So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[hunterfishes]

Wow unbelieveable amount of info in this thread.   I have only been on toledo  once in the last two years but will be spending a lot of time there the next month. I have a tournament there in September for the youth championship (minor league)   My dad and I came there this weekend and looked around Hurricane and indian mounds. We had trouble finding Hydrilla much deeper than 17 or 18 feet and didn't get a lot of bites in the shallower grass. We did see a lot of small schooling fish but nothing keeper size. I really like to filp jigs, and hope  that will work, but not sure what to look for to flip to or if  I should throw crankibaits around the shad,  Thanks for the info I have learned a lot reading this site.

[Catt]

hunterfishes, ya pertty young huh

Hydrilla doesn't grow much beyound 20'!

If I were tournament fishing in September I'd be throwing a Texas or Carolina Rig.

[hunterfishes]

yes will be 13 in a few months  but have been fishing tournaments since I was 9 with my dad (team tournaments)    take a look at  ignition bass Youth fishing league web site or my mom has a facebook for me  its hunter martindale at facebook i think.   Should I throw those around the grass or  brush?

[Catt]

hunterfishes, I'm not questioning your abaility just teaching you something.

All aquatic vegetation will only grow to a certain depth, Hydrilla's depth is 18-20'.

This is why I keep telling y'all to start you search in 15' plus or minus 3'. This is you fartherest outside grass line.

Early September I wouldn't change locations much but by late September I'll be exploring major points (main lake-main creek). Maybe into creeks like Hurricane, Bull, or Ashmoore.

[Bearonthewater]

Catt,

 

I've been in Ashmore several times with not much luck.........but I have done fairly well on the grass flats out in front.

 

It's beautiful in there and the water is always green green..........

 

This year I noticed more grass than I can recall from the past.

 

Is there a trick or something special to look for in this cove or do you just fish the points on the outside?

 

All I know of is the old roadbed that cuts through, and there is some standing timber.

 

I've never been to the very back of the cove........and wasn't sure if this area is known to be best in springtime.

 

Thanks.

[hunterfishes]

the tournament is the weekend after labor day  it will probably still be pretty warm. were  going out of fin and feather, my dad says he would rather not have to run a long way up the lake, but when he used to fish toledo 20 years ago that was where the winning weights came from .   this is the championship and  I qualified for it last year on Rayburn and only came in fouth I would really like to do better this year.

[Catt]

Bear, pull your map out & look for the creek, it should run down the west side. I fish the west bank only & only during early spring, fall, winter. I also fish the west point @ the mouth & around to west staying in 10-15'.

Hunter, tell your dad what worked 20 yrs ago still works except now most tournaments are won between Indian Mounds & Mill Creek.

[hunterfishes]

ok thanks   we flipped jigs  yesterday but didn't  catch any that way. we also tried frogs and top waters early  but only had little ones striking. were going back this weekend and try Texas rig, carolina rig and senko's closer in to the visible grass. I also wondered about square bill crankbaits or wacky worms around the edge of the  hybrilla mats.

[Catt]

Top patterns right now in no specific order

Texas rigs 3/16-1/4 oz, 12-18', Trick worms, Bottom Hopper, Recon, Mag Ole Monster. Watermelon Neon, Watermelon Candy, Falcon Lake.

Jig-N-Craw; throw what you want but I throw Oldham's with either Gene Larew Hawg Craw 6" & I cut 1 1/2" of the tail or Rage Lobster. Black/Blue, Sapphire Blue, or Falcon Lake.

Wacky Rigged Trick Worm or Bottom Hopper, Watermelon Neon, Watermelon Neon, or Redbug

Norman DD22 Charteuse/Blue or a varation

Carolina Rig any of the above!

[hunterfishes]

thanks for the help  I'll show my dad and we'll try it.

[Catt]

Since y'all gonna be out of F&F then I highly suggest re-reading the last few pages where we are talking about the Housen' bayou area.

I'll do even better than those pages I'll shoot a PM with some inside info.

[hunterfishes]

Thank you Sir

[Catt]

Thank you, this country needs more young men with the back bone to stand for what is right.

[BulletDon]

I just love this thread

[mguidroz]

Catt or anyone,

 

 

 

Since we are talk about our youth fisherman. I'm taking a good friend of mine son fishing this weekend 16th-18th, it's his first time at the Bend in a boat, and would like to know where would be a good place to start. This kid loves to fish and is quiet the student of bass fishing. I just want him to catch fish (BASS) so he is not discouraged. This trip is a gift from me for his 14^th birthday. It's been ~ 4 weeks since I have been to the big pond, so any help would be greatly appreciated. I don't need any honey holes just some where we can catch fish. We will be staying at South Toledo Bend State Park but willing the run as far as Negret if the wind permits. Something to consider, the wind will be out of the North/northeast. Thanks

 

 

mguidroz

[cajunpapi]

On the lake this weekend. Boy, was it hot? Did get to put in a few hours night fishing on bluffs around Kite's.

I personally got what you call skunked. My son-in-law got on a few fish and caught three keepers in three cast and finished up with 5 nice keepers. I will continue using what I learned here . Can't get anything but better.  

One piece of advice make sure you have all your equipment and it is working correctly ,especially night spot lights.

[Bass_Fanatic]

Catt or anyone,

 

 

 

Since we are talk about our youth fisherman. I'm taking a good friend of mine son fishing this weekend 16th-18th, it's his first time at the Bend in a boat, and would like to know where would be a good place to start. This kid loves to fish and is quiet the student of bass fishing. I just want him to catch fish (BASS) so he is not discouraged. This trip is a gift from me for his 14^th birthday. It's been ~ 4 weeks since I have been to the big pond, so any help would be greatly appreciated. I don't need any honey holes just some where we can catch fish. We will be staying at South Toledo Bend State Park but willing the run as far as Negret if the wind permits. Something to consider, the wind will be out of the North/northeast. Thanks

 

 

mguidroz

I would start around the mouth of Housen.  Look for spotted grass on the flat between White Oak and the North Housen Boat Lane or run into Housen and fish the mats.  Also, If you run north around the LA Islands about 1/2 mile or so on your right will be the landing to Pleasure Point.  The point on the north side of the launch has ALOT of good grass and there is a hump about 250 yards off that point.  Also, there is another hump about 200 yards north of the point that falls off into 25 ft of water.  There are fish there, I promise!  But dont tell nobody.

[Catt]

Mill Creek comes to mind, I think I cover it some where

[shaneus]

ready to get off this overtime bs.......headed to the lake friday evening, ready to do some fishing.....ill report when i get back......got all my electronics mounted and ready to go! new 1198 is bad a$$

[mguidroz]

Gentleman

Thanks everyone for the replies and information. Catt, you mentioned Mill Creek, the last time I was at the Bend I fished it extensively with no luck. I fished east of the island, a couple of humps and main points. The only area I didn't try is where you mentioned the north boat lane second or third buoy in from the month. I will give this area a shot this weekend. Again thanks for the replies and everyone keep up the great reporting. I will start reporting also.

Mguidroz

[hunterfishes]

Alright, dad has the boat ready and i got my poles all rigged out and I can't wait until Friday to try all this at Toledo. Thanks for all the help and I will write back when we get back home this weekend.

[Bearonthewater]

Go get um Tiger!

[hunterfishes]

Thank you sir I'm gonna give it a good try at daylight in the morning  dad says its going to be cooler than normal  wonder what that will do maybe make the topwater bite better.

[Catt]

Go deep or stay home

I'm gonna shoot another PM later!

[hunterfishes]

ok  i'm ready