So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[RCCA]

Busy Guy, just my humble opinion, but last spring was not normal. I was here for Christmas and the water was 65 degrees. I really think most of the fish spawned earlier than normal. Looks like another mild winter. About the time it was about to get right last spring for the usual spawn and probably for the last time the flood jacked it all up. The fall pattern is way late in my opinion too. I still wish they would lie and rank it 20th or so  

[Catt]

@busy guy, this past spring had water levels at & above flood stage!

This is the first year with almost no grass

I've seen some pretty seasoned "Strick's" thrown off their game because they didn't make the proper adjustments soon enough.

[jcdogfish]

13 hours ago, Little Fish.... said:

Yes Sir, me too. I'm almost positive I was parked right next to you Sunday. Catch you one day. Maybe next weekend. I'm about ready to spend my Saturdays at Big Sam though. It's time. Until it rains and cools off at least. 

I'm driving a grey 4wd Tundra........I'm trying my best to get there this weekend again. Probably be in later Friday.

This year has been off for me all year. 

[RCCA]

That was you, then. I'll be in Six Mile Sunday. Rayburn on Saturday.

[mguidroz]

7 hours ago, Little Fish.... said:

That was you, then. I'll be in Six Mile Sunday. Rayburn on Saturday.

I want to go fishing but this think called "A JOB" keeps getting in the way..... lol

[RCCA]

I know the feeling. Otherwise, I'd just move to Hemphill lol. I will have to work the 19th and 20th. Ain't happy about it! 

[Dam Yankee]

Headed out for the first time in over a year this weekend. Sounds like a much different lake than it was last time I was out with not much grass and a slow developing fall pattern. I always launch at military rec and stick to the south and mid lake on both sides of the lake. It will be good to get back out again and have a look around. Are lily pads in the usual spots still?

 

[RCCA]

1 hour ago, Dam Yankee said:

Headed out for the first time in over a year this weekend. Sounds like a much different lake than it was last time I was out with not much grass and a slow developing fall pattern. I always launch at military rec and stick to the south and mid lake on both sides of the lake. It will be good to get back out again and have a look around. Are lily pads in the usual spots still?

 

Man, am I glad to see you on here. I was wondering if you were ok. Glad you get to go again. The pads are way less than normal too. At least in Six Mile. Good luck. 

[Dam Yankee]

Thank you! Good to be back. Things out of my control but, hopefully I will be around a while now. I have missed the Bend.

[RonnieF]

Nice to see you  back Dam Yankee.

My last trip up was just after the cool front came through. Wind was strong out of the north/northeast. I found one of my 2X6's on my boat lift cracked so I had to get that fixed up, plus got a new mattress for our bed so I had to deal with that. I caught a few fish around 16-18 foot deep on a drop shot. I also went to a small pocket I found fish in a few years ago around this same time. About 1/3 of the way across the cove is a bunch of timber/brush laid out in a line going from 20' moving into the cove up to around 12'. I caught 3 on a PBJ football jig and another 3 on a crankbait that dives 10-12'. The next day I was leaving my cove but my engine never came up to temp (probably trash in my thermostats) so I fished a boat dock that has a bunch of brush. I caught one just a hair under 6 lbs. I moved to another side of the dock and noticed in the direction of our camp a big plume of white smoke. I took off for our camp and called the better half asking if the camp was on fire. Not the camp, but the woods maybe 50 yards and across the road were. Called 911 and once they arrived found out there were around 6 other fires along Hwy 1215 plus a couple on 191 by Lanan  Bridge. No idea who started it, but with the breeze it was spreading pretty quickly. It smoldered for a couple days until we left.

I'll be back in a few weeks. Good luck guys that are going.

[Dam Yankee]

Thanks Ronnie. Fire when it is this dry is very dangerous! My first time out in a while was not good to say the least. I found bait balls and schools of fish but not much luck. I stuck to offshore structure on Tx. side after getting a very late start yesterday. Needed to run that boat and get the cobwebs out. I need to rethink and retool. Probably hit it tomorrow.

[vjohn05]

Hey guys,

I've been lurking around here for a while so I figured I'd say hi and ask some some advice.  I'm going to Toledo this weekend and need some recommendations on what to use.  I bought some Carolina rig tackle and some deeper crank baits.  Could you guys recommend some plastics colors and any must have items I should pick up before heading up there.  

 

Thanks,

Vince 

[RonnieF]

Welcome vjohn. A basic answer would be watermelon and variations of watermelon. Watermelon/red, watermelon/candy, etc. Another would be redbug. I've had luck with 6.5-7" redbug worms plus the zoom ole monster in 9.5" or 10.5".

Good luck.

[getting there]

Need to jump in & say hello to all & give a quick intro, got back into bass fishing about 2 months ago after a 25+ year hiatus(fished TB hard for about 5 years in latter '80's--then headed to Gulf for about 20 years & when I 'lost' my crew--ie kids grew up & moved away--AND I got too old for all that bouncing out there, I shut it/that down.:)...Then the  urge hit me a couple months ago & I'm back @ it ---again...Will mostly fish Big Bass & south & hearing there's NO GRASS----wtcrap????!!!......BTW LF, grew up in Bunkie but after graduating BHS in '70, haven't lived there since...:(......

Hope I can get the hang of things again---man, there's more baits(colors etc etc) out there than Carter's got little pills......Ya'll keep up the good posting here, hopefully it'll rub off on me......

[RCCA]

Welcome. Red bug has been the most consistent color for me the past month and a half. Even caught some deep on a drop shot rig. Good luck. 

[jcdogfish]

Little Fish, looked for you Sunday.  Fishing was pretty good this weekend in the mornings.  Caught a few nice fish Saturday morning.  Had a 5 and a 4, a couple of 3's and a handful of 2's.  Tons of small fish, I'm sure 100 if you count the small yellows and whites too.  It was every cast for a good while.  Did not get a bite Saturday afternoon.   Sunday morning was slower, 30 or so with maybe 5 or 6 keepers.  Sunday afternoon slow, 4 keepers.  Much better than I had been doing.  I think if i fished for the bigger fish when they are hot and heavy I could catch a few more but i just love the action.

[jcdogfish]

As far as color, I'm not real big on a lot of different colors.  Probably because I come from muddy water fishing.  I do experiment more in the clear water but usually throw green pumpkin magic or good old black/blue, junebug or black neon.  Real clear and i go to some watermelons. 

[RCCA]

Nice job JC. I waited until after the rain to go Sunday. Saw your rig again in the same spot. Tried to fish deep until about 3. Only caught 5 In my favorite East wind. 

[vjohn05]

Thanks for the help guys.  I just made who ever owns tacklewarehouse very happy.  I picked up a bag of all the colors recommemded along with some flipping jigs.  Any one have any luck flipping docks?

[Bass_Fanatic]

8 hours ago, vjohn05 said:

Thanks for the help guys.  I just made who ever owns tacklewarehouse very happy.  I picked up a bag of all the colors recommemded along with some flipping jigs.  Any one have any luck flipping docks?

Docks are always good this time of year.

[Nitro26]

Been studying maps , trying to do some homework, can anyone chime in on the negreet area? Looks like it has potential? 

[RCCA]

I've never been to Negreet. It does look good just focused on the Texas side right now. My Uncle is in Negreet today. I'll let you know how he does. 

[Nitro26]

Please do !!

[RCCA]

He caught zero Friday afternoon. He said not a stitch of grass. He tried deep and shallow. Brush piles and boat docks. Not a bite. 

[Nitro26]

Reading on Joe joslins fish report , you guys have not had a real cold front come in yet which he said is keeping fish scattered, so with cold moving in this weekend where are you guys expecting it to put them ? Have they already moved to back of creeks?  Or will they be moving out?