Thanks for the reply Catt!  We never really fished the back of Palo Gaucho last year...we fished right around Alpine Marina really and caught most of our fish around there.  There's a little "cove" right next to the launch and we caught quite a fish right in there..even though it was pretty shallow.  We also caught quite a few just outside that cove on some of those points and in some of the standing timber.  We also fished directly across from Alpine Launch..that area was much deeper and was basically bluff/rock banks..caught a lot of fish over there fishing deeper with plastics.  We never really went to the back though because most of it looked shallow on our chart we were using.  We did fish just behind the bridge that runs across that creek...the bank to the right just after you cross under the bridge heading towards the back of Palo Gaucho...caught several fish off of the laydowns right there.  We'll try further back this year though..Hines Creek..got it written down    Can't wait!

Justin

I forget sometimes not everyone knows the back of creeks like I do so go to mytopo.com and look at the area from a aerial view. Like I mentioned Palo Gaucho from its mouth to the very back end is a excellent location for year round fishing.

Jack fishes more up that way lately and so does Wesley

Just want to say thanks Catt for all of the information on Toledo Bend.  Being from South La. I don't get to fish the Bend as much as I would like to in order to learn it but the information you provide sure helps to get a jump start on it.

I never thought 41 pages would go by so quickly...

I fish the "bend" 8-10 times a year and I always hear people recommending "main lake points". My question deals with locating the productive ones and dealing with the conditions of the lake once you get there, aka 4 foot seas.

I usually fish around Negreet and surrounding areas.

Catt's Rules when fishing Toledo Bend

#1: Winds above a constant 20 mph avoid the main lake all together

It is often said that the first part of bass fishing is like real estate, it's all about location; the second part is timing. I know of only one sure fire way to determine if a point is productive or not and that is to fish it and fish it often.

Just a quick update.  I went out on Friday and spent the majority of the day "mapping" 6 mile.  I found some of the humps that have been mentioned as well as some sweet spots in Miles Creek.  I did fish some, the water was clear, 45 degs, ENE wind  5- 10. Caught two small ones, first on a trap, second on a 3/8oz dbl willow chart/white spinnerbait.  Nothing to really brag about on size or quantity but a good day physically seeing what has been discussed and what I have been looking at on my maps.  Cannot wait for a little more stable weather.  I am planning on trying to get back again this next week and doing some exploration in Housen / Paulo Goucho.   

Fishing Report,

Locations: Indian Mounds, Housen, Jessie Low

Date: Sat Jan. 16th

Fish: 3 fish weighing in around 3 pounds each

Baits: Chrome/Blue R-Trap

    C-Rigged Baby Brush Hog  (watermelon candy)

Conditions: Misting Rain

   Water - Muddy

   Water Temp- 46 degrees 

Just a quick update. I went out on Friday and spent the majority of the day "mapping" 6 mile. I found some of the humps that have been mentioned as well as some sweet spots in Miles Creek. I did fish some, the water was clear, 45 degs, ENE wind 5- 10. Caught two small ones, first on a trap, second on a 3/8oz dbl willow chart/white spinnerbait. Nothing to really brag about on size or quantity but a good day physically seeing what has been discussed and what I have been looking at on my maps. Cannot wait for a little more stable weather. I am planning on trying to get back again this next week and doing some exploration in Housen / Paulo Goucho.

Mapping 6 mile and the other areas mentioned...You sir understand what it takes to help yourself. Mapping, map study, and understanding what they mean will do more for your fishing success than you can ever imagine.

Good luck, you are earning it.

Jack

capierrottie2, That's what I talking about right there 

01/18/2010 6:30 a.m.

Lake level: 169.61

Generator 1: Currently running 24 hrs.

Generator 2: Currently running 24 hrs.

Spillway Gates: Closed

Water temperatures 46-51 degrees

I received a report from the Slaughter Creek area late yesterday afternoon; this is the best I've heard in a while.

Lure: Zoom Lizards Watermelon Neon tails dipped chartreuse

Technique: Carolina Rigged, 3/8 oz. weight, 30" leader

Structure: Points

Cover: Grass & wood

Depth: 12-18'

Results: 18 bass caught, culled to 23 lbs with a 6.7 kicker (2 anglers)

I just got a phone call this morning from out on the lake of an 11.11 caught on a Rat-L-Trap

11.11, wow ... on a rat-l-trap, WOW  ;)

Justin

My personal best of 12.8 came on a Trap in February 

My 12.4 was also caught in February.

12.8 lbs ..... 12.4 lbs .....  ;) :o

Those are twice as big as my PB!  I can't imagine having a bass 10 or over on my line..I still freak out with 5s!  :-[ 

Hopefully this thread will help me get on some of those better fish though 

Justin

Right now is the time for big bass, I know of an 11.11 & 2 over 10 this week.

That's only the ones I know about 

I know this is off subject, but does anyone know someone or some place that will replace boat carpeting at a reasonable price near Lake Charles or Toledo Bend.

Thanks,

capierrottie2

I can't seem to find the gold black back/orange belly color combination on the trap.  I'm finding gold back/orange belly or gold black back, but not the gold with black back and orange belly

can anyone direct me to the right spot

The one I throw is called Gold Shad

http://www.***.com/descpageHDLLEWIS-RT5.html#pImage

yozuri makes one with that exact color combo....

black back/gold sides/orange belly...

i bought one at bass pro this past week..because of what i read on Catt's posts 

Justin

Any updates on the fishing over the weekend?

Anyone know what the water temp is out there?

This thread needs to keep rolling... We'll be there in early March and I want to be prepared. 

Main lake 48-51 degrees

Creeks 53-58 degrees

Male bass are starting to build nets; larger bass are staging in the 6-10', on the outside points & ridges.

Rain and some snow is predicted again for Thursday and Friday with arctic air following for the weekend but that's typical pre-spawn weather. You will have to adjust day to day; where and on what you caught them yesterday does not mean you will catch them there today.

Talk to my buddy Pat this afternoon who lives on 6-mile & he boated 14 with 8 keepers up to 4 lbs on Rogues (gold/black/orange) over in Miles Creek.

Like a few others I have seen posting, I'm brand new. I just happened to stumble upon the thread while searching for info for a tournament in March as well (27th). I have a ton of questions, but I'll try to keep it to a couple at a time. Most of it has to do with things Catt has said, but anyone else should feel free to chime in if they have opinions or answers.

1)Catt, you've stated more than once that you stick to 15' +/- 3 with the exception of pre-spawn/spawn, avoiding banks as a general rule. I may have missed it, but I didn't see you list a general strategy for the pre-spawn/spawn at any point after that. As my tournament is right before the March 30th full moon you mentioned, that makes spawn strategy my main interest. Oh, and the tournament weighs in out of South T.B. State Park. I imagine we'll stick to the lower third of the south end of the lake, basically from Pirate's Cove on south from there, but that's just my assumption at this point. So during the spawn I'm guessing you're more willing to work your way shallower toward the bank, or locate those "humps" in deeper water with bass that aren't going toward the bank, but I'd sure like to hear your strategy.

2)The coordinates for ACME mapper for the Arnold Bay area from earlier in the thread...I looked at the Hook n' Line map along with the ACME site, and the map shows three road beds that come into contact with each other right in that area...I just wondered if that had anything to do with how this structure looks the way it does and is of interest?

Many have said it, but I'll say it again. Thanks to everyone who contributes to expanding our knowledge of this lake. The information and depth of critical thinking passed on thus far has been really great to read, and I look forward to using it and reporting back on my experiences. Thanks again, Robert

Pre-spawn through post spawn I still key on the 15' depth execpt I now consetrate my efforts towards the bank following the bass shallower and farther back into the creeks.

I highly suggest y'all read the following

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1196339007/0