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Catt-how do you describe these bodies of water?


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Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn. Is the water clear, light stain, heavy stain, or muddy? How much does that very with the time of year?

What lines and weigh do you use on both?

Anyone who knows those two bodies of water, please respond. Catt is the only person I've read who has first hand knowledge of them.

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  • Super User

As with most lakes, the water in the upper arms are normally stained as compared to the water towards the dam.

If you notice, TBend is 75 miles long, and fishing reports are broken down into upper lake, middle, and lower.    Water clarity can be very stained to muddy on the upper part, stained in the middle, and stained to clear on the lower part of the lake.   Just depends on the season and if other lakes are releasing water that run into TBend.    Years past, not much was released into Tbend from Fork or Twakoni.    This year, different story thus far.

   Also, know what tributaries feed those bodies of water.  Unlike years past, Twak is full and has water over the spill way most of the year off and on.    When Tbend opens some gates, that pulls the muddy water in the backs of the creeks out into the main lake.

Was just on T Bend for 3 days, i fished the Housen Bay area and that was very clear water.

Last time on Rayburn was in April.   I'll be on Rayburn 2 days towards the end of the month.   I'm sure Catt will be along anytime to help you further.

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  • Super User

There are plenty guys on this site that has first hand knowledge of the big pond, Matt Fly being one of them. Matt covered the water clarity question quite well but I'll add late winter and early spring is the only real time of year to worry about clarity on the pond.

Your second question I'm not sure if I read it correctly but if you're talking Texas Rigs I use 15# Berkeley Big Game and 3/16-1/4 oz bullet weights but if you mean Jigs it's the same line with the exception of 65# braid for matted Hydrilla and 3/8-1/2 oz jig weights,  

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  • Super User

I will give you some help on Rayburn as Catt and Matt have both covered Toledo.

Rayburn is a very clear water lake except in the winter and spring. Lots of grass and that is where 90% of the fishermen concentrate their efforts.

I use 15# Big Game for all of my mono fishing and 65# Suffix braid when I am fishing a jig in the grass.

This time of year the better fish will be out on the deeper points, humps, ridges, and ledges with grass on them. That being said do not forget the areas with shallow grass loacated in the larger pockets. Lots of large fish taken fishing with frogs.

As far as weights go Catt covered it well with one exception. I will fish jigs 3/4-1 1/4 oz. depending on the thickness of the matt.

I spend most of my time on the lake just above the 147 bridge down to the five fingers area. Some well known areas are Veach Basin, Black Forest(West side), Indian creek, Julie creek, Mud Creek, Bird Island, Harvey Creek, The canyons area, Caney Creek(Great grass), and Coleman bay. The west side of the Black Forrest has many creeks, drains, and humps covered in grass that is very good, however, it does get a lot of pressure.

Best ramps to launch are:

North area: Monterrey Park

                 Cassel-Boykin

                 Jackson Hill

Mid-Lake: Caney Creek

South end: Sandy Creek

            Powell Park

Ayish Bayou area: San Augustine Park

                        Mill Creek

Rayburn lies on a Northwest to Southeast plain, therefore a hard northwest or southeast wind really makes boating dangerous. There are many other ramps available around the lake to allow you to launch and give you access to many areas without having to fight the 4-6 ft. rollers the lake is famous for.

The city of Jasper has built the Humphrey Pavillion down on the East side of the dam where most large tournaments are weighed in. It is a stout run over several miles of open water to reach most of the better fishing areas. I would not advise it if you are planning on fishing up Ayish Bayou or the mid lake areas I discussed.

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Thanks Fishfordollars. I'm going to get my Sam Rayburn map out and start marking it up. I hope my health will be improved to where I can take my new (to me) boat over to Sam Rayburn & Toledo Bend and do some fishing this fall. Hopefully, I will stick to my resolve to finally make fishing a priority in my life. Committing to the boat purchase is a big step for me.

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Thanks Matt Fly and Catt for your information on Toledo Bend. I'm really looking forward to getting over there to check it out. I'm sure I'll have more questions as I do more reading and studying the maps.

You folks that are so willing to share your knowledge really make this board a great resource for us.

Thanks.

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