So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[alwayslooking]

thanks Catt, for setting me straight   

[Catt]

Ok Paul let's go a little more into detail

The normal lake level is 172', now subtract from that 150', which gives us a depth of 22' of water. Notice I said "normal" lake level, the lake level is seldom 172' on average, if you look at SRA Louisiana Levels/Generating Schedules under Lake Levels Last 9 Years on the date 09-13 your yearly average is 166.76'. So now we subtract 166.76' from 170' and that gives us a depth of 16.76' of water. 

The is the approximate depth at which Hydrilla/Milfoil/Coontail Moss stops growing is in 18-22' of water. Over the last 38 years the depth at which Hydrilla/Milfoil/Coontail stops growing and the average of the 150' contour line is pretty much the same.

To simplify the entire mathematical formula I start looking for this outer grass line in 15' of water.

Ok Catt, question why is this 150' contour line/grass edge so important?

Bass must have a visible path of breaks and break lines on a structure from deep water all the way to the shallows; which is where the bulk of food is available to bass. As bass move along a structure they pause or stop at "things"; breaks and break lines on the bottom.

Breakline: the most correct definition for a breakline is "Any distinct line that is made by cover and/or structure which leads to an abrupt change in bottom depth, composition, or cover transition".

The 150' contour line and the outer grass line has formed a solid easy to find breakline

[alwayslooking]

i'm not trying to beat a dead horse,,,i have read these items before and know they're major pieces of the puzzle,,for whatever reason, i'm just not sure how to put the puzzle together,,,just bear with me and i'll figure out what question or info i need to bring it all together,,,maybe just MORE time on the water,

[BulletDon]

Sure has been quite.

I will be down to the bend this weekend.  Anyone going to be there?  How about you Jack?

Let me know and maybe we can hook up?  We are staying at paradise point.

Donnie

[Catt]

Paul what this low water level will do is reposition all the fish of every species through out the entire lake. What I will be keying on is areas with creeks, bayous, or the river very near by; as matter of fact if it aint got a major feeder creek, bayous, or the river very near I aint wasting my time. While most anglers start at the bank and work outward, I start in the creek channel and work inward.

The simplest yet most effective plan is fish only primary and secondary points!

Weightless or lightly weighted Texas Rigs in 18-20' on cloudy days and 25-35' on sunny days.

WORDS OF CAUTION: STAY IN THE BOAT LANES WHEN ON PLANE!!!

[Bull]

I should be up at the Bend this weekend. Leaving when I wake up. Been working nights. I am up in little lows. Look for the two story blue house, with Bulls landing sign on the boat dock.

[BulletDon]

Heres my cell, ya'll give me a call.  If I don't answer, good be service or running big engine.  Be patient and I will call you back.

512 431 5977

[TBendBassin]

hey skeeterdon i should be up there as well havent fully committed yet though... but if so we will definitely see each other, my camp is in paradise point

[BulletDon]

Great!  Are you camping or staying at one of the cottages?

[TBendBassin]

no i have a camp there lol. the house right next to the boat launch is mine... there is an old pro craft under the carport its like the "family boat" my ranger wouldnt fit there so its at the other place, you will see it

[BulletDon]

we are here  ;D

Staying at the ponderosa

[ealex]

guys i just found this tread and could not stop reading. this is just great how you have got together and shared info and good times and of course fish stories. now a little about myself i have been out of the fish game for a few years now with work and 4 kids in 10 years just did not leave much time for play is you guys know what i mean. now my kids are starting to get to the age where we can start going some fishing and hunting together so i dont end up having to hunt them down later in life. i thank each of you for the info. and look forward to reading more.

[TBendBassin]

welcome ealex!

[TBendBassin]

skeeterdon how are you liking paradise point, sry i couldnt make it up there this weekend i had something come up maybe next time

[fishfordollars]

guys i just found this tread and could not stop reading. this is just great how you have got together and shared info and good times and of course fish stories. now a little about myself i have been out of the fish game for a few years now with work and 4 kids in 10 years just did not leave much time for play is you guys know what i mean. now my kids are starting to get to the age where we can start going some fishing and hunting together so i dont end up having to hunt them down later in life. i thank each of you for the info. and look forward to reading more.

Welcome, see what you been missing.

[BulletDon]

Well, paradise point was nice.  Ramp is a little rough, but the stay was nice and the AC was cold.  Needed it after this weekend.

It was a beautiful weekend on the Bend.  How often do you get a day on the water with little to no wind and you are able to go wherever you want?  Let alone two days in a row.  But Sat afternoon, it got hooooooot.  I almost jumped in just to cool off, but the sun went behind some clouds and help.

Well, it has been 15 years since I was on the bend.  Saturday was tough for us.  Now mind you we were doing a lot of scouting/searching.  But productivity was not that great for Sat.  Fished/searched from 7-6 and only had 5 fish to show for it.  Not much grass up north, did not go past pendleton bridge.  Lots of grass down south, housen and six mile.  Did a little better on Sunday, fishing until noon.  Fished Housen all monring on Sunday.  Started out in the mouth of White Oak and then when back into housen.  Caught 10 fish, with 4 being keepers and the biggest about 3lbs.  Fishing grass line edges.

I think with the water coming down like it is the fish are kinda confused.  It should stabalize in the next few days and they should be more predictable or easier to find a pattern.

The fish were all caught on palstics.  Fluke Water/Red and Baby brush hog Watermerlon and wat/red.  Depths were8-15ft.  Fished the deeper water and no luck.  Found a lot of drains/ditches that fed the creeks and river but no luck.  It seemed that the majority of the fish we caught related to grass.  That was difficult up north, because there was not much grass and of what there was was up next to the shore and we stay away from the shore 95% of the time.

Missed  you Tbendbassin.  Would have loved to pick your brain some. 

All in all, it was a great trip.  No mechanical issues, did not hit any stumps.

I welcome any pointers or suggestions.  I am confused! 

I will be back.

[alwayslooking]

Thanks Catt, for the suggestions, and insights,,,i've been tied up with flag football and haven't gotten much water time lately,,,so SkeeterDon,,,i'm envious of your weekend on the water

[BulletDon]

maybe from being on the water but not from catching fish.

[Catt]

Dang Paul I just started back coaching flag this year

SkeeterDon, sounds right on track!

[Bull]

SkeeterDon, thanks for the info. I'm heading up this week end. Thats where I have been catching most of my fish also. No big sizes but all along the grass lines on pionts in Six mile and Sandy, also some in my cove of Little Lowes creek.

[Bull]

Ealex, welcome to the site.

[Catt]

With the lake level now at 164.94 the bass that were upon the grass flats have relocated to the outside weed line and nearest brush/timber.

Top water bite is excellent on cloudy days but the hawgs are still off deep water structure. Football head jigs, Carolina rigs, and DD 22s are accounting for huge stringers in both size and weight.

[BulletDon]

Catt,

The river authority stated that the lake was going to be dropped to 165.  Based on your past experience, what percent of what they say can we take as the actual truth?  Meaning that they will keep it at or near 165 for what they can control.  In other words, they say 165 but they continue to drip the lake lower than originally stated.

Thanks

[BulletDon]

Catt,

What is your best c-rig bait?

[Catt]

Rage Tail  Eeliminator Watermelon Red with the tail dipped Chartreuse