So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[HomeBrewerDude]

Thanks again for all the advice everyone has posted on Toledo Bend.  My dad and I will be on the lake Sunday through Tuesday, maybe Wednesday too if the fishing is good. Sounds like the fish have started spawn, and the weather looks good, so I'm about to bust a gut in anticipation.

Give a holler if you see a small bass tracker with a couple of dudes that look like they don't know what they are doing.

Cheers and beers,

HomeBrewerDude 

[Bryan J]

I have to say that I am really impressed with this thread!  I have been reading it for a few weeks now!  Thanks to all for the great input.

We fished last Friday and Saturday. 

Friday was our experimental day as we fished from sun up to sun down and tried everything from senkos, to wacky worms, flukes, to texas rigged brush hogs, to carolina rigged flukes, to lipless cranks, to spinner baits, to chatter baits, jigs, beavers....We started targetting bushes in 3-5 feet of water in the Housen/Six Mile area.  Nothing.  Started targetting grass in 4-8 feet water picked up a few on traps.  From there, started hitting points and secondary points and picked up a few more on traps but could not buy a bite on anything else.  At about 330 we had 9 fish with 3 in the live well and 1 4.9 lb released.  Decided to move to the Negreet area to finish the day.  Just before dark, found a point holding several fish and picked up 10 fish in about 5-10 minutes all on traps!  Finished the day with 19 fish caught (a few of which spit the trap as lifting at the boat) and 8 keepers (9 with the 4.9 lber).

Saturday we fished until the weather began to get bad at ~12:00-1:00.  Went to the same point and picked up 7 fish all in that area.  With 4 more keepers.  Finished the day with 10 total.

So in 1.5 days of fishing we had 29 fish (two of those being 2+ lb sacalait) all on traps!  I am not one to throw traps that often, but that is all we could get them to bite on!

Hope this helps y'all catch them this weekend! 

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but....I am currently looking to purchase a camp on the Louisiana side.  Preferably somewhere between negreet and the big bass area. Not looking to spend over ~50k.  Any info shoot me an email at baj3556@yahoo.com.

[bullet20]

I know this is a t.b. fourm,but any reports about rayburn lately?

I have a tournament in a couple weeks.

A  guy i know caught some nice fish 2-3 weeks ago 38.- lbs. 2 day club tourny near the brige on spinner bait had said.

[Catt]

Did y'all notice the full moon the last couple of days? My guess the lake is in late spawn to post spawn.

Everyone was talking about how cold of a winter we had and how it was delaying the pre-spawn but I think the spawn was late but finished on time.

This would be considered the April full moon, Easter next weekend, Dogwood blooming here for about a week, Pecan tress starting to bud; all of this equals spawn about over.

[fishfordollars]

Bring on the deep water bite.

[HitmanFO]

Catt, I believe it... I fished for 9 hours on Saturday, from Willow Oak to Mill Creek and back up, hitting various coves and flats and points between the two, and only had two dinks on spinnerbaits to show for it (and I threw the tacklebox, not just spinners).  A buddy of mine caught one dink and one keeper on a wacky worm back in the brush in Willow Oak.  I'd say post spawn is here.

On another note, I did see a guy hauling in nice white perch back in Willow Oak, about 70 yards due north of the boat ramp... I talked to some locals that were extremely interested in that...

[fishfordollars]

I spent the day up at Carrice creek. Had only four keepers and nine nonkeepers. All were on main lake wind blown(Did I say wind blown)points in 3-8' of water on traps, jig, crankbaits, and yes, the senko. It was tough, tough, tough. Best fish came off the side of a point at 12:05 on a spinnerbait. It was done spawning. the other three keepers were caught from 9:30-10:00 on a 1/2oz. chrome/blue back trap.

Everyone see that big old moon the night before? That should have told you it was going to be a midday bite.

[Wesley]

Here are a few from saturday evening and sunday evening we fished from about 3 till dark.  Some are still fat with eggs.

[Catt]

That's a man 

Not all have spawned but for the most part...yelp!

[Ranger 251]

Jack,

Looks like the weigh in as too early this past Saturday.   

[fishfordollars]

Jack,

Looks like the weigh in as too early this past Saturday.

you might be right. i was on the phone with Wesley Saturday evening while he was catching them. I got caught in that traffic just above pineland when that boy got killed on the motorcycle. Had to wait in the road about 30 minutes, but from what wesley told me Saturday night the road ended up being blocked for hours. Glad I got through it when i did and prayers go out to the family.

We will get em next time!

[Wesley]

It's a sad week around Hemphill Brad was 25 and had a young boy.  Pray for his family.

[fishfordollars]

It's a sad week around Hemphill Brad was 25 and had a young boy. Pray for his family.

Wesley, don't have a clue what the family situation is but if they decide to have a benefit function for the family i will contribute.

Dan and I were speaking with two guys out on the water Saturday. They told us there was a bass tournament for a four year old girl a couple of weeks earlier. They had finished third and had donated the check back to the family. First place and all of the other winners except one did also. They raised over 12,000 for that little girl and her family. Maybe something like that could be set up if the family is in need. Just a thought.

You can count me in for that to.

Another set of prayers to the family and all involved.

Jack

[Catt]

Prayers sent!

This didn't happen around the 6-mile bridge?

[Wesley]

In pineland near the tracks on hwy 83

[Ranger 251]

What a tragedy.  The family is in our prayers.  Please keep me in the loop if a benefit is held.

[Shanon]

Here's my annual spring update:

3.5 guys fished March 18 -thru March 27

some rain

some wind (some hard)

some cold

some SNOW (go figure)

& a few nice trips (70 sunny - light wind)

Stayed at Big Bass Marina Cove in Esto-

Fished Indian 10%, Negreet 10%, Oilmans Cove and Harper's Cove 60% & Pirates Cove 20%.

86 keepers - ~130 dinks. Biggest caught in Pirates on Mar 27 6lb-13oz which TIES my personal best (also on TB) sure thought she went over 7. She had broken of one of you guys watermelon seed super fluke (gut hooked) we removed my black/blue wacky and the super fluke and line but I didn't cut out the hook just released ofter photo near the military recreational area.

Fish were deeper than we like to fish - but they could be caught on WIND blown banks with grass points. The last trip Saturday night we caught them shallow with topwater rogues (fun-fun-fun).

Overall we did OK. we released all the fat ones and anything over 5lbs.

Prior to the fronts we we catching 12-15 keepers day - then would drop to 2-4 keepers day per boat.

Strangest day would have been the Saturday (March 20) the day the coldest front blew in (Also TOBI). The pressure was dropping like crazy and we fished right up until the rain after lunch and caught NOTHING. I would have thought that would have been the best outing??? :-? :-[

Most fish caught on wacky followed by rogues. Some spinnerbait, brushhog and texas worm.

My uncle and step dad are fishing this week (Lanana area) and should do very well if this weather keeps up.

I hope I'm still reading this thread in 10 years.

[TxGator]

Hey yall, its been a while since ive asked a dumb question here. When you refer to a wind blown bank/point, what exactly are you refering to.

Im learning a lot thanks to this thread and the people here. One day Ill be able to catch more than 1 or 2 fish per trip.

Later

Gator

[fishfordollars]

Main lake or secondary(First point into a pocket)points that the wind is blowing waves across. They are rough to fish sometimes, but if that's where they are set up just point the bow into the wind, turn the bilge pump on(At times waves will break over the bow into the boat if it's bad enough), store everything you don't want wet, and get it on.

Came real close to taking them over the bow last Saturday, but they were just a couple of inches shy. Whew...

[TxGator]

The wind was definitly begining to get up a bit last saturday. I left about 1030 to come home, I was just messing around in Indian Creek and fought it a little. Still I caught 2 that morning so i was happy. Well maybe better this weekend, im heading up after work tomorrow.

Good luck

Gator

[Catt]

Shanon, great trip!

You absolutely must read

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1128002349/16#16

[Shanon]

Great article Catt -

I wish I would have gone on with my instincts - that the fish would be better off stressed without the hook instead of quickly released. Her mouth was big enough it would have been liking working under the hood of an old Ford Truck....

I fished out of a 22' bay boat - they waves were not coming over my bow (thankfully). But wind blown to me trolling motor fighting - bowed line - crooked boat - AND the water not getting messed up by the bank (meaning the grass or mats are damping the waves or swales at the shorline.

Baitfish=Bass=Hookups (paw-paw use to say)

Enjoy the Bend....

Shanon, great trip!

[fishingcajun]

Hello All, sorry I didn't check back here until today. All of the reports are welcomed. It's nice to find a forum on Toledo Bend, and the people don't mind sharing information. I have been away from fishing some 9-10 yrs. Started back late last year, and made a couple of trips to TB. Boy has it changed.

I Have made three trips this year so far.

1st-TOBI, very ugly, wet, cold. Managed to weigh limit first day and only four second day. Finished 97. Everything was caught on Senko Watermelon/Red, no weight. Some on the bank, but most out in the middle of the main coves. Fished

both days south of bridge, Texas side, carrice creek area.

Trip 2

2nd-Early March - 1st afternoon, arrived Same area as above 12 noon. Figured by now the fish should be in the bushes. Good Call. 3-4 flip, had a 3 1/2# in the boat. First hour boated four, 2 keepers. Remaining afternoon released a couple of short fish and caught two solid keepers.

All caught on W/R brush hog, pegged weight.

Next Day - Fished all day, same pattern, same area. Fished up until dark trying to catch my eight fish for a limit. Not knowing all along that i lost count some how in all the excitement, and counted eight in the live well when i got back to launch. Go thing i didn't catch another.

Next Day - Mostly a wash. Went to Louisiana side meet friends, wrong side with the wind blowing 25+. Two boats and only managed 4-keepers. We were fishing the coves north of big bass, 1st time for me. Had some great bushes in the back, but the wind was rough and the water was muddy.

Ended up with 13 keepers , one 7#, my personnel best.

3rd Trip -  1st afternoon, fished Indian mounds, I have not been there in 10 yrs. Caught one short fish, missed a couple of more, no keepers.

next day- Decided to go back to what i caught on last trip.

Great Move - Fished all day, same area carrice creak, all in the bushes. Ended up the day with 13 keepers. All solid fish,

2 1/2# average, Best personnel day ever on TB.

Next morning - Fished same pattern, same place, all in the bushes, W/R creature bait. Fished until 1pm. Missed the first three fish i hooked up with. This was unusual since i had been having great luck and not missing many. Ended up the morning with four keepers. 5.5, two 3+, one 2+. Released 3 or so short fish, and the 5.5.

Sorry for the long post.

Headed back to TB next week or weekend. Lake has been dropping, so my bushes will probably be dry.

Never been much of a main lake guy, or fishing points. Never had much luck. So i welcome the post i read on fishing points with spinner baits and such. Hopefully i can apply some of this next trip, if i cant find some brush with water, my first love !!

[Bussemer]

Hey guys, just wanted to say how great this looooong thread was. I only freshwater fish 3-4 times per year on the Bend, so a little extra info is always great.

I guess all of yall are out bussen the bass, which is why there havent been any reports

I'm headed up there Today through Sunday, so i'll post when I get home. Have a great weekend and thanks again.

[AlphaMaxinIt]

Just got out on Toledo Bend for the first time this weekend(Just got stationed at Fort Polk, LA).. Rented a bass boat from Alpine Marina, i definetly though i was gonna get a goose egg.. But i finally got bit on a watermelon red trickworm..

Kinda new to fishing in the big pond from a boat.. Usually bank fish..

Catt, the place i rent from is in Hemphill,TX.. Maybe if you find it in your heart, you could take me out and show me around...Definetly new to the place, and need a helping hand...

Thanks