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.

SRA has been pulling water since... forever. They’re just now starting to make visible progress - Lake has dropped +/- one foot in the last week, and is still dropping. Rain is coming with the front - but how much... who knows. If history is any indicator the lake won’t stop dropping until one of two things happen. 1.) Lake level hits 168 -OR- 2.) Sufficient rainfall prevents #1 from happening. But... eventually the lake will hit 168. Yes, it’s Feb. but some are, obviously, starting to move up. I suspect the front will put a temporary halt to that but hopefully they’ll just move out a bit but still be eating in prep for the spawn. Time is the teller of all and so too with this!

Welp.... we’re gonna be facing dropping water levels(maybe) and a pretty nasty cold front coming. Any guesses on what all’a that is going to do to the bite between now and Sunday?

To clarify... A channel swing would simply be a less pronounced channel bend. Still irrespective to land mass or point.

You’ll find me in Caney at least one day this week. There are simply countless ditches/drains in the main body of Caney that it boggles the mind. Many leading to spawning flats and some cutting through those same flats. The fish may not be spawning or even in pre-spawn but they ought to be locateable(is that really a word?). I gots me a love/hate relationship with Caney Creek. There is no doubt in my mind that is one of best creeks on Toledo relative to the amount of available structure. The fish are there - I see’em... I jest can’t catch’em.

***WARNING***WARNING***WARNING*** Ofig will be on Toledo 2/6-10/19 ***WARNING***WARNING*WARNING***

That would be bends in the channel - period. Whether it’s located near a point or land mass is, for your specific question, irrelevant.

Yup... I gotta clue! If you see an old fart in a Gambler headed to the back of six mile - head for the mouth of six mile. Orrrrrr... if you see an old fart in a Gambler headed up lake - make tracks down lake. Orrrrrr - better yet... if you see an old fart in a Gambler putting in on Toledo - head for Rayburn!!!!! You can thank me later! ?

Spent some time thinking about this one - again. There is another perspective to consider, one that worked for me. Locate an area that fishes like you do. I spent one full year in Caney Creek. I scanned hours on end, I fished deep I fished shallow and I fished every thing in between. If there is anything you want to know about Caney ask me. Well every thing but how to put a winning stringer together that is. I told a friend that from a map perspective, considering structure, there is absolutely no reason an angler would ever have to leave Caney Creek to win a tournament. I spent a year proving myself wrong. I finished well down in the yearly standings. Year 2 - I left Caney on a regular basis. That’s not to say abandoned it completely. Several times last year I’d be short 1-2 fish for a limit. I could come back to Caney at some point during the day and using the information I gathered the year before- finish out my limit. We have a big fish for the year prize. Last year it was almost $600.00 I won it - that fish came out of Caney. 8.69#s If you’re wondering. I also finished second in points. Had the fish on to win the two day championship tournament and the AOY competition but that fish wasn’t near Caney. When your using an 8’ heavy rod and 50# braid and have a fish on you can’t turn - it’s simply not your time. Sooooo... Learning a section of the lake is not a bad idea and I’m glad I spent the year learning Caney - I know it well! What I did different between year 1 and year 2 ? I looked for and fished structure that I have confidence in fishing with a technique(s)I have the upmost confidence in. I fished from the dam to palo gaucho Tx and La. I covered a lot of water, moved more than probably should have but- it worked for me. But I also know me well and the value of having confidence in where I’m fishing and what I’m fishing with.

Thanks Catt! I know I cry like a 2 year old at nap time but... it seems like I’m always strugglin’ on Toledo. I’ve fished lakes from Guntersville to Falcon and a ton of lakes in between and I’ve never had one kick my butt like Toledo - OK well maybe Eufaula did too. But usually I can finger it out. But... I’m a river rat by choice. Most all of the lakes I do well on is up the river. Because we put in at the military ramp, and the way Toledo lays out, I’m not willing to make the run to get to the river. Mid-lake fishing is, and always has been, my nemesis.

Welllll... Wouldn’t ya’ know it. Either the rain, or later, the wind shut’em down or I can’t fish for squat! I had three spots that put out one good fish each before I left’em on Friday. Come Saturday morning things had changed - apparently. While each spot produced multiple bites I couldn’t convert bites to fish except at one - hump in the mouth of Housen. There I caught 2 that were a shade over 2#s each. Then I started catching short fish. Soooo... I thought, clean out the short fish then get the big’uns. Well... didn’t happen like that exactly. I executed the first part of the plan to perfection! Caught all the short fish. And after that? Well... I stopped getting bites. Crossed the lake and went to a hump in Caney where I had caught my big fish of the day yesterday, and where I had started the tournament, nothing - maybe one feeble bite. With time running out I headed to the very back of one of the coves that populate Caney and pulled out my finess rig - 4” finess worm w/ 1/16oz weight. On about the 3rd cast set the hook on my 3rd and biggest fish of the day - about 2.5#s. Water temp was about 4 degrees warmer vs the main lake. 20#s+ won the ABA tournament - out of the Army ramp, 2nd - +13#s, 3rd - +12#s, 4th and the last money sack - +10#s. 5th came in at +8#s and yours truly showed up in 6th with 6.13#s. 20 boats and 22 anglers participated in the tournament. ABA District 111(Louisiana) host these tournaments out of the Army(Military) ramp each month. Our next tournament(s) is/are February 9th and 10th. These are each one day tournaments. You can enter one, none, or both. If you are an ABA member the tournaments are $85. If you are not an ABA member there is a one time $35 membership fee plus the $85 entry fee per tournament.

Welp.... for me the magic number was 15 as in 15fow. I didn’t load the boat but did way better’n the last couple of days. Ended the day with 4 keepers and one short’un. and enough missed chances to have two limits. The keepers I did catch were decent fish. 1@2+, 2@3+, and one pushing 5#s( but probably wouldn’t quite make it). 3 of the 5 came from the same place but 1 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon 4 came in LA while 1 came from TX. The biggest and smallest hailed from LA. Main lake humps and points is where I found those that were willing. At the mouth of coves - of course. C-rigged Trick Stick accounted for all of’um. First one came around 7 am n’ last one, and smallest, jumped in the boat at around 2pm. Thanks to everyone for getting me pointed in the right direction!

I hear y’all loud n’ clear. Going to the backs of creeks didn’t make much sense to me either. But... there’s two basic truisms that I think of when fishing is tough. 1.) If you don’t know where they are - you can’t say for certain where they aren’t! 2.) If you don’t know what bait they want - you can’t know for certain what they don’t want. Sooooo... sometimes I go in a direction that makes no sense at all.... Having said all’a that... today will find me probing 15-25 fow in pre-spawn locations with crankbaits, spoons, drop- shot and an occasional c-rig! Thanks for the help.

Not supposed to be much wind the next couple of days so you’re good there. I crossed the lake today at 75mph. Wasn’t “glass” but pretty close. Unless the lake is clearing from the upper end you’ll probably be fishing a very heavy stain, if not out right muddy, based on what I’ve seen from mid-lake below the bridge. Either we’re still getting a lot of runoff or SRA isn’t putting a bunch of water through the dam these past 2 days. All I can say is Good Luck! Went to the backs of a couple of creeks hoping to find the water clearing up but - wasn’t to be. Lack of water movement is probably the reason the creeks haven’t started clearing up and if that is the case it doesn’t bode well going up the river either. I know I’m working the south, six mile to the dam, today.

Goose egg day.... guess I’m doing something wrong.... Went north as far as Palo Gaucho. Worked a jig and t-rig on buck brush and cedar trees in 2-3fow. Early water temp was 52 degrees. Ran under the bridge... Water has a pretty heavy stain and cold — didn’t wet a hook. Fished Patoon from the mouth to the back. Nuttin’... moved back to Housen and got a few bites on A c-rig. Are y’all catching fish north of the bridge working the flooded buck brush????

Hummmmm.... I was out yesterday only managed 3 small keepers. In six mile, Miles Creek, the water was pretty stained so I opted not to chunk any jerk baits. I did try 1oz. Spinnerbaits and c- rig deep(20-25fow) with no takers. BTW marked a ton of fish at that depth. Flipped miles of flooded buck brush/cypress trees w/o much success. Best fish,about 2#’s, came off cypress tree in about 2 fow on a 1/4oz. T- rigged trick worm. Couple of others also came off cypress trees, similar depth, on a 1/16oz. finess worm/rig. Stayed in six mile most of the day though 2 fish did come out of Caney/Pirates Cove- where the water was much cleaner than six mile. Going out again today. Starting a bit further north this time though still not past the Pendleton bridge...

I’ll be there Wed. - Sat. Gonna start out on ledges/drops 15-20fow with 1oz. Spinnerbait , multiple different jerk baits n drop shot. Then I’ll head to the buck brisk with “special” 1/4oz. Jig. And probably a hand full of trick sticks T-rigged....

Tatula’s are, in my mostest humble opinion, the best value reel on the market. I tried the Tatula HD for cranking the big crank baits but, for me, the Magforce Z braking system wasn’t up to the task. Yeah, I could still cast and control using the o’l intelligent thumb. But even then I could not get the consistent distance, cast after cast, that the T2 Beast provides. Phil Marks uses, or at least used to use, a Curado 300 for the 8/10XD. That’s what got me looking at larger reels...

For 8/10 XD’s I use an Abu Garcia Revo T2 BST50 it’s a big reel built to handle very large baits and fish. Is available L/R hand. Has 4.9 retrieve ratio but because of the size of the spool it takes up line @24” per revolution. It has dual braking systems and comes with 2 handles. One single grip and one double grip. It’s not cheap. For 6XD’s and smaller I use a Revo3 Beast. It too has the dual braking system. If your not big into chunking really big/heavy baits the Revo3 Beast is probably the one for you. You didn’t ask but... I pair the T2 Beast up with a Dobyns DC806CB. It’s an 8’ rod designed to handle the 10XD or those big west coast swim baits. For 6xd sized baits a Black Envy crankenstein EBC711C is hard to beat - if you can still find one. For what it’s worth.... I started out with the Lew’s wide spool, and still use some of them even now. While they are certainly a very good reel they do not rise to the level of the Revo Beast line. Also for what it’s worth... I am absolutely no fan of Abu Garcia. But... the only reels I found, having the features I was looking for, ended up being the Revo Beast line up. I have a number of different Lew’s reels and like them. My bang for the buck reel is Diawa’s Tatula R100. But Diawa’s Mag Force Z magnetic only braking system starts struggling when bait weight exceeds 3/4 oz. Didn’t intend to write a book but... one thing lead to another....

Once the property owners and SRA reached an agreement, many years ago, on a winter pool of 168’, that’s been the SRA goal... for the most part. If you look at this years level you can see that starting in September SRA dropped the level to 168’. Then the rains came and continue to come. One foot of water, especially at or above full pool, on a lake the size of TB is an enormous amount of water. It takes awhile to move that much water through the system - without creating havoc down stream. Given the opportunity you can rest assured the SRA will get the level much closer to 168’ before spring arrives.

Y’all do realize I’m watching this thread and not only have ya’ violated rule 13.69b(hijackin’) but the more serious violation(we’re talking ban worthy actions) y’all brought guns to a fish fight!!!! This time... a warning! Next time - well you really don’t want to go there...

Ahummmm.... Pickin’up??? When did it drop off? I was there 2 weeks ago and had 15-16#s at the boat with hooks in their mouths but... Started off bad n’ got worse. First keeper of the day(had already boated 3 short fish) on a trap(sexy Shad 1/4oz.) ‘bout a 3#er going nutts at the boat. Already had the net out and it was layin’ within easy reach - all I had to do was pick it up but... When I looked at the fish I couldn’t even see the trap so... Gonna boat flip this’un - I thought. Fish never even left the water. Had’em jump off on a c-jig - almost never happens. And just come unbuttoned on a t-rig - been known to happen before. The only bright side to the day was that after 3 bad practice days I had indeed located the fish. The ABA tournament I fished(blast off from the Army ramp) 19#+, anchored by an 8.94#er, won it. 16#’s+ claimed 2nd. Then a couple of 14# bags... I “would’a” been in contention for 2nd place - didn’t have nothing for the 8.94 dude... Had to deal with a cranking battery that required jumping every time I moved, after about 10am. Ended up weighing in one fish - 1.68#’s. It was 27 degrees when I went by the dock to check out that morning. I told the tournament director that I had so many layers of cloths on that if I fell in the water - it’d take 30 mins. for me to get wet. He laughed - must’a thought I was kiddin’...

I'll be there Wed. - Sat. Brrrrrrr..... Hoping to find'em moving back in the creeks....

Good deal! The guy that won Sat. made a long run north. Perhaps he was in that area. Oh, it will get better. I'm just fond of moaning n' groaning from time to time... I don't know for sure if that's life on the Bend but I can certainly testify that is life in Caney creek! Since the first of the year I've spent approx. 20 or so days in Caney. I'm aware of most of the features: humps, drops, rolling flats. Located a few areas with really good hydrilla - growing in 14-15 fow. Hay grass that has 3-4 fow on the outer edge. Graphed more ditches/drains than the law allows. Some times an area simply does not turn on and for whatever reason that appears to be the case in Caney. I have literally spent days graphing Caney. I am not marking fish shallow, mid-range, or deep. I suspect wherever they are they're grouped up pretty tight and I haven't found the grouping. Next month I'm venturing outside of Caney. I'll pick a cove/creek and begin to cover it much like I have with Caney. Learning a new lake is not always easy, especially this time of year.

Ok... It's official - I suck @ fishing! 2 tournaments Big goose egg on Sat. One keeper on Sun. - that I didn't bother weighing in. How bad am I??? Mabey this will help explain... If you threw my naked butt in a tank full of man eating sharks - I wouldn't get a bite. AND if I did it would be by the smallest dumbest SOB in the tank!!! Wed. an' Thur. did ok trap and c'rig being the better of everything I threw. Sat. was a cluster with the fog. We launched at 7 but I had no intentions of getting in the boat lanes under those conditions. Was about 10:30 before I'd made my way to the back of Caney. Caught a 5, 4, 3 and a couple in the 2.5 range pre-fishing. Caught about 10 fish Sat. ranging from 13" to about 8". Sun. Caught 1 keeper on a trap, lost a "head shaker" on a stump with the trap and broke off one about 3# in a brush pile in about 2 fow with a finess rig. I fished a c'rig a lot from 10-20' with nothing to show for the effort. it was tough even for the guys that live on the lake and fish it daily. Sat. we had 28 boats and the top five went 14+, 14+, 12+, 12+, 12+. Not good at all by Toledo standards. Sun. a guy weighed in a 10.57. Only fish he had. Today it was 13, 12, 12. Only 15 boats. V&m tournament outta Big Bass Marina claimed a few of our anglers.