Toledo Bend Reservoir Fishing Report

Date : January 1 2010
Best Pattern : Deep
Best Depth : 10+
Best Lure : Jigs & Spoons
Best Color : Black/Blue
Water Temperature : 40's
Water Clarity : Clear
Days Fished : 1

Report

The Holidays are over and hopefully Santa brought you some new fishing tackle and gear for the upcoming year. It’s truly amazing how advanced some of the new reels, line and other equipment has developed over the past few years. January usually means cold weather with numerous fronts passing through. When the water temperature drops to the lower fifties and forties, look for the bait- fish and bass to move into deep water. The easiest way to locate the bass is to locate the bait- fish. Concentrate looking for balls of shad on your LCR in deep creeks, sloughs and along the river channel. When you locate the shad the bass are usually underneath the shad just off the bottom or suspended. If the bass are on the bottom, they will orient themselves close to some type of structure, brush- tops, lay-downs, stumps, ledges, drops or humps. A jig or jigging spoon fished vertically can be very effective in triggering a strike. If the bass are suspended a fluttering spoon or tail spinner cast out and counted down and retrieved with a pumping motion will also trigger a strike. Once the fish have moved into deep water, the strong northern fronts really don't affect them as much as they do when the fish are in shallow water. Remember when fishing cold water, we need to down size our baits and fish extremely slow. If the lake rises, the bass will move in or up with the rising water and we will work the deeper creeks. Toward the end of January and depending on the water temperature the larger bass will start staging off the deep water points, main lake ridges and the bends and points along the creek channels in anticipation of the spawn. Jigs, traps, soft plastics, spinner baits, crank baits, finesse plastics and stick baits can all be productive depending on the water temperature and lake level. As the water temperature drops the Crappie will start moving into deeper water along the old river channel and towards the end of the month usually will be found moving into the deeper creeks. Once they get into water over thirty feet a 1/32 oz jig can sometimes be more productive than shiners. Remember for the months of December, January and February you are required to keep all the Crappie you catch (no minimum length). The White bass will be on the north end main lake river channel sandbars as they start migrating towards the river channel proper. The river proper will become more productive as we move into the month. Slab spoons, tail spinners and Road Runners will do the job. If you catch one, you should be able to limit out since they move in schools. Use your electronics to find the bait- fish and you will find the Whites. For up to date fishing information and the latest reports, check out my web site at www.toledobendguide.com or give me a call at (936) 368 7151.

For up to date fishing information and the latest reports, check out my web site at http://www.toledo-bend.net/toledobend or give me a call at (936) 368 7151