Hello, Anglers. Toledo continues to provide good-to-excellent fishing even though high winds have been relentless. We have had numerous reports of really big bass like the one in photo caught by Lake Charles angler, Jay Bice. In some of our publications last week, Jay's brother Jamie got credit for the 10 pound 6 ounce bass as our source got the brothers confused. However, at the same time Jay caught the big largemouth on Toledo, brother Jamie was in Mexico sail fishing. Those guys love to fish. Congrats to Jay! Awesome bass!
CORPORATIONS ADD ANGLER BONUS DOLLARS: Boat and outboard engine companies as well as tackle companies have had extra dollar/product incentives for several years for the users of their products who win fishing tournaments. An example would be that as an owner of a 2008 Skeeter 21i Class boat, I would qualify for an additional $8,000 from Skeeter/Yamaha if I were fortunate enough to win a certified tournament. Toyota Motor Corporation has just entered the angler contingency program with a first-ever tow-vehicle program for Bassmasters Tournaments.
The program will cover all of B.A.S.S. tournaments from The Bassmaster Classic all the way to the Bassmaster Weekend series including the Bass Federation Nation. Tournament anglers who tow with a 2007 or newer Tundra or Sequoia will qualify. In Toyota's program, you do not have to win the tournament to receive the bonus but you have to be the highest finisher enrolled in the program. In some of the events, bonus dollars are given to top two enrolled finishers. For more info on how to sign up go to toyotafishing.com.
LAKE CONDITIONS: The lake level is at 170.6 with one unit at the dam running 24 hours. Discharge is at the rate of 6524 cfs (cubic feet per second). Water temperatures are running 57 to 60 degrees with north Toledo stained, mid lake slightly stained and south Toledo is clear. Most major feeder creeks have stained water in the back portions especially with water being pulled at the dam.
CAUTION: I continue to encounter large floaters (floating logs/trees) all over the lake as a result of continuing high winds and wave action. I do not recommend leaving the ramp until safe light.
FISHING REPORTS/BASS: Fishing is good-to-excellent but not without effort. I really do not remember a season with more winds over 20 mph. It will blow one day from the south at 25 and the front will pass and it will blow from north at 25 and then come back to the south at 20 plus which is exactly what it did again this week. I have a 101 pound thrust Minnkota 36 volt trolling motor and have just hung on the the butt seat and fished.
If the angler will be persistent and keep putting the bait into the water, a bass will hit it. Anglers need to adjust to the wind with crankbaits, jigs and Carolina rigs but don't give up. Crawfish colored crankbaits, black and blue jigs and Carolina rigged craw worms and lizards are all catching bass. Some days, we are able to get in a couple of hours early and late without major winds.
These times allow us to go back to lighter lures and slower presentations and usually yield more bass action. We are having success on Berkley Gulp! Sinking Minnows in green pumpkin and Senkos in green pumpkin, watermelon red and watermelon/blue flake. We are fishing these both wacky, light Carolina rig as well as Texas weightless.
CRAPPIE: White perch anglers are catching fish in the mouths of coves and the backs of creeks on small crappie jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles. Top producing jigs are Blakemore Road Runners and Stanley Wedgetails. Live shiners are also catching crappie after dark with lanterns/crappie lights on deep points near spawning grounds. Seek out depths of 25 to 30 feet and crappie will suspend about 15 feet under your light. Clear water conditions are vital for night fishing.
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.