FISHIN' TOLEDO
BASS BOAT INDUSTRY TURNS 60
When you look at all of the bass boats on the market today, have you ever wondered how and where it all started? I did a little research and found that the very first bass boat was actually built 60 years ago in Shreveport, Louisiana by Holmes Thurmond. Thurmond loved to fish but wanted a better boat than the bulky, slow, unstable fishing boats of his day. His new design was 13 feet long, made of molded marine plywood with a flat bottom and tumble-home side decks. The nose of Thurman's boat was a long needle-shape like that of a MOSQUITO so local anglers called it a 'Skeeter'.
Thurman soon moved his boat production to Texas and in 1948 the first Skeeter Bass Boats were built in the East Texas town of Marshall and sold through its first dealership, Reeves Marine, in nearby Shreveport. Today, 2007, Reeves Marine in Shreveport is still in business selling Skeeter bass boats. Skeeter not only built the first bass boat but in 1961 built the first bass boat from fiberglass which was a huge leap forward in performance and durability.
Then in 1975, Skeeter introduced the "Wrangler," the first V-bottom bass boat. The Texas company has also introduced a host of other bass boat innovations such as the first full-length rod box, the first bass boat rated for a 150 HP, and the first to introduce "space age" composite materials with the X-Treme and X-Cel composite construction.
For the past eleven years, Skeeter has been owned by Yamaha Motor Corp. Skeeter's modern production facilities are located in Kilgore, Texas where they currently produce 26 different models of fresh and salt water boats ranging in price from $14,000 to $65,000.
LAKE CONDITIONS: Toledo continues to recede slowly and currently stands at 171.1 feet. Water conditions are good all over with slightly stained conditions on north Toledo with very clear conditions on the south end.
Water temperatures are 85 to 88 degrees. Both generators are running from noon to 7 p.m.
FISHING REPORTS/BASS: Hot daytime temps have resulted in several anglers opting for fishing at night. At least two night patterns have proven successful with one being a shallow pattern working grassy points with Stanley buzzbaits (3/8 and 1/2 ounce) as well as floating Berkley Gulp! Lizards and 7 and 10 inch Power Worms through 2- 8 feet depths. Another is to come out to the edge of the grass line (14-20 feet) and work heavy (1 ounce) spinnerbaits and Texas rigs.
Topwater action has been good early (6:15 till 7:15 a.m.) and late afternoon (7 till dark) with Frenzy Popper, Frenzy Walker, Pop R as well as Yellow Magic. Try various retrieves. Also Wacky Rigged Gulp! Sinking Minnows and Senkos (5 Inch) are catching fish during low light conditions.
CRAPPIE/YELLOW BASS: Crappie fishing is decent on deep brush in 18-28 feet with light line (6-8 pound test) and shiners. Late afternoons and after dark are currently the best times to catch white perch. Yellow bass are in good numbers in 20-30 feet hitting spoons and tail spinners. From daylight until about 9 a.m. has been the feeding times for Yellows.
AUTHOR INFO: Joe Joslin is a syndicated columnist, tournament angler and pro guide on Toledo and Sam Rayburn. His sponsors include Skeeter Performance Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Lake Charles Toyota, Red River Marine/Alexandria, LA, Berkley, Fenwick, Abu Garcia, Daiichi, Jay's Carpet One and Stanley Jigs Inc. Contact him at 337-463-3848 or joejoslinoutdoors@yahoo.com.
