So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[perchjerker]

Catt I just found this site and I realy liked what you wrote. Two questions? when you fish at these depths do you cast or verticle fish. Do you have beter luck fishing uphill or downhill.

[Catt]

I cast & fish uphill  

[Fishing on a String]

Catt,

Thanks for the info, I have read everything so far and can not wait for the next part. I live here too, but have not figured these fish out just yet.  The day I stop learning it is time for me to quit.    

[Catt]

Here's an interesting view  

http://maps.google.com/

[themudbug]

So Catt

When are you going to teach us more?I have my map and a navionics cd.Please let the lessons continue.

Thanks

[Catt]

So Catt

When are you going to teach us more?I have my map and a navionics cd.Please let the lessons continue.

Thanks

When y'all ask more questions  

[Fishing on a String]

Catt,

I went Sunday up to the island just north of Cypress Bend just playing around running old gas out. I noticed a large amount of bubbles and a ton of shad just on the point. the water was stained but it did not seem to bother the shad. Does that mean the lake was turning over up there? Was the shad their do to the oxygen content or do they stay in the area due to the depth changes that alows them to shallow up feeding then go back down? Thanks for the info

[Catt]

That's a good question but since I was not there personally to get specific reading of water temperature below the surface, oxygen reading, depth finder readings I would only be guessing. The Sabine River channel runs near the west end of that island & it is known for Strippers not so much for bass.

[Catt]

With the lake level remaining at 167.4 feet and surface temperatures ranging from 64 to 68 degrees the spinner bait bite is the most constant of all early morning bites. The #1 trick is buzzing the bait over the moss beds until it reaches the outside edge then killing it and fluttering it down. This pattern has produced several Hawgs in the 8-11 pound range when used on outer grass lines (8-12') next to creek channels.

The Texas Rig is still ruling the deep water bite with DD22's a not so distant second, the crank bait bite is best on deep points and deep creek banks; your color choice should be anything shad colored.

A Texas Rig with a ¼ oz weight & most any plastic is producing both quality/quantity; work main lake structure, main lake points, secondary points, & mid way back into creeks.

The hottest lures for my gang are:

#1 Gene Larew 7 ½ Salty Ring Worm Cinnamon Pepper Neon/June Bug Laminated (Camouflage).

#2 Gene Larew 7 ½ Salty Ring Worm Junebug/Blue Tail

#3 Rage Tail 7 Anaconda Okeechobee Craw

#4 Stanley Wedge Plus 3/8 oz, Chartreuse Pearl, double gold willow

#5 Bill Norman DD22 Nutter Shad & Chartreuse SX Shad

[iClass]

Just found this site and it is much better than some I have been involved with.  Catt, You are doing an amazing job.  I love Toledo and will be moving into the Nagodoches area in about two years.  I fish the Oilmen's tournaments as well as a few others, and in the spring the tourney winners all seem to come from 1215 area and farther North.  Are you about ready to delve into the tease for spring?

[Catt]

The eternal question which part of the lake has better fishing; north lake, mid-lake, or south lake? My records along with Lake Caster magazine show the south lake with the advantage.

Now what do you consider spring?

[fishfordollars]

Just found this site and it is much better than some I have been involved with. Catt, You are doing an amazing job. I love Toledo and will be moving into the Nagodoches area in about two years. I fish the Oilmen's tournaments as well as a few others, and in the spring the tourney winners all seem to come from 1215 area and farther North. Are you about ready to delve into the tease for spring?

I was born and raised in Nacogdoches. Let me know when you get there and I will help you out.

[iClass]

Spring to me is dictated by early pre spawn into full fledged spawn/post spawn, i.e. February thru April.  One of the reasons I like the North end during springtime is the water tends to warm faster and is usually off color allowing one a little more leeway in not spooking the bedding fish.  

[iClass]

Forgot to answer all of your points...sorry...

Looking at my experience (which is limited to 2003 - current)

Best fishing Early spring: North of Pend Bridge  

Late spring: Mid lake, South Lake.  

Summer: South Lake

Fall:Mid lake, South Lake

Winter: I really have issues during the winter fishing (stay close to home mostly)

BTW, I live in Central Louisiana and get to frequent Toledo Bend fairly often as it is only two hours away.  I have my map and am extremely impressed.  I have caught some nice fish out of Jesse Lowe but never realized all the areas I was overlooking!  Thanks Catt.  

Very good Information and I can't wait for the next installment.

Fishfordollars, I will def get with you when we start looking around for a place.  If you need a Fishpartner sometime let me know. Thanks

[fishfordollars]

Forgot to answer all of your points...sorry...

Looking at my experience (which is limited to 2003 - current)

Best fishing Early spring: North of Pend Bridge

Late spring: Mid lake, South Lake.

Summer: South Lake

Fall:Mid lake, South Lake

Winter: I really have issues during the winter fishing (stay close to home mostly)

BTW, I live in Central Louisiana and get to frequent Toledo Bend fairly often as it is only two hours away. I have my map and am extremely impressed. I have caught some nice fish out of Jesse Lowe but never realized all the areas I was overlooking! Thanks Catt.

Very good Information and I can't wait for the next installment.

Fishfordollars, I will def get with you when we start looking around for a place. If you need a Fishpartner sometime let me know. Thanks

If you are looking to buy, my brother owns a real estate company there. Just let me know and I will give you his number.

[Catt]

Fishing a tournament on Saturday  

Here in lies the challenge

Today: Rain showers likely before 4pm, then rain showers likely, possibly mixed with snow and sleet. Cloudy, with a high near 41. North wind between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tonight: Rain likely, possibly mixed with snow and sleet, mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 32. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday: A slight chance of rain and snow before 9am, then a slight chance of rain between 9am and noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. North wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. North wind around 5 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. East wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 62. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph

[txbass1]

I already told Jack it is almost unfair to his club for you two guys to be in the same boat on that lake!  8-) I expect you guys will have a good educated guess on a few patterns that would work before the lower unit hits the water. Good luck to you guys.

[Catt]

All that means is that Jack has someone in his boat who knows his way around the lake; we still have to deal with the same conditions as everyone else.  

[Long Mike]

For a change, Jack has a ringer on board.  That is a very significant change from Jack fishing with me at Fork.  Good luck guys!  

[fishfordollars]

I've tried to stay out of this conversation and not let everyone know that Catt and I were fishing together in this tournament. Looks like the catt(No pun intended) is out of the bag. Hope it does not jinx us. If we do well we will let everyone know, if not, I will just go hide a while.

[fishfordollars]

For a change, Jack has a ringer on board. That is a very significant change from Jack fishing with me at Fork. Good luck guys!

Mike, heck you netted the only doubledigit I have caught this year. I thank you for that. BTW, if I have allready not told everyone, I had a ball fishing with you. Even though you fish braid that has not been retied in several months. Learned your lesson didn't you. Just so everyone knows Mike, failing to take care of your tackle cost you a very large fish at Fork. That was a good lesson learned.

[Catt]

Jack this Ole Catt is not superstitious; If we do our part & the bass do theirs we should be fine.

The reason I brought this up was due to the weather conditions it fits in with So y'all want to learn Toledo Bend? The next part of this discussion will be fishing the Bend under winter conditions so y'all think about what question and I'll try to figure out the answers.

[fishfordollars]

Catt, I'm at Sam Rayburn, hooked up, will see you at the ramp on Toledo in the morning.  

[Catt]

Cocked, Locked, & Ready to Rock  

[txbass1]

I've tried to stay out of this conversation and not let everyone know that Catt and I were fishing together in this tournament. Looks like the catt(No pun intended) is out of the bag. Hope it does not jinx us. If we do well we will let everyone know, if not, I will just go hide a while.

Sorry Jack, I did not know it was on the DL.