So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[Catt]

jsn, wind creates surface movement the spillway and generators creates current below the surface. With the generators open for 8-12 hrs there will be enough current to position bass on structure but we must also consider other environmental factors as well.

Current created by the spillway and generators is one of those things I kinda pay attention to and kinda don't. It's hard to put into word where y'all will understand, I'm aware of it like moon phase, yearly season, wind direction and others but I don't get over excited.

[fishingcajun]

Catt, sent PM

[Catt]

FYI: I've received an e-mail from the Sabine River Authority, there are tentative plans to do maintenance on the dam which will require a lake draw down to 165 feet which will be 7 feet below full pool.

God I love it

[BulletDon]

Catt,

When is this drawdown supposed to happen?  If it does, what ramps, if any will be available?

[Skeet22]

I've only fish the Bend 3 times in my life and I've done very well in an area I hear nothing about which is way up North in the Cow Bayou area. Is this not a productive area? It seems the water clarity is not that great. We slaugthered them on a chatterbait.

[jsn]

Thank for the pics and the answer Catt.  Sure can't wait to see the lake at that level.

[Bull]

Paul, I use a Lowrance 520c color graph gps on the dash and on the trolling motor. I run a Ranger Comanche Z series 19'10" with a 225 Yamaha.

[Catt]

Skeet22, there is so much available structure & cover on this lake that even after 38 years I'm still finding new spots. This lake is good from the dam all the way up to river near Logansport, this is why I'll tell anglers pick an area, learn it well before moving to the next.

Toledo is quite capable of producing the largest bass of your life or the largest 5 bass tournament limit but for most angler it's a struggle to boat a 5 bass aday.

There is a meeting scheduled for today on the draw down!

Boat Launches by Lake Elevation

http://www.toledo-bend.com/toledo_bend/index.asp?request=boatlaunches

[fishingcajun]

Just read in Lake Charles Paper that the draw down has been approved and will begin Sept. 10. Plans are to bring lake level to 165

[Vickers]

any tips or tricks for fishing Lanan Creek?

[Bull]

Catt , what about fishing arround Texas Island? Would it be better to fish the East side in the middle of the three Islands in that draw?

Thanks for your help.

Bull

[Bull]

To all, I was thinking of joining a bass club again and was wondering if ya'll knew of one in the Beaumont, TX area.

[Catt]

Just read in Lake Charles Paper that the draw down has been approved and will begin Sept. 10. Plans are to bring lake level to 165

Low water for Fall & Winter 

[Catt]

Catt , what about fishing around Texas Island? Would it be better to fish the East side in the middle of the three Islands in that draw?

Thanks for your help.

Bull

I don't particularly like the Texas or Louisiana islands

Plenty guys do & catch alright, there's nothing there that attracts my attention!

[Bull]

I have been reading other threads and have seen were ya'll have had a fishing get together. How about trying to get one together for the fall in the six mile area?

[fishfordollars]

I have been reading other threads and have seen were ya'll have had a fishing get together. How about trying to get one together for the fall in the six mile area?

I was at the first out of harborlight. We all decided to do it again. i'm ready to get the next one started. willing to help put it together.

[Ranger 251]

I was also at the first one and am ready for another.  It was great meeting some of the people and look forward to meeting more.

[fishfordollars]

I was also at the first one and am ready for another. It was great meeting some of the people and look forward to meeting more.

i just opened a new thread.

[TxGator]

Id definitly like to go, and anything I can do to help out Id be happy to do.

On another note, Ive been doing a lot of night fishing, but due to the lake level being down Ive been fishing Rayburn. The places i know that hold fish on Toledo are so stumpy im afraid it would really be a pain to fish at night. Any ideas of any decent areas on the south end that might prove good.

Thanks

Gator

[fishingcajun]

Anybody !!

How will the generators running 24/7 effect the bass movement the first couple of days, like Friday and Saturday. I have been catching a few fish starting to move back into the shallows  8-12 but mainly 18-25. Will this make them pull back from shallow feeding drains, etc. early on or just when they become to low. This is new territory for me, Last time I was around for low water was probably 98-00, fished a Oilman's in the middle of a tropical storm for two days, and i remember fishing so far north that basically we fished  the main creek, lake was basically dry. That's was pretty much a no brainer, I am more interested in the first couple of days. In the past couple of months the bite was better during the 2-3 hrs. the generators were running. Does that mean they will feed all day now, or will the normal feeding periods come into play.  New topic for the Guru's .

[jsn]

and how will this drawdown affect the fish's fall patterns?

[fishfordollars]

and how will this drawdown affect the fish's fall patterns?

First it will suck the bait out of the backs of the pockets and position them on the creeks out in the middle of the bays, off the main lake points, and the mouths of the pockets. I noticed this last weekend on Rayburn.

It will create current. The bass will set up closeby on the creek bends, outside grass relating to the creeks and points. If i were on the bend this weekend I would start with the main lake points, fish the outer grass with plastics and watch for schoolers working out off the end of the points and the mouth of any pocket that had a creek close by.

**Do not pass up a bare main lake point. I've seen these be the ticket at this time of year.***

That being said i am not sure how much rain the lake had. If it got a good dose I would not rule out the shallower depths up on and off to each side of the points. If they are pulling a lot of water i would concentrate on the down current side of the point throwing crankbaits, jigs, and worms. I would set up on the lower side of the point, throw the crank as far as possible up above the point and run it up over the top and off the other side. Better fish should be off the deeper edges, but that could change due to current and amount of rain received.

If I were struggling after all of this i would back out with a c-rig (UGH) and start covering the deeper creeks out close to where they intersect the larger creeks and the river. Concentrating on the humps out near the river would have to be checked.

Good luck.

[BulletDon]

Jack,  You are the man....Good Info.

How was Rayburn?

[fishfordollars]

Rayburn was good. Dodged a few thunder boomers, got wet a couple of times, but we caught fish.

[progator123]

I had gone to get a tire for my daughter's car and a few of us fellows got to talking about fishing.  One of the guys said  that TB was going to pulled down lower than 165, possibly down in the 150's.  Can anyone clear this up?