So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[castandblast]

Excellent choices from someone who doesn't know the lake & someone who does; y'all both make me get my map out.

Anyone else?

 

Hello,

I am in the military and have just recently moved here and live on fort polk.  I found this thread yesterday and have read the whole thing and have to say it's great!  I am fishing in a tournament this saturday on Toledo and was trying to find some information and this is by far the best.  This has helped me tremendously!!  Catt thanks for takeing the time to do this and all the great information! I can't wait to hear more and I am going to get a map today!

[foul hooked]

I just got a map of TB yesterday. I'm going to catch up by reading this whole thread again while looking at the map. I know I'll have plenty of questions.

My neighborhood lake (SW Houston) really cooled off after Ike. Nothing like a bunch of cold rain and a cold front. The fish are starting to perk up some. Jaws are starting to loosen.

I look forward to the conversation.

[Catt]

Ok here's where I would start  

Notice where the map shows Tennessee Bay under 113 with an arrow point down?

Notice the roadbed that runs from there to Turtle Beach Lodge?

Next move over to the mouth of Slater Creek where you'll see another roadbed crossing the mouth?

Now move into Slater Creek about ¼ of the way in and you'll see a pipeline?

I would work these areas with Crank baits, Traps, Rouges, Texas Rigs, Carolina Rigs, or Jig-N-Craws. One may ask why not spinner baits my answer is I would most generally stay deeper and while spinner baits can be fished in deep water they would not be as effective.

Pigsticker here's the problem I have with your selections; look at the map again and you will notice that other tan the cove at Shadows Landing plus 2 farther back none have creek channels. I find it essential during fall and spring that the areas I fishing have creek channels. That is not to say these coves don't produce fish it's just the coves with creek channels are more consistent.

[foul hooked]

OK, I've got my map and I've done a little studying. I would like to expand on the cove\creek conversation.

1. Catt stated he likes a cove with a creek channel associated with it, I'm assuming that the bass use the channel as a highway. Do the bait (shad) use the channel for a migration route also? Or are the shad just drawn to the shallower water?

2. Are the bass moving in and out of the coves with creek channels on a daily basis to feed? Are they still spending their down time in deeper water and only moving in the cove\creek to feed? Are the bait migrating in and out of the creek \cove? Is their ever a time when either the bait or the bass stay up in the cove\creek?

This is a situation I've wanted to explore for quite some time now. These questions are just scratching the surface.

Thanks for your input in advance. This is fun stuff for me and I appreciate your taking time to indulge me.

Mike

[Catt]

Question #1: yes

Question #2: no

What you will find on Toledo Bend is there are bass that stay on the main lake never coming in contact with a shoreline. Then there are bass that stay in the large creek channel covers like Negreet. Each creek channel cove is a separate lake as is each section of the main lake and should always be fished as such.

This is the tricky part of fishing a lake the size of Toledo Bend look at pre-spawn/spawn I could start on the north end and work south fishing pre-spawn/spawn from late January until late early May.

[Black Bass]

Thanks CATT and all. Saved all of this thread. It's a lot to absorb but it's great.

Thanks again,

RB

[Pigsticker]

I understand Catt, In Toledo Bend do you find that fish relate to docks a lot or do they leave them alone for the most part? and Do those rock croppings/islands get pounded?

With this "new" info I think I would want to fish that point in the back next to the half circle cove-ish place and the point to the south of it across the mouth. then maybe do some flipping in that first point's big cove. that island in the middle of the cove is interesting too. 10 inch junebug ribbontail worm and a 5-6 inch craw worm  both t-rigged with either 1/4 or 3/8 oz weights

Hope that works better.

[Catt]

Question: In Toledo Bend do you find that fish relate to docks a lot or do they leave them alone for the most part?

Answer: On Toledo Bend as with most lakes docks that are productive have deep water access; I've actually won 2 tournaments fishing the old docks at Fin-N-Feather before a tornado took them out.

Question: Do those rock croppings/islands get pounded?  

Answer: Many anglers feel the necessity to fish visually but what they fell to understand when fishing an island is to let their depth finder be their eyes. Many anglers immediately want to get within casting distance of an island when the most productive part of this structure may well be nowhere near shore.

The biggest mistake I see anglers make on large bodies of water is they try to fish the lake as a whole rather than breaking the lake into separate sections (lakes). The Teneha Bayou/Tucker's Lake area up north fishes different than the San Patricio/San Migul/Patroon area. These fish different than the Palo Goucho/Negreet/Lowe's Creek area which fishes different than the Housen' Bayou/Six Mile area. And they are all different than the Mill Creek/Toledo Bay area down south. Heck from creek channel cove to creek channel cove can be a huge difference.  

While the structure types found through out the lake are the same the dominate cover varies from section to section. One area the bass may key mainly on wood (stumps, logs, brush) and the next area they may key mainly on grass (Hydrilla/Milfoil/Coon tail).

[fishfordollars]

Catt, what shape is the grass in  in the Negreet area? What is the water level? Is it on a rise, stable, or falling? Stained or clear?

Thanks,

Jack

[Catt]

09/29/08 6:30 AM

Lake level: 167.93

Generator 1: shut down

Generator 2: shut down

Spillway gates: closed

Current water flow: 204 CFS

Jack I have not been in Negreet in a few months but the south end of the lake is clear both on the main lake and in the creeks; grass is in excellent shape. I fished the Housen' Bayou area last Tuesday and Wednesday, winds on the main lake were 15-20 mph so after taking the 3rd wave over the bow I headed Housen' Bayou. We fished creek channel coves boated good numbers but few keeper and no hawgs (6 lb +).

Momma wants to go for a couple days to relax but I scheduled to get steroid injections in my back on the 2nd so I'm debating going before or after.  

[fishfordollars]

Thanks Catt. I am schelduled for my injections Wednesday of this week at 11:15 am. Good luck with yours.

[Catt]

Jack have you had these injections before and if so how did they work?  

[fishfordollars]

Catt, I have had 9 sets of them over the years. Are they in the neck or back area? You just lay still. If they are in the neck you should be on your back, in the mid back to lower back you should be on your stomach. They will deaden the area and then go in with another LONGER needle  watching a scope all the while. If you can see the scope you will be able to watch, unless they knock you out. When they reach the facet area or another area they want to shoot they will inject the medicine. You will not be in pain, and it will take a few days for it to work(If it works at all). I have had a few that did not work at all and some that worked great. Good luck.

[fishfordollars]

Catt, they will tell you to take it easy for 24 hours. After that you can get after it.

[Catt]

It's the lower back and any relief will be a plus  

[fishfordollars]

I hope they help you. The last set I had on my mid back area worked great. At least now I can stand in the bow of a boat most of the day.

[Pigsticker]

I hope everything goes well with both of your appointments

[Catt]

Well my doctors appoint was only to fill out paper, inform me what was to take place, and take money; scheduled for injections on the 14th until then just deal with it.

Ok back to fishing! Who's got a question?  

[foul hooked]

How do you decide which end of the lake to fish? Is it dictated by a particular seasonal pattern you have in mind to try?

After looking at the map a novice could be over whelmed by size.

Good luck with the doctors Catt.

[Catt]

Probably 75 to 80% of anglers when first confronted with Toledo Bend are in total amazement at its size. Since we are discussing Negreet Creek let's look at its size, the mouth is approximately 1 1/8 miles wide & the length is approximately 5 miles long; that in its self is a fairly large lake.

Question: How do you decide which end of the lake to fish?

Answer: With 36 years experience fishing this lake I will pick an area based on what type of structure & cover I want to fish. I spend a majority of my time from Lowe's Creek south to Mill Creek areas because I like staying on the Texas side. All of my camps have been in the Hemphill, Texas area.

Question: Is it dictated by a particular seasonal pattern you have in mind to try?

Answer: It's based solely on a whim, I'm just as comfortable up north as I am down south but I strongly believe there are more DD bass down south. This has been a huge argument between anglers for years; some feel the north end rules while others feel the south end rules.

[fishfordollars]

I have spent most of my time from Pallo Gaucho Creek north to Huxley Bay area. Just what I have gotten comfortable with. I intend to spend a lot more time around the six mile and Housen bay area in the future. Catt, that is an area I will be calling on you for lots of help and information if you do not mind.

I read your post concerning the idea to try to get the anglers in the area  for a Texas Louisiana get together on Toledo Bend and I am looking forward to getting it put together.

[Catt]

Jack I'll gladly help you with those areas just say when  

As for a Toledo Bend get together it's all depends on timing, Long Mike will be there this weekend & I may have to bring Momma but I'll try my hardest to be there.

[fishfordollars]

Jack I'll gladly help you with those areas just say when

As for a Toledo Bend get together it's all depends on timing, Long Mike will be there this weekend & I may have to bring Momma but I'll try my hardest to be there.

I have a family renunion in Nacogdoches that weekend. He will get a shot at me the next weekend on Fork. Sorry I have to miss it. Thanks for the offer to help.

[Catt]

FYI

I'll be at Fin-N-Feather Thursday-Saturday; Y'all Come

[Catt]

Y'all should have been there