As of January 12, 2010 the lake level at Toledo Bend is 170.20 which has the lake about two feet below full pool. The water temperature over the past several weeks has ranged from the mid 40’s to the mid 50’s depending upon where you are at on the lake. The fishing has been nothing short of awesome for the majority of December and should continue to be very good all the way through January. Large numbers of fish can be caught on a jigging spoon on creek channel swings in the 28 to 32 foot range. When fishing a jigging spoon I almost always use a ½ oz. silver spoon on a PG143-6’10”. For better quality fish I would target the outer edge of the hydrilla. I have been throwing a DD 22 in various shad colors on a PGC170-7’0” on the grass edge. If the crank bait does not produce I generally switch to a Carolina rigged fluke on a PG104.5-7’6” and continue to target the outer edge of the grass. However, if you are on the lake on a calm sunny day I would probably try a ½ oz. rattle trap and a ½ oz. spinner bait on top of the submerged hydrilla before throwing the Carolina rig. I would alternate back and forth between a craw and shad colored rattle trap occasionally mixing in a white and chartreuse spinner bait. I throw both the trap and blade on a PG104-7’6” with 15 lb. monofilament line. Good luck on the lake.

Thanks,
Danny Iles
www.JohnstonsFishing.com