So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[jcdogfish]

Catt,

If you are not too busy this time of year, how about a back to basics on the fall to winter to spring migration?  Might make these cold nights go by quicker.  Don't use specific locations, more of a general discussion.  Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.

[Sandy_Creeker]

Unless you want to use specific locations. I won't stop you.

[RCCA]

Merry Christmas to you all ?

[Catt]

16 hours ago, jcdogfish said:

Catt,

If you are not too busy this time of year, how about a back to basics on the fall to winter to spring migration?  Might make these cold nights go by quicker.  Don't use specific locations, more of a general discussion.  Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.

 

That's a big question!

 

The first thing we must understand is there are different types, classes, groups, of bass in a given body of water.

 

I call em groups & for this discussion we'll us that!

 

The first group is shoreline bass, they live within a certain distance from bank.

 

The second group are located on offshore structure & NEVER see a shoreline.

 

With that information in mind let's look at pre-spawn & the Housen' Bayou.

 

When discussing pre-spawn/spawn the most popular catch phrase y'all will hear is "bass move shallow to the back of creeks" & the is true but aint the whole story.

 

To the "offshore" group shallow aint the bank!

 

Looking at our map locate waypoint 67 which is the east side of Community Flat. Look around & tell me what creek these bass are going to move to the back of?

 

There are bass farther of shore that than!

 

[Catt]

This is interesting!

[riverbasser]

Well if I ever get to fish the bend im putting in on housen!  What's the deal with Zwolle and beach bay surely theres some bass in those creeks?

[samwise2u]

Gonna try and make it to The Bend tomorrow, think they will be biting?

[Basseditor]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

This is interesting!

 

Is this because of where people launch so those areas get more angler hours?

[Catt]

3 hours ago, basseditor said:

 

Is this because of where people launch so those areas get more angler hours?

 

Nope! Best areas on the lake

[Catt]

@jcdogfish give up already?

[FishNChip]

I guess I have to weigh in on this one (pun intended).  Last spring I was fortunate enough to join that list with an 11.33 caught in Indian Creek.  After several inquiries, seems the closest official scale to weigh the fish was Fin & Feather.  Had to wait till morning because she was boated fairly late in the evening and the wind was howling out the north.  Made the run the next morning.  Weighed the fish, did the paperwork, and released her right there in Housen.  How many other lucky anglers weighing in at F&F have done exactly what I did?  Somebody joked the fish would probably beat us back to Indian Creek.   The gal at F&F said there was research showing the bass don't cross the major creeks.  Is that true?  I don't know, not a bass behavioral scientist  (though a good angler needs to be).  If it is, are we concentrating the proper genetics in the Housen / Indian Mounds area by locally releasing trophy fish weighed in at F&F?  Don't know that one either.  Just food for thought and not intended to question the Housen / Indian Mounds fishery.  This is where I learned to fish TB and they are awesome areas. 

[Catt]

@j babb

 

The fish I caught back in May has now been caught AGAIN!

It was first caught in April on a Ratl Trap,

I caught her in May on a Hudd,

and recently she was caught AGAIN on an Ol Monster...

Unbelievable! Isn't that the craziest thing you ever heard??

Who knows how many times that fish has been caught and not registered with the Lunker Program...

Just goes to show that not all giants are as smart as we think, and catch and release WORKS.

 

edit: for those of you familiar with Toledo: this fish was caught in Six Mile, released in Housen, caught by me in Six Mile, released in Pirate's Cove (LA side of the lake, miles away), then caught in Six Mile again this time... That fish knows how to find it's way home!

 

That's one instance, here's another

 

 

Several years ago 2 DD bad were caught, one in Housen & one in Six Mile, both were released at Toledo Tackle at Pendleton Bridge. Both bass were caught a couple weeks later back in Housen & Six Mile!

[j bab]

23 hours ago, riverbasser said:

What's the deal with Zwolle and beach bay surely theres some bass in those creeks?

I'm sure over the years a DD has been caught in every area of the lake.

This map only shows less than half of the DDs caught last year alone.

You have to consider other years and unreported catches or DDs that died before weighing in

[jcdogfish]

Didn't give up yet, but some of the comments above are what I was after.  Love the map.  It kinda goes with what I've been thinking about.  The areas with high catch rates seem to be areas that have almost ideal migration routes.  Indian Mounds could be used in a Bass classroom and there and the north bank of Housen have it all very close. If you could drain the lake you could stand in the channels and see the routes.  Would be great to build a model of that terrain to study. As much as we think we know, there is a lot we don't have a clue.  Some say bass move a lot, others say they don't.  This time of year makes me think a lot about their movement.  How am I able to catch fish in 2 feet of water on a warm winter day and a couple of days later they are found stacked up in 32 feet.  The two types of bass could explain a lot. 

[Catt]

@j bab mentioned that list is a snippet of what took place, I think the total number was around 200.

 

I know several guys on that list who falsified where & on what!

 

[RCCA]

I've learned don't believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see, which sûcks when you're trying to learn a huge place and are ate up with it. I'll just keep doing my time learning. Meanwhile, it sure is nice duck hunting and fishin in a shallow lake full of grass ?

[samwise2u]

Gonna purchase some jerk baits and see ifn The Bend Bass will bite those. Something that gets down to 10'. Any suggestions on color? Brand? I think something in shad, brand does not matter.

[Catt]

Weather is perfect & I'm at home 

[Bryanhester]

Headed up for a long weekend on the bend. Hope to get a little fishing in. Ready for a little spoon action !! 

[june-bug]

Man I'm ready to start getting back on the lake. It's been a great deer season and the freezers full so it wont be long now. Hadn't fished the T-Bend since mid October. All this fish talk and chat you guys been posting has me chomping at the bit.

[Catt]

Just saying

[jcdogfish]

I'm ready to start getting back there too.  saturday, warm, barometer crashing, if you can dodge the showers it should be on. Im stuck down south this weekend. Anyone else having fits with the Bass Pro Shops popup?

[RCCA]

No pop ups but that 100% chance of rain Saturday is definitely giving me fits! Wish I was off this week. I'd be there now.  Good luck Hester and anybody else going. 

[bassarmy7]

question for ya guys. I have been following this thread for awhile now and have recently gotten a fishin yak. where would be the best place on Toledo for fishing from a kayak to find a lot of good fish. Ive tried paradise and pirates coves, army rec, park site 7 on the texas side and launched from the bridge in indian creek. I have fished this lake with friends on boats before and we were always on fish but that was also running from spot to spot. thanks guys

[kking]

I would thing jacks 944 would be a good place for. A kayak.  Protected from the wind and a lot of good fishing pretty close.  Happy new year and good luck!