Toledo Bend Reservoir, TX Fishing Report

I know you are going to think that I am just blowing smoke about how great one of my sponsors is just because they are one of my sponsors.  But let me tell you, whether they were a sponsor or not, they have the most advanced technology in the industry when it comes to trolling motors, sonars, and   GPS mapping.

Last year at this time, I reported on putting a new toy on my boat, the Minn Kota Terrova I-Pilot trolling motor with remote control and GPS tracking.  I have just gone nuts over the past year sitting back and letting my trolling motor do all the work for me.  I can walk around the boat, take my customers fish off their hook, re-tie their bait and not worry about the boat moving off our spot.  Literally, I have sat in one spot all day with the wind blowing 10 to 15mph and never touched the trolling motor.

Well, when you thought you’ve seen everything, you find out Minn Kota has a new Terrova I-Pilot with link capabilities that will communicate with their Hummingbird unit and Lakemaster chip.   I can’t wait to see what this baby can do.

With the heavy rains in April, we’re going into May with plenty of water if SRA doesn’t start pulling the lake.  The first part of May felt more like January than typical spring weather.  We shattered the low record two days in a row; recording temp in the upper 30s.

Some black bass will still be in transition moving from the shallow spawning flats following the creeks and bunching up on the secondary points heading back to deep water.

Early morning and late evening we’ll work the shallow flats close to deep water and main and secondary points with buzz baits, stick baits, swimming frogs, spinner baits, top water plugs, shallow diving cranks, finesse and soft plastics until the sun gets over head.   Once the sun gets overhead and the shallow bite slows down, we'll back out to deeper water and concentrate in the bends of the creeks with crank baits and Texas or Carolina rigged soft plastics.  Later in the month as the water continues warming and the lake is usually falling, the main lake points, river channel ledges, ridges and humps will become more productive.  If you can find the structure and cover holding bait -fish you will usually find the bass.  Schooling activity will start increasing as the water continues warming so keep a shallow diving crank bait, lipless crank bait and top water plug handy for schooling bass.

It’s time for the bream to be moving into the shallows to spawn.  An ultra lite spinning rig, jigging pole, fly rod or just a bamboo pole you can cut off the side of the road can be used to catch these feisty fish.  You can use a clip on cork, slip cork, or straight line casting a small insect type lure (beetle spin, in- line spinner or small jigs) but the most popular baits are live baits - crickets, or worms (red wigglers, catalpa, or meal worms).

The simplest way to locate the beds is to look for honey cone circles along the bank.  The beds will extend out from the shore- line in a semi circle.  Some say they can locate a bed by the strong “fishy” odor emitted from the bed. Usually, if you find one bed there will be more beds relatively close.  However, some bream will bed up in deeper water as much as 10ft.  Dragging a small beetle spin on the bottom will help you locate the deeper beds.

When you start fishing the bed, target the outside edges of the bed first and work inward.  If you pick off the shallow fish first the hooked bream will run through the bed scattering the other fish.  If your catch starts slowing up, move onto another bed and let that one rest.  The bream will move back onto the bed if not disturbed.  Bream fishing will definitely get a kid “Hooked on Fishing”- plenty of action, a lot of fun and “Good Eats”!

With the increase in the lake level, the Whites have been on the move.  We’re already starting to see a lot of schooling action and catching them off major points from 8ft. to 20ft. of water with slab spoons, Rat-L-Traps and shallow diving crank baits.

The Crappie are moving back into deeper water.  Early in the month, work the deep creeks focusing on the points and the bends. Also work shiners and jigs over cover in 15 to 25ft of water at the mouth of the creeks and pockets leading to the main lake.

Lake is 170.29 today and the water temp is mid 60's.Had kids going swimming this weekend but I know it was too cold for that. Joe Dunn said the crappie were deep already. He and Johnny caught some in 20 ft of water on baited holes . Some are probably still shallow tho. We had some caught in the cove behind the park also and some caught under the bridge.They are using minnows and black and chartreuse jigs. Some bass are still shallow also. Dennis Brown had a 6 lber on a frog and Curtis Banks had one he didn't weigh but estimated about 7 lbs. Donnie Nixon and party caught a lot of yellow and white bass on spoons and some people are reporting finding bream beds already. Ted Bertrand had his limit caught in the grass in shallow water on worms.

why will this not let me cut/paste my report?

The lake is in great shape going into April running approximately three feet below high pool. It seemed like the wind blew every day in March with numerous cold fronts passing through. Hopefully the weather will settle down in April.


April is usually a transition month with a lot of fish already spawned and moving back into deeper water. Some bass will still be on the beds and in shallow water while others will have spawned and will be moving back out to deeper water. Moving off the beds they will try to find a comfortable environment where they can recuperate from the spawn and gradually move into their summer haunts. The bass will migrate along the creeks, ditches and secondary points; so concentrate in these areas especially areas that have some type of structure or cover. A variety of baits will be productive from top water plugs, buzz baits, spinner baits, frogs, jerk  swim baits, shallow to mid diving crank baits, finesse plastics and your variety of worms, lizards and jigs depending on the area you target your fish.


Usually in the latter part of April the Bream will start moving into shallow water for their spawn. An ultra-lite spinning rig, cane or glass pole and a bucket of crickets or worms will surely fill up a chest of big ole bream. Look for honey-cone circles in the shallows to locate the beds.


Look for the Crappie in the backs of the coves and pockets. If you dont find them shallow, follow the points and bends in the creeks as they head back out to deep water.


The White bass are finishing up their spawn in the river proper and are heading back into the main lake. Some of the best fishing can be had this time of year as they bunch up on the north end sand-bars. Slab spoons, tail spinners and Rat-L-traps are the lures of choice.

The lake is in great shape going into April running approximately three feet below high pool.  It seemed like the wind blew every day in March with numerous cold fronts passing through.  Hopefully the weather will settle down in April.

April is usually a transition month with a lot of fish already spawned and moving back into deeper water. Some bass will still be on the beds and in shallow water while others will have spawned and will be moving back out to deeper water.  Moving off the beds they will try to find a comfortable environment where they can recuperate from the spawn and gradually move into their summer haunts.  The bass will migrate along the creeks, ditches and secondary points; so concentrate in these areas especially areas that have some type of structure or cover.  A variety of baits will be productive from top water plugs, buzz baits, spinner baits, frogs, jerk & swim baits, shallow to mid diving crank baits, finesse plastics and your variety of worms, lizards and jigs depending on the area you target your fish.

Usually in the latter part of April the Bream will start moving into shallow water for their spawn. An ultra-lite spinning rig, cane or glass pole and a bucket of crickets or worms will surely fill up a chest of big ole bream.  Look for “honey-cone” circles in the shallows to locate the beds.

Look for the Crappie in the backs of the coves and pockets.  If you don’t find them shallow, follow the points and bends in the creeks as they head back out to deep water.  

The White bass are finishing up their spawn in the river proper and are heading back into the main lake.  Some of the best fishing can be had this time of year as they bunch up on the north end sand-bars.  Slab spoons, tail spinners and Rat-L-traps are the lures of choice.

Water lightly stained; 5660 degrees; 2.98' low. Black bass are fair on chartreuse/black soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and blue tube jigs. Bream are good on worms.

It’s March “Madness” and I’m not talking about basketball.  I’m talking about March “Fishing Madness” on Toledo Bend. March is one the hottest fishing months of the year and thousands of people will be heading to Toledo Bend.  With so many people fishing the lake, it’s a good time to go over some basic boating and fishing “etiquettes”.   

Don’t tie up the boat ramp!  Make sure that when you pull up to the boat ramp you are ready to launch your boat.  Park your vehicle and trailer appropriately making sure you are not obstructing or taking up more space than you should.

Be cognizant of your boat wake!  The key here is to be considerate of your fellow fisherman and other boaters.  Slow down so your wake does not endanger others.  Remember, you could be responsible for any damage your wake causes.

Practice the “Golden Rule”!  Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.  Don’t encroach on others fishing spot and don’t cut others off while they are fishing an obvious stretch of water.

Practice “Catch & Release”!  Release that big female loaded with eggs so she can produce more fish for generations to come.

Don’t leave your trash in the lake-take it home!

In March, numerous fish will be moving in and out of the spawning flats through out the month.  The water temperature is one of the single most factors to consider in locating and catching fish.  When the water temperature reaches the middle to upper 50s the Black Bass and Crappie will start moving (staging), or heading to the spawning flats.  When the water reaches the upper 50s and lower 60s the fish will start moving onto the beds.  Not all fish move onto the beds at the same time, but will move in waves and a number of fish might use the same beds at different times.  If a cold front moves in and drops the water temperature, the fish will not move far.  They will just back out to the nearest deep water.

March is also one of the best months for catching White Bass (Sandies) and Yellow Bass (Bar Fish). With great lake conditions and plenty of water in the lake, the Whites will be in the river proper.  Slab spoons, Road Runners, chrome or chartreuse Rat-L-Traps, shallow diving crank baits, tail spinners and live crawfish will fill a cooler of fish in short order.  Note:  Another good trip for Dale Carlson and Don Riesendorf & wives from Nebraska who have been coming to our lake house for the past several years to fish the White bass run. They took home over six hundred white bass in seven days.  That will make for a large fish fry.

Water lightly stained; 56–60 degrees; 3.20' low. Black bass are fair on chartreuse/black soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and blue tube jigs. Bream are good on worms. Channel and blue catfish are good on frozen shrimp, cut bait, and stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow.

Water lightly stained; 5862 degrees; 3.14' low. Black bass are fair on chartreuse spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and white tube jigs. Bream are good on worms

A detailed report of current bass fishing trends on Toledo Bend.

Current Bass fishing on Toledo Bend Res. 

Water lightly stained; 6569 degrees; 3.94' low. Black bass are good on chartreuse soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and RatLTraps. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and blue tube jigs over brush piles. Bream are fair on worms.

Crappie have slowed down on the "chicken coop" .  Some people are still finding some deep but generally it's slow.  Bass fishing has picked up - finding them in shallow water on spinner baits, rattle traps, senkos & iizards.  Catfish are good on noodle trop lines.  Lake level around 168.5 and off color to clear.  Water temp is 62 in shallow and 52 deep.

Going into February the lake is in great shape and we have plenty of water from the heavy rains in January.  Spring has sprung early this year.  With record highs and exceptionally warm weather for this time of year. The fish are moving out of deep water heading to the spawning flats earlier than normal.  Unfortunately, we’ll probably receive some more cold weather, which can throw a “monkey wrench” into the spawn. February can be referred to as a “Feast or Famine” fishing month depending on what “Mother Nature” throws at us.  The fish are loaded with eggs and are ready to move shallow.  Water temperature and weather are the key factors that will determine the productivity of our fishing.

February is the month the Bass and Crappie will start moving from deep water using the creeks and ditches as their highways heading to the shallow spawning flats.  Shallow water warms faster and the bass will move into the shallows when the water temp approaches 55 degrees.  This is what we refer to as “staging” before they move on the beds.  The bass will go on a feeding frenzy bulking up for the spawn.  If the water temperature drops the bass will drop back into deeper water.  All sorts of baits can be productive at this time, jigs, spinner baits, traps, soft plastics, finesse baits, cranks and jerk baits.

The Crappie will also start moving into the deep creek channels in anticipation to their spawn.  Work the bends and points of the channel with jigs and shiners especially areas that have brush or cover.  When the Crappie move into the shallows to spawn work the flats with a shiner or jig on a slip cork with an eighteen to twenty-four inch leader around grass lines, stumps and Cypress trees.  A Beatle spin or similar lure on an ultra- lite spinning rig can be used to cover a lot of water until you locate the fish.

The White Bass have already moved into the river proper and we are tearing them up.   The Whites will be loaded with eggs and stacked up like cordwood when you locate them.    Locating the Whites is contingent on what the river level is.  If the river is out of it’s banks, work the flooded sloughs off the main river channel with Road Runners, Rat-L-Traps, tail spinners and shallow diving crank baits.  If the river is at normal or below normal level, work the inside bends of the river channel sand-bars with Road Runners, Rat-L-Traps and shallow diving crank baits.

Water lightly stained; 60–64 degrees; 3.83' low. Black bass are fair on watermelon and chartreuse spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs over brush piles. Bream are good on worms. Channel and blue catfish are good on liver and stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow.

Water lightly stained; 6569 degrees; 3.94' low. Black bass are good on chartreuse soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and RatLTraps. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and blue tube jigs over brush piles. Bream are fair on worms.

Happy New Year to all my fishing buddies!  I hope you can come and fish with us or stay at one of our lake houses this year.

The following story published over the Internet brought tears to my eyes.  You’ve heard the old adage “ hell hath no fury like that of a women scorned”; well the following illustrates that saying.  

A spurned woman knew just how to get back at her ex-boyfriend for breaking up with her.  She auctioned off the coordinates of his favorite fishing spots on the web.  She got nearly 90,000 hits and netted $3,000.  Ouch, talk about payback!  The moral of this story is to keep your GPS coordinates under lock and key.
 
Going into January the lake is in great shape holding at a little over four feet below high pool.  We finally started getting some cold fronts that have dropped the water temp down to more normal temps for this time of the year.

According to the National Climate Data Center in Asheville, N.C., 2012 will go down as the warmest year in U.S. history.  I don’t think that is a big surprise to anyone around here.

The Crappie season started off a little later than normal because of the above high temperatures.  Now that the water temp has dropped the Crappie are stacking up and good numbers and sizes are being caught.   Work the ledges and drops along the old river channel shelf over and around natural or man-made cover with shiners or jigs.  Use your electronics to locate the cover and the baitfish.    The limit is 25 per person with no minimum length.   

Toledo Bend has always been known as one of the best fishing lakes for Crappie and Black Bass in the country. I would also venture to say that the Bend is one of the best impoundments for White Bass.  Over the last few years the White Bass population has exploded with schools running in the three-pound range.  For years we typically only fished for Whites when they made their Spring run in the river to spawn.  Now we fish for them all year long and usually limit out in short order.  Last week we limited out in less than an hour two days in a row; talk about some fast action.  

The White bass will be feeding heavy and holding on the north end old river channel sand-bars. Concentrate on the south inside bend of the bars with slab spoons, Rattle Traps and tail spinners.  Use your electronics to locate the bait- fish.

In January the water temperature usually drops to the lower fifties and forties moving the bass into deep water.  Their metabolism slows down and they become less active, feeding less and conserving energy.  The easiest way to locate the bass is to locate the bait- fish.  Look for balls of shad on your LCR in deep creeks, sloughs and along the river channel.  When you locate the shad the bass are usually underneath just off the bottom or suspended.  If the bass are on the bottom, they will orient themselves close to some type of structure, brush- tops, lay-downs, stumps, ledges, drops or humps.  A jig, jigging spoon, Texas rigged plastic or a drop-shot rig fished vertically can be very affective in triggering a strike.  If the bass are suspended, a fluttering spoon or tail spinner cast out and counted down and retrieved with a pumping motion can also trigger a strike.  Once the fish have moved into deep water, the strong northern fronts don't affect them as much as they do when the fish are in shallow water.  Remember when fishing cold water down size your lures and fish slowly.

Now is the time to check your calendar and pick the dates you would like to schedule a trip. We now have three lake houses available for rent along with a new fishing pier with cleaning station.  Visit our website for more information.

Water lightly stained; 65–69 degrees; 4.30' low. Black bass are good on chartreuse soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and Rat–L–Traps. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and blue tube jigs over brush piles. Bream are fair on worms. Channel and blue catfish are good on nightcrawlers, shrimp, and stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow.