Well, I got the green light from the wife for another trip to the bend. After watching the weather last night, it's looking real good, no rain and sunny. Not sure about the wind just yet, but I going anyway. Any of you want to hookup one of the days let me know. More than likely I will stay at the Sabine Inn. ( Thursday and Friday 6-7 ) Sat. ?

P.S. Please reply with the other places to stay from Lowes back to Six Mile, i may think about trying one of those places, may save a few bucks !!

Catt- I am determined to make this trip for quality rather than quantity. I have read through all the posts again, and have narrowed down my tackle selection to C-Rig ( Watermelon,WR,W-candy), Texas Rig, Spinner bait, and the

last resort DD crankbait, and or drop shot.

Few questions -

1. Do you peg your Texas Rig, and do you still stick to the 1/4 and 3/16 ounce sinkers, no matter what the depth.

2. Do you try and match your sinker color to the plastic color.

3. Do you use tungsten or lead, etc.

4. C-Rig - Average length of your leader.

5. C-Rig - Do you find lead,brass,tungsten, anyone stands out in number of bites.

Stepping out on a limb here.

Catt, don't want you to give up any of your best holes, especially with the BBS coming up. If you could point me to a couple of points with grass, creek and deep water that you have had luck on in the past, I would greatly appreciate.

I have caught fish this year on the main lake points North side of Palo Gaucho, on the grass beds that are visible. There is a good creek within 75- yds, but i cannot seem to get any fish to bite once i back off of locations i have been catching and search the creeks, etc. feeding them. I can't tell you how many fish I know was caught this year in the coves just north of Palo Gaucho, it has a good creek feeding it, at least two good secondary points with the creek running almost up to each point. I have tried to back off and work the deeper water, once the early bite slowed down, but have failed to get a bite. I have to admit, I did not give it the time I should have, but I plan to do that this trip. If you have time, look at those coves, and any feed back would be appreciated. Those or the two spots, that i would pick since i have caught fish there this year.

I also tried this spot this year, The intersection of the main river, Spring hill boat lane, and the pipeline crossing next to Texas side Penelton Bridge. Any thoughts on that spot ?

Jack - I have located part of the creek that leaves carrice and cuts through community cove, however I have not been able to determine by my electronics at what point it crosses the old road bed. Looking back at the aerial views from 2007, it appears the road cuts directly over the main Island ? That area has all the things you and Catt have mentioned, deep water, with a creek, road bed, etc. I have seen quite a few boats at times tied up fishing the main creek where it makes a sharp turn back towards the Texas side, my maps show an old road bed in that vicinity. Again, my electronics and my lack of knowledge using them prevent me from locating ( pinpointing ) all off the above mentioned spots.

As mentioned in some of the other posts, I have just begun to fish bass again, ( last April 09 ). Back in the 88-99 yrs. I caught fish in the carrice creek and 1215 areas, but never paid attention to details. Now that i have read this forum, I have been paying attention to my surrounding's and trying to locate where the creeks entered the lake, etc. My next hurdle it to trying and find structure and outside grass lines, etc. to incorporate all of the things i have learned from reading this forum.

Catt- at the present lake level - what would be the average depth of the outside grass line in the Palo Gaucho area and the coves mentioned above.

Sorry for the long post, I have a lot of time offshore, I tend to get diarrhea of the fingers, !!

Answers

1. I use a none pegged bullet weight 99% of the time

I have 2 Texas rigged rods on my deck year round, one with a 3/0 straight shank round bend hook (thin plastics) & one with a 5/0 offset round bend hook (thick plastics).

Depending wind I will select either a 3/16 or 1/4 oz out to 25' of water

2. No, I use a black weight but I'm not opposed to natural color if I run out of black

3. either one is OK

4. 30" with a 3/8 oz weight

5. Nope, I believe the material of my weight has nothing to do with my ability to feel bites.

The outside grass line varies from location to location, only your depth finder can answer this question for certain.

After reading you post I get the feeling you are already doubting where to start fishing, this is the biggest mistake most anglers make when choosing to fish the Bend.

Select an area & stick with it until you learn completely!

Yes, you are correct. I am not sure where i want to start fishing. But as mentioned in other post, I am trying to learn different areas of the Lake.

Thanks for the information on tackle selection

1. the main lake points North side of Palo Gaucho

2. the coves just north of Palo Gaucho

3. The intersection of the main river, Spring hill boat lane, and the pipeline crossing next to Texas side Penelton Bridge.

4. the creek that leaves carrice and cuts through community cove

Those are 4 excellent places to start 

Thanks Catt,  your input is greatly appreciated. It may take me a week to get back with a report, but I will get back and post it when possible.