So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[Bloodandguts]

Probably a stupid question: when the generators run, is the fishing affected?

[Catt]

The main lake bass it will mostly during summer

[shaneus]

I tried posting some pictures, they are too big, I'll have to get to a computer, I got some good lake house ones

[Bloodandguts]

Report: fished 6-mile Friday (mill creek??) fished the grass edges in 3-5 ft . Caught 15, 6 keepers?, largest 3 pounds. Set the hook on one and my line popped. Sounded like a 22 rifle. Bowfin? All on wmr chartreuse trig lizard. Water clear. Temp 70. Strong south wind. Didn't launch until noon. Was looking forward to day 2.

Sat: returned to 6-mile, same area, same lure. Only caught 4. No keepers. Went to mouth of housen-little coves on the south side. Caught 5 nonkeeps. Flukes and c-rig lizard. Went to pirates (where I launched) and fished the second large island on left coming in. Water temp 72 and a little murky. 4 on wmr fluke, fished real slow. Strong south wind really blows!

Seems to me the bite is better in afternoon.

Well back to the grind. Tight lines to all this week.

BnG

[Bloodandguts]

Correction: in 6 mile, coves in miles cr and Gilley's point. Still learning.

[Catt]

4/12/14

Negreet, from Shadows Landing eastward

Stanley Vibra Wedge, double gold willowleaf, white skirt

Keepers: 11

Top 5: solid 20#

Total: lost count after 25

[Catt]

Buck Brush along the bank

[Catt]

Buck Brush behind the lily pads

[mguidroz]

 

Buck Brush behind the lily pads

Catt what stage were the fish (pre or post spawn)and how deep? Thanks

[Many Boy]

Hey Catt! Nice report and I like the pics- taking it to another level! Kinda takes away any doubt!

[zefman78]

Hi to all!!! I just found this AMAZING forum as i was certain that the lake had "turned on" and am ready to make the trip from lafayette!

I'll be taking my future father-in-law to the lake for the first time this (easter) weekend... im excited! Yet not so excited by what i know as the common "basshole" on such a busy weekend.

Anyways, I've got a place just north of Slaughter Creek (yet still south of the bridge) and was wondering what was "hot" around this area. I was thinking San miguel would be hot (but also would have a TON of boats on easter weekend). I usually fish Senkos and Texas rigs shallow this time of year on points and in grass. In the heat of the summer i've got a spot called "the bluffs" that the river bed turns right in front of. 

Question: What stage of the spawn are the bass in? Is it full on spawn season? I figure the weather probably knocked back the spawn season by a few weeks and we're either in full on spawn season or in post-spawn?

What kinda tips can you guys give me to impress the future father in law?! 

[Catt]

Welcome home zefman78!

Tennessee Bay & north: some late spawners but mostly post spawn

Tennessee Bay southward to 6-Mile: spawn to post spawn

Mill Creek & south: late pre-spawn & early spawn

zefman, I would fish Slaughter

[Bass_Fanatic]

Catt is right. Fish Slaughter. There are plenty of fish in there. I would target points in slaughter. Fish slow with a jig, trig, or wacky worm.

[ToledoMard928]

Housen amazes yet again! Fished this Saturday and Sunday with my 11 year old son. Saturday was one of the busiest days on the lake I have seen in a while. Caught quiet a few fish but struggled with size. Sunday was a different day! Fished until noon with a chartreuse and black square bill. Boated somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 fish with the largest over 5 pounds, 7 white bass, and a large crappie on the crank bait. 5 best in the neighborhood of 17 pounds, had well over 20 pounds hooked up but could not seal the deal. My son and I had 4 doubles Sunday morning. Wind blown points in 3-6 fow. Wind had bait pushed against bank! What a trip!!

[Bass_Fanatic]

Awesome day! Toledo Bend amazes me every time I go. That's the days you remember!

[Catt]

Housen' Bayou

[RonnieF]

Nice trip. It had to be a blast with your son!

[ToledoMard928]

He was already addicted....he is ruined now!

[Tiger260]

Catt,

I'm somewhere in my 4th-5th time of reading all 220 pages of this thread, and I'm still needing a little clarification on a topic. My partner and I fish b/w the mounds and 6 Mile, with Housen accounting for about 80-90% of that time, so I'm pretty familiar with several of its nuances. My question is, given a creek of that size being virtually its own lake, would the points along its main river channel be considered "main lake points", such as the one just north of the red dot at w/p 37 and the point just south of the red dot at w/p 38 on the map?

We banished ourselves from the bank last year after 4 years of 12-14lb sacks in our big friend tournament each year (coming up next weekend), and found out how productive the outside grass edge could be postspawn. We found it Forrest Gump style, but called our shot at every grass line we pulled up to that day landing 4-6 pounders within a few casts at each spot. If the fish are there on that pattern one day, but "gone the next", where are they likely at? They're not heading back to the bank, and they were at the outside edge in 14-18'.

[Many Boy]

Same here! And while we're on the subject of post spawn, something I've always struggled with is- when I do find those fish but only catching smaller ones, what do I need to do to get on the bigger ones consistently? I am learning more and more from this forum on the differences between the bigger and smaller fishing but just haven't nailed down what to do in transition periods when all I'm on is smaller fish. Transition periods are definitely my biggest struggle as far as consistent bigger fish goes and I'm going to be reading this forum over and over and really listening to any comments on that subject! I know that I can't expect to stay on the biggest fish every time especially during transitions but it seems there are certain people that consistently stay with them so I know there is a pattern that I must follow to do the same.

I really have enjoyed this forum, really appreciate all of the input from everyone. It has been invaluable to me and without a doubt making my trips more and more satisfying! Thanks much!!

[Catt]

Tiger, first off welcome home!

Don't get hung up on nomenclature, it doesn't put a single fish in the boat!

I'm Ole School so a main lake point is simply that, a point on the main like.

As for them being their one day & not the next is normal post spawn fishing. After spawning bass are tired, wore out, & not in a feeding mood. After a period of inactivity they will start feeding agressively before moving to their summer haunts. At this time we revert back to structure fishing, flipping grass beds, & deep cranking.

Late April through May we will have an increase in numbers & a drop in size. Why? Aint quite sure!

All I know for sure is historically May is numbers & August big bass!

[Tiger260]

Thanks for the response.  If you would not consider those two places actual main lake points, then I would assume they would fall under secondary points, correct me if I'm wrong?  My thought process, based on your example at Lowe's/Oilwell, at the way beginning of the thread, with these being right up next to an intersection of the main river channel & feeder creek channel, only difference- in a large creek miles from the main lake, they would be the final stop for the summer. 

Then this leads me to another component of confusion of the migration/summer pattern in these types of really large creeks.  If the aforementioned points are not main lake, and the bass are setting up on main lake points & ledges next to deep water/main channels for their summer pattern...

 

a)  Do the fish that spawn in places like Jack's, Bull, Ashmore (i.e. in big drains well into major creeks) go all the way back out the actual main lake for the summer to get on main lake points, humps, ledges?

  If not, then where is the final destination of those fish once they leave the spawning creeks/coves/flats in a major creek like Housen.  I assumed to treat the deep main channel as a that of a mini-main lake, given the size of the creek.

 

If you would be kind enough to talk specifics on the map, that would help clear it up, and you can use any creek on the lake.  I am more interested in the process of finding their "deep home" not the waypoint.  It's just a different animal down south than up north, where there is such an abundance of deep water other than just out on the main lake.  Heck, some secondary creeks like Jack's, Hurricane, etc. have deeper ledges and points than some of the summer stuff at 1215!   I just want to decipher what is "where are they headed to vs. where they just stop by" b/c I'm sure the first early spawners are about where they are going to be for the summer by now.

[Bass_Fanatic]

In Housen and other huge creek arms like it there are fish that will stay in there year around.  I have found that bass, even during the summer months, roam around, even in deep water.  While you may find a point on a ledge (which is mainly what I look for) that always holds fish, many times it is different schools of fish on it each day.  One day you may pull up to N 31.28944 W 93.72677 and find good fish on it and the next day it may be all shorts.  The fish are constantly on the move.  BUT, there are areas that consistently hold big fish too, the key is to fish even places to find them.  There are only about 4 or 5 key spots that I am confident hold big fish day in and day out while the rest of my "spots" hold fish, but I have no idea what size until I fish it that day.  If I catch 5 or 6 shorts on a spot, I leave it.  If I caught big fish there yesterday though I will look for the next closest point of structure to where they were yesterday.  Sometimes that is 50 yards and sometimes it is 500 yards.  

[Catt]

See if this helps!

There are bass on the main lake that never see the bank!

These bass spawn out on humps, ridges, flats found well way from the bank.

There bass on the main lake within a certain distance of the shoreline that live & spawn there.

There are bass in Housen that live & spawn there

There are bass in Hurricane that live & spawn there.

You are correct to think of each major creek cove as a seperate lake. Take Housen, I call the points primary (those closest to deeper water) & secondary (those away from deeper water). What we call em aint important, how we fish em is!

[Catt]

Bass_Fanatic is spot on!