Hello, Anglers. This week and next week are some of the heaviest boat traffic weeks of the entire year as numerous schools are out for Easter/Spring Break. In addition, they also are some of the best fishing times. Last week was also a week with significant boat traffic as the word is out that the fish are biting and it was spring break for about one-third of Texas schools. Another factor which increased angling pressure was the Texas Oilmen's Bass Invitational, which is one of the largest events on Toledo each year.
LAKE CONDITIONS: The lake level is 170.7 feet which is a great level for spring and spawning bass. Both generators are running 24/7 and water temperatures are ranging from 58 to 64 degrees. North Toledo is stained, mid lake is slightly stained and south Toledo is clear. With both generators pulling, there is stained water in the back of all major feeder creeks, even those on the extreme south end. On bright days, fishing stained water can be more productive than clear water.
SAFETY FIRST Fishing continues good-to-excellent as cold fronts slow action down for a day or two but it soon rebounds. The main challenge has been high winds which takes many options off the table plus adds a huge safety concern. Most of us who have fished this lake for any amount of time have huge respect for it and the safety challanges it can present. The safest and smartest approach is to not push the limits of your self or your boat.
Whether your boat is built in Kilgore, Flippin or Nashville, it is no match for extreme high winds/waves on exposed sections of Toledo which is 70 miles long and 180,000 surface acres. If you get caught on one side of the lake in a storm or high winds from cold front and feel you have to cross back on the open lake , please make sure you evaluate the situation and always come down on the side of caution. You don't have to cross back as you can make a call and tell friends/family the situation and wait it out or have someone bring your trailer to the other side of the lake.
BIG ON BILGE PUMPS! Also,make sure your boat has two large capacity bilge pumps, one auto and one manual. Bilge pumps are cheap and they can save your life. If you get a big wave in your boat, one pump is not enough to quickly get the water/weight out. If your boat is weighted down with water, the chances of getting another wave is highly increased and two large wave can sink you. Pardon me for being so blunt but it is not smart......yes dumb.....to launch your boat without bilge pumps in working order. Make sure they are not clogged with paper/plastic worms. Stay pumped!!
FISHING REPORTS/BASS: If you like to fish shallow water, this is your season. Most of the bass we have caught this week have come from 2 to 12 feet. Stanley Wedge spinnerbaits and their Swim Jig have been catching bass when worked on windy banks (there have been plenty) and points with submerged grass. We are staying with the proven white/chartruse skirts and three-eights ounce size with double willowleaf (one gold/one nickle). We continue to catch a few good bass on Rat-L-Traps and Frenzy Rattl'rs.
When fast moving baits are not working, we slow down with light weighted Carolina rigs, slit shot rigs and wacky. For these we are using Berkley Sinking Minnows, Senkos, Flukes and 3 or 4 inch Power Craws. Small crank baits in 4 to10 feet have also been catching bass with crawfish and shad patterns suggested. In the clear waters of south Toledo, I suggest either clear or green colored line and have been getting a few more bites on Berkley 100% Flourcarbon. This being true especially on bright days when it is tough to get a bite.
CRAPPIE: The shallow crappie bite is increasing and anglers should check the backs of creeks and ditches as well as edge of flats with submerged grass. Work a Stanley Wedge Tail (one-sixteenth ounce) or a Blakemore Road Runner tipped with Berkley's Crappie Nibbles. 4 to 12 feet are the depth which have the most crappie. Night fishing is also productive on deep points near spawning grounds using live shiners under lanterns and crappie lights. After dark, fish about 12 feet deep in water which is 20 to 30 feet as crappie will suspend at night.
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 DeRidder, The Floor Trader Lake Charles and Stanley Jigs Inc. Contact him at 337-463-3848 or joejoslinoutdoors@yahoo.com. and WEBSITE www.joejoslinoutdoors.com.
