Rat-L-Traps & pre-spawn go together ?

 

I'll usually start throwing traps about the second week of February or next week!

 

Main lake grass flats: I drift the flats with the wind, which well be blowing this time of year. Lot of folks fish the outside grassline. I like 8-10' of water with grass at any depth under the surface. Here's a little secret; keep your rod tip right at surface & even under the surface.

 

Yeah that's right kneel-n-reel ?

 

Next area is creek channel coves: start at the mouth at what ever depth the puts me about a long cast from the bank. Y'all be surprised how shallow they be in mid February!

 

When I get towards the back I'll move out to the creek channel & throw the trap straight down the middle.

 

Oops almost forgot, in creeks I target wood; stumps, laydowns, brush. Ricochet that puppy off stumps!

Edited February 8, 20188 yr by Catt
Operator error

Sure is quite round here ?

1 hour ago, Catt said:

Sure is quite round here ?

At work right now, back on the 21st. And on the water the 22nd anybody want too go sling some traps and chatterbaits?

Ya, it is quiet.....I am heading from nebraska to spend a few days in the area so i look for new posts multiple times a day.  I am itching to see liquid water.  I will be fishing march 8th to the 10th.  Hoping i get a nice stable warming trend starting the 5th.  It does look like the bite has been picking up a bit though from the reports i am seeing.  

"Sure is quite round here ?........."...............cuz I've got lockjaw like the fish I'm fishing around?.......:).........

 

 

"anybody want too go sling some traps and chatterbaits? .."............And---shaky heads,...I've heard...

Can anyone give me an update on current water temps out there. Please include if you are reporting temps for the upper, middle, or lower part of Toledo.

Can't seem to get there! ?

Tough day today. Water temps never got above 47 where I was on the south end. Ended up catching 4 short fish, broke off on a really really good one, and missed a decent fish. 

Great forum gentlemen. I grew up fishing Toledo in the Tenaha / Huxley / Shelby Beach area of the lake. After moving to Europe for almost 6 years, wow has the lake changed. First trip back on the bend was last Sunday and all in all fairly pleased with the outcome. I figured with how cold its been the fish would have been in 25-30 feet of water. I spent most of the morning til around noon fishing that depth without a bite. Around noon decided i had enough and thought, well, lets go more shallow. Positioned the boat in 17 feet of water casting to 6-10 and caught fish for the next hour on almost every cast using a modified carolina rig (1/2 oz jig with a 2 foot tag and trick worm ) dragged across the bottom. My only question, the 3 areas of the lake I fished (Indian Mounds, Lanana and San Miguel) i never found any grass. Where did all the grass go? Like I said, I've been off the lake for years but those areas always had good grass.

Can anyone give me an update on current water temps out there. Please include if you are reporting temps for the upper, middle, or lower part of Toledo.

 

 

Thanks for reporting the water temp Minnow. Good luck going back after that one that got away.

Jason, they sprayed for Salvania (however you spell it) but there is no way that killed all the grass. In my humble opinion, the record high water and sudden release flushed it down stream especially the main lake grass (hydrilla and hay grass).  There is plenty of grass in Housen, Six Mile, and Mill but plenty of people too. Hope that helps. Welcome home. That rig you fished with sounds good. Do they bite both?  Do you tie a polamar knot in the jig and tie the trick worm to the tag end kinda like a drop shot rig? 

Another tough day for me anyone else out on the water today?

 

i think I did find something as I caught 5 fish in the last 30 minutes. Just no size. 

Little fish, I have experimented with that rig from time to time over the years. I can honestly tell you that the bites for the most part have been around 65 / 35 on the plastics versus the jig. However, I can say the jig fish have always been larger than the plastic fish. As far as the rigging, exactly, I tie a palomar knot and then tie on whatever plastic I decide at the time. Most of the time I like to use a flipping tube or fluke.

Toledo Bend Spillway Repairs

The Toledo Bend Lake spillway repairs are in the planning stage by the Sabine River Authorities.  The spillway infrastructure below the dam was damaged during the record-high lake level experienced in March 2016, when all operating spillway gates had to be opened to the near-maximum extent order to protect the structural integrity of the dam. 

The repair project is expected to be completed in three phases.
• Phase 1: Underwater cement repair.
• Phase 2: Refurbish the two 20 inch pipes that provide water flow downstream during repairs of the spillway apron and “rip rap” stones.
• Phase 3: Spillway apron and “rip rap” stone replacement.

Current planned timeframes are:
• 1st Quarter 2018: Advertise and secure bids.
• 2nd and 3rd Quarters 2018: Mobilize for repairs and refurbish the two 20 inch pipes.
• 3rd Quarter 2018 – 2nd Quarter 2019: Complete the apron and “rip rap” stone replacement.

All efforts will be made to complete the project within the normal lake generating pool range of 168 feet to 172 feet mean sea level.  #toledobend #sabineriverauthority

I'm a Missouri guy coming to fish the famous Toledo Bend the first week of March, what baits can I leave at home or do I bring everything and the kitchen sink? 

12 minutes ago, Triton18TRX said:

I'm a Missouri guy coming to fish the famous Toledo Bend the first week of March, what baits can I leave at home or do I bring everything and the kitchen sink? 

 

What techniques do you have the most confidence in?

 

Where y'all launching?

You can catch em anyway you want in early March. Fish your strengths

Thanks for the reply ***atic. We're going out of Cypress Bend. I love to fish a jig and drag a rig but fortunately I'm versatile and will throw whatever it takes to catch em (if they're in a cooperating mood that is) 

 

Catt you are a great wealth of knowledge on the Bend and I appreciate guys like you that share your experiences with others. I learned to fish by joining a bass club when I was 19 and going to college I'm 46 now and I wouldn't be where I am today or know half the things I've learned without guys like you that help other fishermen learn the different techniques and relay all of the important information. 

After 2 tough days I finally ran into them with my biggest sack of my life at 36 lbs by myself. 

 

location:  housen 

 

depth: 1ft to 23ft

Water temp: upper 50s did see 60 45 minutes before dark. 

method Carolina rig, football jig, and trap

 

Don’t be afraid up upsize ??‍♂️

 

 

@Triton18TRX your welcome ?

 

Keep up with this thread for up dates as your arrival date gets closer. 

 

@operationgrass that's how ya kick Bass!

I'm nowhere near Toledo bend, but man I love reading this thread. Good stuff

I tried to upload a pic but the file is too big. So I’ll just give you my report. Fished from daylight to dark. From mill creek to Pendleton bridge. Overall the fishing was a struggle 5 fish with the biggest being a 3. While getting ready to put the boat on the trailer we noticed several good fish under a light. My son dropped a Texas rig on them and bam. 11.67  I’m sure most of you have seen or will see it . We weighed it at Toledo town

1 hour ago, Redseal said:

I tried to upload a pic but the file is too big. So I’ll just give you my report. Fished from daylight to dark. From mill creek to Pendleton bridge. Overall the fishing was a struggle 5 fish with the biggest being a 3. While getting ready to put the boat on the trailer we noticed several good fish under a light. My son dropped a Texas rig on them and bam. 11.67  I’m sure most of you have seen or will see it . We weighed it at Toledo town

Man that's something y'all will never forget! Congrats

@jason daniel outdoors sorry I missed your post!

 

Welcome home ?

 

@Redseal I think I saw that fish on Facebook! Awesome!!!

I saw it. Beautiful fish. Congrats!