So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[jcdogfish]

Wish I could help but I don't use a rod with spoons.  Once a year I buy a dozen or so and throw them overboard on the next trip. Saves me a lot of time getting them unhooked and breaking off.

[RonnieF]

I know what you mean jc, the area I was fishing I hung up a lot. I only lost one, but I also lost my lure knocker on one hang up. Dang spoons cost almost as much as a 10 or 8 XD crankbait. I was almost tempted to cut off the bottom facing hook on the treble hook.

JC, you're welcome to throw them by my swing at the boat house!!

[RCCA]

Them  M-Pack spoons look somewhat snag proof. Not sure hadn't tried them yet. Bought those after I lost almost ALL the others lol 

[RonnieF]

They sure do look more snag proof than a treble hook spoon. I just placed an order for some more yesterday afternoon. I'll see how long they last, but I'm not too confident with all the snags in the areas I've been fishing. Heck, I think there's more snags than fish!!!

[RCCA]

I'd give my right leg to hang up right now!  Only because it's killin' me!  Ha ha 

[ToledoMard928]

Finally made it back to the lake on the 7th and 8th of June for a little fishing between baseball tournaments.  I have been seeing all of the reports of good fish being caught from 2 to 25 feet so I was hopeful we could get on a few fish before heading to Omaha, Nebraska for my son's world series.  We hit the banks and outside edge of grass without much luck.  After several hours we decided to head to deeper water and see what happens.  The first spot we hit a school and my son put 11 in the boat on a dropshot before I caught a fish.  Once this school slowed down we relocated to a deep point next to a creek bend.  Once we found the direction the fish wanted to see the bait it was on, we caught 60+ fish over the next few hours.  We were in 21 to 25 foot of water throwing Carolina rigs.  When the bite would slow down we would switch to crank baits or football jigs to get the school moving again.  My absolute best day fishing deep!!  We conservativly boated 100+ fish in the two days of fishing with 5 being over 5 pounds.  The picture is of a 6.28 my son caught.  All fish lived to be caught another day. 

[BulletDon]

Awesome job, thanks for the report.

[Bassin225]

Hi, my name is Tanner Magee and I just wanted to say hello to everyone who contributes to this thread which I have read every page of. I have been following this thread for about a year now soaking up all the info that has been generously given here.  I've only been on Toledo Bend once and it was an awesome experience.  Last June me and a buddy of mine went on our high school graduation trip and fished with Joe Joslin who is a great guy and I would recommend him to anyone.  We caught well over 120 fish in 3 days.  Ever since we left we have wanted to get back but it's hard to find time between college and work.  Anyway we have a trip planned for July 15th-18th.  I'm pumped and can't wait to try to catch some fish on our own.

 

Catt, with all the info you have given I've been able to find some of the spots we fished with Joe Joslin and understand why we were fishing them.  I've also been able to locate plenty of other places using the HNL map and navionics app that look like they should hold some fish.  Catt, I'd also love to do some more map study if you don't mind! 

Thanks to everyone who has kept this thread going it is truly great!!!

[Catt]

Tanner how y'all are?

The only thing required on this thread is we share what we can. We understand some tournament fish so they my leave out some details.

As for map study ask what you want & I guarantee myself or someone will help!

[Bassin225]

6 hours ago, Catt said:

Tanner how y'all are?

The only thing required on this thread is we share what we can. We understand some tournament fish so they my leave out some details.

As for map study ask what you want & I guarantee myself or someone will help!

I'd like to take a look at Buck Creek.  I don't think that one has been covered but I could be mistaken.

[Catt]

2 hours ago, Bassin225 said:

I'd like to take a look at Buck Creek.  I don't think that one has been covered but I could be mistaken.

Ya talking down on the south end?

[jcdogfish]

A tutorial on Buck Creek would be interesting.  I've fished it in the spring and a couple of times in the summer/fall.  There are a couple of nice flats off of points that I've done ok with.  Usually the water is too clear for me so I am interested in this.

[FishNChip]

I have fished the far south end Texas side for about 3 years now.  Have done well in Indian Creek (numbers and size), have done well off the main point that lies between Buck and Indian Creeks, and have done well in the "bay" formed by the confluence of Buck and Indian Creeks.  However, when I venture into Buck Creek proper, it's a different story.  Neither me nor anyone in my boat has gotten a bite in Buck Creek.  Is it us?  Maybe.  Take a look at the Google Earth satellite image of TB from March 2016 after all the rain with the gates wide open.  You can see stained water flows out of Indian Creek, Mill Creek, Sandy Creek, and Six Mile.  Buck Creek appears to be mostly clear.  To me, this means no new water in Buck Creek.  Can't say its the same on TB, but in the Atchafalaya Basin, clear water ususally means slow fishing.

[Bassin225]

Catt, yes on the far south end.  I plan on launching at SRA site #7 and probably won't fish north of Six Mile.

[Catt]

I do not have a lot of experience south of Mill Creek & the Texas islands. Some of those trips were striper fishing.

I did fish several tournaments out of Indian Creek Lodge & Newton Co public boat ramp, these were fall tournaments.

Like FishNChip a lot of time was spent on the main point between Buck & Indian. 

When in Buck it was in the coves on the north side with crankbaits & spinnerbaits.

[Bass_Fanatic]

I like fishing buck during early pre spawn. There are so many big points with creeks running next to them on the north side.  It's also one of the best creeks for sight fishing in the spawn as it stays clear and has plenty of grass for fish to make beds in. 

[FishNChip]

Bass_Fanatic would know more about BC than me.  His description is spot on, the place looks like bass should cue up to jump on your line.  Unfortunately, that is not my experience.  I hope to figure it out because it is one of the few places you can fish when the wind has kicked up the main lake and many other creeks too much for a pleasant outing.

[Bass_Fanatic]

The key for me in buck creek has always been the deep grass line.  In years past I've fished hydrilla grass lines in as much as 28 ft of water.  Also, punching deep hydrilla has been pretty productive for me in years past.  This year, the grass isn't out nearly as deep so I've focused more on channel swings in buck.  I haven't spent a ton of time in there this year, but the fish I have caught have all been in 25-35ft on channel swings close to the flats on the north side.

[Catt]

2 hours ago, FishNChip said:

 I hope to figure it out because it is one of the few places you can fish when the wind has kicked up the main lake and many other creeks too much for a pleasant outing.

This is the reason we launched down here!

One of the wettest tournaments I ever fished we launched at Newton Co which was fine till I got a wild hair to run up to Indian Mounds with 30+ mph northerly winds at night! Took second but everything in the boat was soaked including us...still don't like Tritons!

Any of the creek arms will be some what protected if you launch & fish the northern side.

Six Mile is my favorite when a northerly wind kicks up

[Bassin225]

Appreciate the tips guys.

[FishNChip]

Thanks Bass_Fanatic.  Fishing deeper creek bends is one thing I haven't tried on Buck Creek.  Will be staying on Indian Creek with the family the first week of August and will give that a go.

[Bass_Fanatic]

Heres the show my dad and I shot.  

[RonnieF]

Quote

 

We'll be headed up in a couple of hours and stay until next Thursday. I usually spend most of my time north of Pendleton, but I may trailer down south probably after the 4th. I imagine it's going to be a zoo up there. Maybe I can get on some schoolers.

Good luck to all that'll be up there and be safe.

[dcmclassic]

I'm at the lake now, haven't had just a whole lot of luck over the past few days. Tried deep, shallow. The ones that I've caught have been shallow and deep. Everything from a plum trick worm in the grass to a DD22. I just can't seem to nail down a pattern this trip. We've been fishing mainly the Paulo Gaucho branch of the lake. I have found a lot of suspended fish right around the thermocline just can't get them fired up. Still beats fishing Lake Houston though.

Edit for 7/1/16

So today has been decent.  Spoons for suspended bass around 15ft, jigs and drop shots around shaded docks during the middle of the day.  The spoons have produced around bridge pylons for us today. Also ran across some decent size schoolies,

[kking]

Glad you got on a few.  Looks like I am seeing a thermocline around 16-18 ft.   You seeing the same?