So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[Catt]

9 hours ago, A5BLASTER said:

Lol I'm having a blonde moment tonight, I'm lost lol.

 

Not according to the pictures ya posted ?

[Catt]

@Nitreaux Now if I gotta pick one it would definitely be "B"!

 

Summer time @ night ?

 

[Amateur Hour]

Just to show you how clueless I am, I just randomly picked that second pic.  I simply looked for a spot that showed a couple of good bends to use for the question.  I had no idea it may be decent place to check out.

[A5BLASTER]

2 hours ago, Amateur Hour said:

Just to show you how clueless I am, I just randomly picked that second pic.  I simply looked for a spot that showed a couple of good bends to use for the question.  I had no idea it may be decent place to check out.

We in the same boat I feel clueless every time I get in the boat. I think the fish just take pitty on me cause I'm old fat and ugly lmao.

[Catt]

3 hours ago, Amateur Hour said:

Just to show you how clueless I am, I just randomly picked that second pic.  I simply looked for a spot that showed a couple of good bends to use for the question.  I had no idea it may be decent place to check out.

 

Shows how big this lake is & the number of places one can fish.

 

47 yrs on this pond & I still go dang I didn't know that was there!

[RCCA]

I think it was far from a dumb question and enjoyed all the responses. Learned a lot and that's what it's all about. Finally arrived back at Six Mile. So freakin' happy, I don't care about the water level, color, or tempature. Just gunna fish like it's my last chance. Also, somebody towed my Ole Uncle from the mouth of Six Mile to the landing today and just in case you're reading this, I appreciate ya and hope to return the favor some day. 

[Dougw]

Fished yesterday. Spent the entire day in Caney/Pirates Cove. Won’t do that today. Managed a total of 4 bites from 8 to 3. Got one 14” spot in the boat. Saw one I put a hook in before it came unbuttoned, might of been a keeper. Stayed shallow most of the day. Did move out to the 15-25 fow range and picked up 2 of the 4 bites I got. They’ve been biting really funny on the c-rig lately. Dunno what it is... Change baits n’ colors but it doesn’t change the bite. They pick it up and put it down... real quick. Are there crabs in Toledo? Feels like a crab bite to me!

 

Talked to a couple of guys that made the trip across the lake yesterday. The suggested that the trip back wasn’t exactly a lot of fun. Said they had to stop and put rain gear on. Also said they had a 4 and a 5 in the boat within a few minutes of their first stop. Best five were 2-4’s, a 5, and two other “solid” fish. Sounded like their best 5 came in at around 18#’s or so. Total of 8 fish on the day but they spent a lot of time riding around looking and scanning. Key for them - be around grass.

 

Won’t say what they were chunkin’ but will say I’m tying on a red trap and looking for grass today... I threw a citrus shad xcaliber 1/4oz. one knocker yesterday. Both that and sexy mamma have worked well for me in the past.

 

Yesterday through out the day I rotated between: one knocker, 3.5 swim bait/ flashy swimmer, black/gold wiggle wart, c-rig, 1/4oz. jig, vibrating jig, finess rig, black/gold jerk bait, spinner bait. Shallow most of the day and all I can say is that bite did not happen for me in Caney. Did not check the many Creek channels/ditches that exist in Caney yesterday but will take a look at a few of them some time before I get off the water today.

 

[Catt]

I have a love/hate relationship with this whole pre-spawn/spawn fishing!

 

It's like chasing the wind!

 

Give a hot summer night on main lake structure & I'm happy, happy, happy.

 

The lake has changed drastically over the last 2-3 weeks. It went from high water levels to dropping water levels. Water clarity saw the entire spectrum of colors. The weather patterns swung from one extreme to the other. Water temperatures are going up & the past 3-4 days helped.

 

Typical early pre-spawn on the Bend ?

 

The reports I'm hearing are literally all over the map with no one area say "it's on"!

[A5BLASTER]

The water color on San Miguel is clear. Like clearier then I have ever seen it.

 

I don't like it give me some chocolate milk any day over this bourbon colored water.

[Amateur Hour]

3 hours ago, Catt said:

 

 

Give a hot summer night on main lake structure & I'm happy, happy, happy.

 

 

 

 

I don't fish at night because of 

 

Quote

 this bourbon colored water.

 

[Bjrseno]

First of all I want to thank all of for contributing to this forum and especially Catt for staying

with this site all these years and helping those of us who wish to learn more about this great 

fishery. I am retired and just set up a camp about 1 yr ago in the Lanann Area. This spring

I promised myself I would venture out and try to learn new areas, especially on the South End.

I am limited where I can go due to size of my boat. I would love to get some ideas from some of you

who fish Toledo a lot on some places I could consider learning which have good fishing areas fairly close

to the launch area, is pretty protected from the wind, and has productive fishing during different seasons of 

the year. Perhaps one Creek area that you would learn if it would be the only creek you could fish. I realize main lake areas

are important during the summer but I also assume that some of these good creeks hold fish year round. 

Thanking you in advance 

[Dougw]

22 hours ago, Catt said:

I have a love/hate relationship with this whole pre-spawn/spawn fishing!

 

It's like chasing the wind!

 

Give a hot summer night on main lake structure & I'm happy, happy, happy.

 

The lake has changed drastically over the last 2-3 weeks. It went from high water levels to dropping water levels. Water clarity saw the entire spectrum of colors. The weather patterns swung from one extreme to the other. Water temperatures are going up & the past 3-4 days helped.

 

Typical early pre-spawn on the Bend ?

 

The reports I'm hearing are literally all over the map with no one area say "it's on"!

Yup... All’a that and the fact I stayed in Caney all day. There were more boats in Caney than I’ve ever seen on a Wednesday, reckon the wind had something to do with that. Enough of yesterday...

 

Today... chunked a trap on my way out of the army ramp. One on but came unbuttoned. 

 

7:00am... Ran to six mile chunking red trap(one knocker) in/around grass. Boated two pretty quick. Both would keep but nothing to write home about. Left that area an went to miles creek. Didn’t go into miles creek opting instead to go into the pocket on the right hand side. Wind was howling out of the south right into that pocket. Deep water went pretty far back. Even cuts inside the pocket had 10-12 fow. Front to back with trap, jig and flashy swimmer w/3.5” Shadalisous sb. Nothing.

 

Went back to my starting spot and boated 2 more. Started moving away from that spot and boated two more - still relating to grass. Pulled up the trolling motor and headed to Housen. Ran about 1/2 way back and c-rigged a spot that has been nice to me in the past - it wasn’t today. Moved a little ways to a hump and raked it with a trap - nuttin’. Was gonna go fish another hump but... the wind started blowing straight outta Housen. 

 

Having checked the weather before getting on the water I knew that west wind was going to be brief and it was ushering in the North wind and rain. Soooo... I beat feet back to Caney. Set down on a hump and lobbed a c-rig a few times before boating a short spot. Made a few more cast. Got another bite but missed it. Then... The North wind showed up with a vengeance, making me extremely glad I was back in Caney.

 

Then I could see the rain coming from up lake - in a hurry. Sooo... I got in a hurry and put the boat on the trailer n’ called it a day.

 

All pockets/ coves on the north side of the primary creeks, even early morning, is running 4-5 degrees warmer than the south side banks. 64-65 degrees for the north and 58-59 degrees on the south.

 

Oh... And... Water clarity is not real good in Housen, Six mile, or Caney. The outline of the trolling motor is just visible. The prop on the outboard? You can tell it’s stainless but you ain’t reading “Mercury” that’s printed on it.

 

Wind permitting I’ll fish Indian Creek and other areas South of Six Mile tomorrow.

 

 

[Catt]

Morning Y'all ?

 

I asked a moderator to move this into the Toledo Bend thread but aint got no answer.

[Catt]

@Bjrseno Don't know why I didn't think to move this myself!

Quote

 

First of all I want to thank all of for contributing to this forum and especially Catt for staying

with this site all these years and helping those of us who wish to learn more about this great 

fishery.

 

I am retired and just set up a camp about 1 yr ago in the Lanann Area. This spring

I promised myself I would venture out and try to learn new areas, especially on the South End.

 

I am limited where I can go due to size of my boat. I would love to get some ideas from some of you

who fish Toledo a lot on some places I could consider learning which have good fishing areas fairly close

to the launch area, is pretty protected from the wind, and has productive fishing during different seasons of 

the year. Perhaps one Creek area that you would learn if it would be the only creek you could fish. I realize main lake areas

are important during the summer but I also assume that some of these good creeks hold fish year round. 

 

Thanking you in advance 

 

 

[A5BLASTER]

7 minutes ago, Catt said:

@Bjrseno Don't know why I didn't think to move this myself!

 

First of all I want to thank all of for contributing to this forum and especially Catt for staying

with this site all these years and helping those of us who wish to learn more about this great 

fishery.

 

I am retired and just set up a camp about 1 yr ago in the Lanann Area. This spring

I promised myself I would venture out and try to learn new areas, especially on the South End.

 

I am limited where I can go due to size of my boat. I would love to get some ideas from some of you

who fish Toledo a lot on some places I could consider learning which have good fishing areas fairly close

to the launch area, is pretty protected from the wind, and has productive fishing during different seasons of 

the year. Perhaps one Creek area that you would learn if it would be the only creek you could fish. I realize main lake areas

are important during the summer but I also assume that some of these good creeks hold fish year round. 

 

Thanking you in advance 

I'm just up the road from him. Don't know much bout the lannan area but if he will pm me he is welcome in my boat and I can do my best to show he what I know about San Miguel and the 1215 boat ramp area and Christmas tree.

[Catt]

@Dougw1515@aim.com Dang you hardcore!

 

With the pine trees starting to pollinate this wind helps kill my sinus.

 

@Bjrseno I fish Toledo Bend a lot out if my 16' Alweld marsh boat. I pretty much know every public boat launch on the lake & simply trailer to where I wanna fish. If it's windy I stay off the main lake.

[Dougw]

Some day are diamonds... Then on the other hand... some days are stones...

 

So... I'm in a rocky patch as of right now! Got to the ramp around 7:00. Backed’er down and fired’er up. Engine temp when I turned the ignition key on was... 32 degrees. Set there for a few minutes and watched the temp climb to 50 degrees. Backed it off the trailer, idled over to the dock and tied it off. Left it running to warm up while I parked the rig. As I was walking up the dock I heard the engine miss a beat or two then it sounded like it sneezed, made a clinking sound and then died - a whiff of smoke curling up out of the upper vent... Mmmmmm... thought I. This can’t be good. Put the truck/trailer in the parking lot then went back to try to figure whut happened.

 

Cranked the engine and other than hard to start it sounded fine. Turned it off and cranked it again, started as usual this time. Checked the gauges - no water pressure. Ka’rap! Ran the engine up to about 1500 rpm. No water pressure and no tale-tale. Ka’rap! I have a torque master l/u with low water pickup on the nose. Soooo... untied, got “close” to the no wake bouy n’ kicked it in the butt’inski. Got to about 40 mph. No water pressure and no tale-tale. Uh...Oh... Trailered back to BigBass marina, where I’m staying.

 

Pulled the cowling and started inspecting.... looked like I had a fire on the back of the engine. After running the engine on a hose I discovered a high pressure fuel line leaking. Besides melting some plastic mesh harness and kinna heating up some of the starboard side injector plugs it also melted the line going to the water pressure sending unit for the smart craft/system link gauges.

 

Called Carlson’s over in Six Mile. They had a new hose. Mercury wanted $262.00 for an 18” piece of high pressure hose with fittings on each end - INSANE!!! Fortunately they had a used hose off a 2016 engine for $130.00. 3 or so hours later new hose installed. Engine tested and put back together.

 

Backed off the trailer at 2:00. Made a hard run to the mouth of Big Bass Cove. It stuttered coming out of the hole and I didn’t hit but 63 mph. About 15 mph off of normal.

 

Broke out the c-rig and worked the point for about an hour and a half before I figured out - I just wasn’t that made at’em today.

 

Fired up... hammer down... back to the ramp. No hesitation this time and performance seemed “normal” but I didn’t put any glasses on and when I got around 60-65 couldn’t see squat so I had to shut it down.

 

Reckon I’ll fish the tournament tomorrow. Reckon I’ll make the run across the lake... Hope I make it there AND back.

[A5BLASTER]

1 hour ago, Dougw1515@aim.com said:

Some day are diamonds... Then on the other hand... some days are stones...

 

So... I'm in a rocky patch as of right now! Got to the ramp around 7:00. Backed’er down and fired’er up. Engine temp when I turned the ignition key on was... 32 degrees. Set there for a few minutes and watched the temp climb to 50 degrees. Backed it off the trailer, idled over to the dock and tied it off. Left it running to warm up while I parked the rig. As I was walking up the dock I heard the engine miss a beat or two then it sounded like it sneezed, made a clinking sound and then died - a whiff of smoke curling up out of the upper vent... Mmmmmm... thought I. This can’t be good. Put the truck/trailer in the parking lot then went back to try to figure whut happened.

 

Cranked the engine and other than hard to start it sounded fine. Turned it off and cranked it again, started as usual this time. Checked the gauges - no water pressure. Ka’rap! Ran the engine up to about 1500 rpm. No water pressure and no tale-tale. Ka’rap! I have a torque master l/u with low water pickup on the nose. Soooo... untied, got “close” to the no wake bouy n’ kicked it in the butt’inski. Got to about 40 mph. No water pressure and no tale-tale. Uh...Oh... Trailered back to BigBass marina, where I’m staying.

 

Pulled the cowling and started inspecting.... looked like I had a fire on the back of the engine. After running the engine on a hose I discovered a high pressure fuel line leaking. Besides melting some plastic mesh harness and kinna heating up some of the starboard side injector plugs it also melted the line going to the water pressure sending unit for the smart craft/system link gauges.

 

Called Carlson’s over in Six Mile. They had a new hose. Mercury wanted $262.00 for an 18” piece of high pressure hose with fittings on each end - INSANE!!! Fortunately they had a used hose off a 2016 engine for $130.00. 3 or so hours later new hose installed. Engine tested and put back together.

 

Backed off the trailer at 2:00. Made a hard run to the mouth of Big Bass Cove. It stuttered coming out of the hole and I didn’t hit but 63 mph. About 15 mph off of normal.

 

Broke out the c-rig and worked the point for about an hour and a half before I figured out - I just wasn’t that made at’em today.

 

Fired up... hammer down... back to the ramp. No hesitation this time and performance seemed “normal” but I didn’t put any glasses on and when I got around 60-65 couldn’t see squat so I had to shut it down.

 

Reckon I’ll fish the tournament tomorrow. Reckon I’ll make the run across the lake... Hope I make it there AND back.

Good on you too push throw troubles and try to get it done.

 

Me I'm setting infront the fireplace, just finished a big plate of fryed bass and French fries and now sipping on a cup of coffee, toasty and warm.

 

I ain't that mad at them either lol. Maybe Monday or Tuesday I will be lol.

[RCCA]

Remember when I said I didn't care about the weather?  ???? I always make it sleet!  Still fixing, cleaning, and organizing anyway lol.  I'll be ready about Sunday, hopefully, if I can chisel my boat cover off to replace the cranking battery... AGAIN! 

[Catt]

@Dougw1515@aim.com Still better than working!  ?

[Catt]

This was this afternoon!

 

I aint that angry at em! ?

 

[RCCA]

Almost glad my battery was dead lol. I was at the landing, wondering why, and then the battery I charged for two days could barely trim up the motor. Thank you Baby Jesus. 

[A5BLASTER]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

This was this afternoon!

 

I aint that angry at em! ?

 

That is just stupid. 

 

Plain and simple.

 

I wonder if this thought ever crossed his mind" I wonder how many people have to risk their lives to come get my stupid dead body if I die out here in this mess"

[Catt]

3 minutes ago, A5BLASTER said:

That is just stupid. 

 

Plain and simple.

 

You getting sleet?

 

There's a video on Facebook showing sleet accumulation in some dude's boat!

[A5BLASTER]

8 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

You getting sleet?

 

There's a video on Facebook showing sleet accumulation in some dude's boat!

We have had sleet and snow flurries since around 1pm this afternoon at my house.

 

When the snow flurries stop it's a mix of sleet and rain then back to sleet.

 

It has been sticking it melts after a few mints.