So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[Catt]

15' + or - 3' is where I start, I may go shallower or deeper. I've caught em out to 40' but usually 20-30' during summer.

[RCCA]

Much appreciated. I'm trying to learn how to fish deep. Better late than never. Planning a trip to Toledo next month. Hadn't been since Easter.

[Catt]

Little Fish, where ya @!

[RCCA]

Well, Mr. Catt, I'm 2.5 hours away in what feels like Angola but it's just work and fishin' locally.

[Catt]

Well, Mr. Catt, I'm 2.5 hours away in what feels like Angola but it's just work and fishin' locally.

Sorry! Where are you fishing Toledo Bend out of?

[RCCA]

Oh. I plan on a rematch at Fin and Feather. She handed me my tail in mid February cause I was fishing too shallow, I believe.

[jcdogfish]

Catt's system of 15' +-3 is a good guideline most of the year.  It lets you reach the breaks out deeper and up shallower and puts you around a grass break but you have to listen to the fish and follow some kind of structure.  Someone may kill them in 20 feet today but there are more areas of 20 feet depth that don't have any fish than areas that do.  I'm not an expert but there is an old saying "the fish have to have cause" to be somewhere.  I started catching fish in Toledo bend offshore when I finally started asking myself where are these fish going to or coming from.  I started to look hard at areas I always caught a couple of fish, size was not important.  Then I looked hard at the maps and idled around a good bit in those areas and sure enough there were things I found that fell in place and led me to the higher percentage areas.  After 45 years of shallow water fishing in the basin, I still struggle with Toledo Bend.  But I'm learning as I go.  Nothing is etched in stone but fish always have a reason to be somewhere.  Its a good lake and you can catch a few wandering around aimlessly, but if you do some homework its a lot easier.

[RCCA]

Thanks Dog. Makes sense. I'm on the same path as you. Been a shallow water fisherman all my life. Trying to change. I used to fish Bayou Sorrell and Bayou Pidgeon before Andrew wrecked it!

[Catt]

Bass must have a visible path of breaklines on a structure from deep water all the way to the shallows, which is where the bulk of the food is available.

Deep water maybe 40' & shallow water maybe 25' or deep water maybe 15' & shallow water maybe the bank.

[RCCA]

Thanks again. I'm thinking I should focus on the deeper break lines next month cause I don't plan on night fishing until I can find em in the daylight. Please correct me if I sound like a couyon!

[mguidroz]

Well said Jcdogfish and Catt.

[Catt]

That visible path maybe a weed line, timber line, roadbed, point, ridge, hump, drain or just about anything.

Ya gonna be at Fin & Feathef then study your map now from the mouth of Housen on the south bank all the way to the cove leading into Fox's Lodge. Then skip on down to the roadbed west of F&F; I think it's the 3rd or 4 th buoy. From there to the point just west of the "Y" shaped cove is heavily timbered.

On the north bank the is a huge grass flat that runs from just west of the island in the mouth of Hurricane down almost to Ashmore; it contains 4 roadbeds & 3-4 creeks.

Oh yea! When ya running the boat lanes watch your depth finder! I got several spots in the boat lane or just off of em!

[RCCA]

Yes Sir, I'm studying those areas. Thanks a million!

[june-bug]

When people say ther are fishing a ditch or a drain, are they really refering to a creek? Or is there a difference ?

[Catt]

When people say ther are fishing a ditch or a drain, are they really refering to a creek? Or is there a difference ?

Before the lake was flooded rain water would run down a hillside eroding away dirt forming a drain or washout. Some are visible on the shore; some are located on off shore structure.

That's my understanding if a drain/washout

[Catt]

Here's a little something that'll make ya go huh!

My starting breakline is 15' plus or minus 3'

If we look at the lake level historically 179 is normal

The lake has been around 172 all year, correct?

My starting breakline is now in 18'!

[jpmor1]

Bass must have a visible path of breaklines on a structure from deep water all the way to the shallows, which is where the bulk of the food is available.

Deep water maybe 40' & shallow water maybe 25' or deep water maybe 15' & shallow water maybe the bank.

Define breakline, pretty please, sir. And thank you.

[Bryanhester]

Fished yesterday San Miguel area. Wanted to fish deep but found all my fish shallow on shallow points close to deep water. Caught most all on a white swim jig in about 3 fow. Nothing big . Did catch a few out deep. Water is rising and staining up.

[RonnieF]

Thanks Bryan. I was wondering about that area. It'll be another week or 2 before I get back to the camp.

[Catt]

Define breakline, pretty please, sir. And thank you.

A breakline can have more than one meaning. It can be another word for a drop-off/ledge, or a point of any quick change in depth. It can also be used to describe the edge of a vegetation line. For example, a "weed break" is the area of the weed bed where it meets up with open water; or where one type of vegetation meets up with another type.

The next example happens when bottom composition changes, as different weeds prefer different types if bottom composition. In rocky environments, a breakline can also describe a line where rock meets mud, sand, pea gravel, ect.

In other words, the most correct definition for a breakline is "any distinct line that is made by cover or structure which leads to an abrupt change in bottom depth, composition, or cover transition."

[Catt]

Thanks Brain that was my next question, how's the water clarity!

[jpmor1]

A breakline can have more than one meaning. It can be another word for a drop-off/ledge, or a point of any quick change in depth. It can also be used to describe the edge of a vegetation line. For example, a "weed break" is the area of the weed bed where it meets up with open water; or where one type of vegetation meets up with another type.

The next example happens when bottom composition changes, as different weeds prefer different types if bottom composition. In rocky environments, a breakline can also describe a line where rock meets mud, sand, pea gravel, ect.

In other words, the most correct definition for a breakline is "any distinct line that is made by cover or structure which leads to an abrupt change in bottom depth, composition, or cover transition."

So then what exactly does this mean?

 

"Bass must have a visible path of breaklines on a structure from deep water all the way to the shallows..."

[Catt]

Bass do not wonder aimlessly around in a body of water, they follow paths, these are called breaklines.

[jpmor1]

Bass do not wonder aimlessly around in a body of water, they follow paths, these are called breaklines.

Thanks. I'm kinda slow... 

[Catt]

Thanks. I'm kinda slow...

No ya aint!

If ya don't understand it, it's useless