So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[Wesley]

I was out last week just running the boat and noticed a few buoys were off quite a bit so watch out..

[Catt]

Do think that if the lake levels stay high like they have for the past 2-3 years that the bass population in TB will start to get bigger?

I was thinking that with more stable lake levels like we have been getting, the grass would grow better and support more baitfish which would in turn help out the bass population.

I am hopeing that in a couple more years the tournament trails will realize this and start coming back.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey the lake level for the past 9 years has been low.

11-04-09 172.71

11-05-08 167.47

11-05-07 167.67

11-05-06 164.90

11-05-05 163.19

11-05-04 169.12

11-05-03 166.08

11-05-02 168.34

11-05-01 163.67

11-05-00 167.03

I personally think it's more beneficial for the lake to be low which allows shoreline and shallow grass to grow thicker which in turn allows Florida fingerlings a better chance of survival when the water does come up. I'm going to let a big cat out of the bag here, Texas Parks & Wildlife release a high percentage of Florida fingerlings in the Housen'-Six Mile area due to the fact it has more vegetation which offers more hiding places which in turn means a higher survival rate. The amount of vegetation also affords a high amount of food source which means a faster growth rate.

The problem with holding major tournaments on Toledo has always been a lack of facilities with Cypress Bend being the only one and it has a outdoor weigh-in site some thing the spoiled Pros do not like. The expansion of Fin & Feather has helped tremendously but its weigh-in site is exposed to the weather also. Another draw back for Toledo Bend is its remoteness which is a plus for the angler it is a hindrance for top tournament anglers who often bring their families.

[Wesley]

I heard that the PAA they had the other day at Fin N feather was a big success. I know they dont have much for parking there but thier facilities are very nice.

Hopefuly some of the bigger tournaments will start coming back to the lake, which will boost the local economy a lot. Which should entice some of the other marina's to update thier facilites to draw in business.

I thought that the last year or two they hadnt been letting the lake get as low as before.  I can remember some years when the lake was down 10 feet, that kills off a lot of the shallower hydrilla beds, so I was thinking more stable water levels would equate to better fishing. 

[Catt]

The Toledo Bend Conservation Pool Elevation: 172

What one must take into consideration with the data from USGS is that while 172 is full pool the normal lake level is 169 with 167 the average over the last 10 years. It is extremely hard to hold this lake steady because the Sabine River drains an area of about 9,700 square miles of which 7,190 square miles are above the elevation of the Toledo Bend Dam site. The average annual rainfall over the basin upstream from the Toledo Bend Dam site amounts to about 45.5 inches.

With the improvements to Fin & Feather I think they will take a lot of the tournaments away from Cypress Bend due to the fact no one but the Top Pros can afford to stay at Cypress Bend. Fin & Feather has a history and tradition unrivaled by any other accommodation on The Bend.

[Wesley]

I stayed in one of thier rooms this weekend and let me tell you they are nice rooms, and will not break the bank.  Top notch facilities as well, there is a courtesy dock near the ramp.  There are some new boat stalls close to the restaraunt and the front office has a decent selection of tackle. 

[bigtimfish]

I'm going on Saturday and I will fishing the coves on the backside of gilly's point (highline coves) with the way the weather has been and with them generating, do you think by then the muddy water will be out of there, or should I still throw chartruese? I am not throwing my regular arsenal, the only plastics I am bringing are Paca craws and brush hogs with 3/4 parasite weights for punching an awesome grass bed in highline cove 1. The rest is traps,med and deep cranks, and x raps. Maybe a spinnerbait.

[Catt]

The current from all of the water releases at the dam will help in pulling baitfish onto deep points. Falling levels cause bass to group on primary and secondary points which will help us to pattern them. 

My suggestion would be points, spinner bait-n-traps early & Texas, Carolina, or Wacky rigs later in the day

[Wesley]

Some pics posted of the pendleton bridge, posted by kestrel63 with shockwave rods.

That is some crazy giant salvinia being flushed down the lake by the water being released!!

[bigtimfish]

What is that? I saw big chunks of that stuff around Gilly's point and all over sandy creek.

[Wesley]

Thats mostly Giant Salvina (sp?) which is an extremly invasive species, it can grow up to 3 football fields worth in a month I have been told.

[Catt]

Salvinia molesta, commonly known as Giant salvinia or kariba weed

Most of it is Eichhornia Water Hyacinth

This floating mat is said to stretch from Patroon Bayou to Cypress Bend

[Catt]

Lake level as of 10/12/2009 12:30 p.m.: 172.36

Generator 1: Currently running 24 hrs.

Generator 2: Currently running 24 hrs.

Spillway Gates: Closed

Water temperatures upper 60s - lower 70s

North end is still murky to muddy, mid lake is murky, and with the south lake mostly clear. The back ends of major feeder creeks are murky to muddy but clearing as you get closer to the main lake.

The recent high water dislodged huge mats of Hyacinths and Giant Salvinia which gave Texas Parks & Wildlife the opportunity to spray it.

The Big Pond is slowly returning to normal fall patterns with most every technique producing fish. Outside grass lines in 10-25' are still the best bet with Texas/Carolina Rigs and DD22s topping the list.

Hey Jack & Matt Fly!

A certain buoy marker gave up a pair of 10s to a Carolina Rigged Trick Worm

[Wesley]

Lake level as of 10/12/2009 12:30 p.m.: 172.36

Generator 1: Currently running 24 hrs.

Generator 2: Currently running 24 hrs.

Spillway Gates: Closed

Water temperatures upper 60s - lower 70s

North end is still murky to muddy, mid lake is murky, and with the south lake mostly clear. The back ends of major feeder creeks are murky to muddy but clearing as you get closer to the main lake.

The recent high water dislodged huge mats of Hyacinths and Giant Salvinia which gave Texas Parks & Wildlife the opportunity to spray it.

The Big Pond is slowly returning to normal fall patterns with most every technique producing fish. Outside grass lines in 10-25' are still the best bet with Texas/Carolina Rigs and DD22s topping the list.

Hey Jack & Matt Fly!

A certain buoy marker gave up a pair of 10s to a Carolina Rigged Trick Worm

I am gonna have to find out this super secret buoy marker.

[Catt]

Wesley ole son we gonna have to cure that real soon

[Wesley]

Wesley ole son we gonna have to cure that real soon

Im ready when you are!

[alwayslooking]

Catt, i'll be back on the bend sometime this next week,,depending on weather and turkey,,i'll be paying attention to your updates,,

[Catt]

Lake level as of 11/20/2009 6:30 p.m.: 172.42

Generator 1: Currently running 24 hrs.

Generator 2: Currently running 24 hrs.

Spillway Gates: Closed

Water temperatures are holding in the mi60s

I placed a call to Hermes Fish'n Lodge up at San Patricio, the water is clearing but remains very murky, Lowe's Creek Park mid lake is slightly murky, and the south lake is clear. The back ends of major feeder creeks are murky but clearing in the front two thirds.

Fall is gorgeous time to be on the Big Pond, the smell of a fire place gently drifting on the breeze, the whistling of a pair spooked Wood Ducks, Fox squirrels rustling in the underbrush.

Whoa back to fishing

The early/late spinner bait/trap bite on cloudy days is really picking around shoreline grass.

Rattle Head 3/8 oz. white/chartreuse double willow (S/G).

Bill Lewis Pro Traps MPTSN-3/8 OZ color: SY2 Gold Shad and a color I can no longer wind listed their catalog; its copper colored with a brown head and orange belly.

The Jig-N-Craw & Texas Rigged Craw Worm bite is producing bigger bass on main lake structure from mid-morning until late afternoon.

Terry Oldham's 3/8 oz. trailer hitch jig #18 Lil Gator with a Rage Lobster Double Header (cut 1 off the tail).

Gene Larew 6 Salty Hawg Craw in HC11 Black Neon, ¼ oz Bullet Weight Black and a Strike King Saber Point Round Bend Offset 5/0 hook.

The jig and craw bite is extremely light so remember when doubt Drop the rod, Reel the slack, & Set the hook.

[bigtimfish]

Catt that trap you listed I think you are talking about the "brown eye shad" Ann's tackle shop(Ann Thomasson-Wilson) in Jasper sales them. I have the 3/4 oz size. If I'm not mistaken that's the only place to get them. I was told Bill Lewis Co. makes them especially and only for Ann or her tackle shop. Also, I heard Dawson marine is closing the doors in both Jasper and Beaumont. I don't know what effect that will have on Ann's. As you probably already know her tackle shop is located in Dawson's.

[Catt]

Ann's is my new found love since I only started stopping there this year but I will follow her where ever she moves if she moves.

I have several of those traps and none came from the same place

[HitmanFO]

Fishing report from this weekend...

I fished the back of Sandy Creek on Friday. With all of the grass and lily pads being flooded right now, I was able to go way back in behind the brush, when I usually can't really get out of the boat lane with all the thick grass.

I put the boat in at the Willow Oak boat launch and ran straight out to the middle and started to drift with the wind, directly toward the back of the cove to the left of the boat ramp, if you were standing on the ramp looking out at the water. I started with a blue/chrome/orange belly Rattling Rapala... no bites. Then the buzzbait... nothing. Then a Tx-rig june bug trick worm... 1 dink. Then the trusty old Wedgeplus in Tenn. Shad... that did the trick. I slow-rolled it over the top of the grass, casting up by visible and flooded lily pads, from the boat lane all the way to the back. Once I got to the back, I'd fire up the motor, run back out by the boat lane, and drift back in. Managed to get 4 dinks, 4 keepers, on this day that was supposed to be the worse fishing day of the month... one was 3 lbs, which is a big one for me, and he put up a GREAT fight! Wish I'd have had a video camera... jumped 3 different times on the way to the boat. A friend fishing nearby in his own boat caught a 4 lb-er on a chug bug, and a lot of dinks on a Rattling Rogue.

Another friend that fished the same area the weekend before caught 25 bass, including 9 keepers, the biggest being 5 lbs, on a Rattling Rogue.

So, it was cool fishing an area that I haven't fished before, that I was only able to get to since it was flooded out right now.

Just thought I'd share!

[bigtimfish]

99% of the time I go I launch at Willow Oak. Not a lot of traffic and a good launch area. Good fishing in that area too. I have a secret hole in that area. Right where the small round bouys end and the cylinder shaped ones begin. There is a bowl shaped drop off. from about 7ft to 20ft.  We call it the dynamite hole.

[HitmanFO]

I THINK I know where you are talking about... to the left of the boat lane, as you head out, where the "neck" of the cove is the smallest.  Right before dark I ran out through the neck of Willow Oak and fished those two big islands to the left.  On the way back in, I just drifted along, letting the wind push me back into Willow Oak, and crossed a hole that registered 20 feet or so on the depth finder.  My fish finder started beeping like crazy... showed five or six down there, right on the bottom.  The opening in the grass was only about two boat lengths wide.  I cast back into the 6-7 feet of water, let my spinnerbait fall down the side, but by that time I had drifted over it and didn't get my bait all the way down to the bottom.  I didn't take the time to troll back and try to get deeper... I wanted to make one more pass through the open water before heading back to the ramp.

I was telling a buddy about that hole this morning... I may be going back up Saturday, and I was telling him I was thinking about dropping a jig or worm in it.

Anyhow, that may not be the same one you are talking about, but I did see one right there that I want to try next time.  I didn't pay attention to where it was located in reference to the buoys... just noted it was off the closest point to the boat lane on the left hand side.  There's a big dead tree right there, too, that I imagine is right beside the drop-off... I didn't troll over and check.

[bigtimfish]

You are in the area.Leaving willow oak launch heading toward where sandy and six mile meet.Notice the change in bouys, and a big tall dead tree is on the right side of the boat lane. The tree and bouys, that's how I find my hole. It's just off the boat lane between the 2 different bouys, across from the big dead tree. Maybe I confused you. Dead tree right side of boat lane. Dynamite hole left side of boatlane. It is a very good spot. SHHHH! Keep it quiet. I have NEVER seen another boat there. I think when I found it we pulled 4 or 5 good fish off of it.

[capierrottie2]

Made a short fishing trip this weekend between deer hunts. I fished for about 3 hours in the Housen Bay Area. I caught 2 keepers nothing special and 6 dinks. Caught one keeper off a point near deep water and another in very shallow water near some cypress trees. I used 7in Watermellon Candy Trick worms texas rigged. I did catch a 5lb Fresh Water Sheep Head (Gaspago-not sure about the spelling) I thought I landed a monster reeling it in.

[alwayslooking]

I took my 5yr old fishing on the friday after turkey day,,,put in at 6 mile, around 10am,,,no wind and the temps was nice,,,,just barely up on plane, we went to mill creek,,,went to that point i previously mentioned and set up shop,,weightless trickworm for him,, 1/4 oz texas rig for me,,,he caught the first fish,,lol,,,named him freddy,,water temps were in the 62 degree range,,fished in 16-18 fow,,outside edge of grass,,action wasn't fast but steady,,,put 12-13 pds in the boat,,,my son loved it,,,i'll be back saturday for club tourny