Hello, Anglers. ALERT!! Leesville angler, Donnie Gill, caught the second largest bass ever to be weighed in on Toledo last Saturday while fishing the Leesville Lions Club Invitational. The monster bass weighed 15.03 pounds on the official Toledo Tackle scales barely missing the current lake record of 15.32 pounds. In talking to Gill Wednesday, he stated that he caught the bass on south Toledo Saturday, June 27, around 7 a.m. while fishing about 22 feet deep with a Texas rigged 7 inch worm. The bass came to the surface but Gill said the bass was too big to actually jump. His tournament partner, Bret Bennett, of Slagle had the responsibility and excitement of netting the huge bass.
The bass was 28.5 inches long and girth was 23 inches which is just an awesome bass. The anglers took out the divider in the live well. added ice to the live well but could not keep the big bass alive. Gill stated that he really had no idea the fish was that big or he would have brought the bass in to the scales immediately. Gill is already aware of the fact that he had a possible lake record as he did not get it to the certified scales at Toledo Town until 4 p.m. and the fish certainly lost some body weight in that 9 hour period. Did it lose three-tenths of a pound? Who knows but it gives us a lot to talk about. One thing for sure, a new lake record certainly swims in The Bend and numerous of us bass fanatics will keep casting for her. Our congratulations to Donnie Gill for catching this fish of a lifetime.
LOUISIANA LICENSES: All Louisiana fishing licenses expired Tuesday, June 30 and anglers are reminded to get a new license prior to your July Fourth fishing trip. Licenses are available at numerous local tackle stores but license outlets are not as numerous as they were at one time but major tackle stores still provide this service. However, you can get them online at www.wlf.state.la.us as well as 1-888-765-2602. .
LAKE CONDITIONS: The lake level continues to fall at 170.6 feet with generators at the dam running Mon through Friday from 2 to 8 p.m. Surface water temperatures were 88 to 90 last week but have fallen slightly to 86 -87. All the lake has great water conditions with north Toledo slightly stained, mid- lake is clear and south Toledo is very clear.
FISHING REPORTS/BASS: We have been catching bass but is has required work under less than ideal conditions. The early/late bite has been both the best and the most comfortable and has been the only times of the day to catch bass in shallow and mid depths. The topwater bite has been decent early as have soft plastics in grass which has been the most consistent pattern this week. The falling water level is exposing more shallow grass giving plenty of area to work a Ribbit (plastic frog) and buzz bait.
If they will not hit a frog or buzzbait on top bass can also be caught early morning and late afternoon slowly working a Texas rig (weightless) Berkley's Sinking Minnow and Senkos along the outside edge of grassy points. Take you time with this method. When sun gets up some I move out to mid depths for an hour or so and fish light TX rigs and mid-diving crankbaits. It depends on whether or not there is cloud cover as far as I stay on this pattern.
At mid-depths I am working Norman's DD14 and Deep Little Ns (DLN) and a light weighted TX rig using Berkley's 7 inch Power Worm, Shaky Worm as well as a Trick Worm. During the bright times of the day we are fishing deep with DD22s, heavy Texas and Carolina rigs, drop shot, Knock Off (tailspinner from Norman) as well as a jigging spoon. With these we are working from 15 to 35 feet depths.
CRAPPIE AND YELLOW BASS
In the past couple of weeks the crappie bite has slowed down even on baited holes in deep water. However, anglers with baited holes in 18 to 28 feet are catching a few crappie (8 to 15) from daylight (5:45 a.m.) till around 8: a.m. when the bite slows down. Live shiners and light line are working best.
The yellow bass are increasing in availability with yellows concentrated in depths of 15 to 35 feet and are hitting jigging spoon and Knock Off or Little George tailspinners. Look for pods of baitfish on depth finder and yellows will be close.
AUTHOR INFO: Joe Joslin is a syndicated outdoor columnist, tournament angler and pro guide on Toledo and Sam Rayburn. Contact him at 337-463-3848 or joejoslinoutdoors@yahoo.com. and WEBSITE www.joejoslinoutdoors.com.
