep water spots I would like to try.  I am really interested in that area where the river swings next to the Texas side by the N/S and Gaines.  Specifically the southern drain that shows a creek running through it.  However. I wouldn’t mind finding a shallower trap/spinnerbait bite too so my dad can get some action.  If you were fishing to mid lake area later this week what would you look for and what areas would you concentrate on?

 

Also, when you say fish the mouths of creeks I assume you mean the creeks inside the larger creeks.  For example, you are talking about the coves with creeks in them inside of say San Miguel and no the mouth of San Miguel itself, right?

 

i have made it to page 100 of this thread and a couple of things stick out.  The southern end gets a lot of attention and I wish we still had grass around mid lake.  Thanks for all of your help and contributions to this thread.  

[Catt]

I'd probably be tempted to stay in San Miguel ?

 

More specifically the coves across from SRA site #7

 

Spinnerbait bite is better right than traps but this front may change that, key on shoreline grass.

 

When I say creek mouths I mean all of them from the mouth of San Miguel to the mouth every creek off of San Miguel.

 

I advocate learning one area at a time, if ya wanna learn San Miguel then learn San Miguel from the front to the back.

[Amateur Hour]

Do you think there is any shorelines grass with it being at 168?  

 

I understand what you are saying about learning one area.  It’s funny because somewhere around page 105 you mentioned the 1215 area with the Christmas tree and deer antler tree and coincidentally it was around this time of the year.

 

Do you think there will be a deep bite in San Miguel to be had?

 

Do you know Jack Adams?

[Catt]

@Amateur Hour aint forgot ya ?

 

Real busy right now!

[Amateur Hour]

Ok.  I am heading up there in the morning.  Gonna stop and fish slaughter and a few other  places around the bridge before heading to the house in San Miguel.  Probably gonna stay in San Miguel for the most part he rest of the weekend.  Anyone been in slaughter lately?

[Catt]

Slaughter ?

 

[Amateur Hour]

I have never really fished in there but there seems to be a few points where the channel swings right up on it.

[RonnieF]

I can still see the fish I missed a couple pockets south of slaughter. It was like a toilet flushing on my zara spook. Funny how those stick with ya. It has around 4 or 5 points in a small pocket with a lot of sunken brush for white perch and the sabine river is very close by. Good luck

[Amateur Hour]

I am looking at the point on the left with that flat and the one straight in where the big creek cuts in front of it.  There are. couple of other ones that have creeks close by.  Looking at the wind forecast being flat we may spend more time in the main lake.  If anyone has better ideas I am all ears. I plan on posting a report each afternoon once I settle down with a cold drink.