As of July 6, 2009 the lake level at Toledo Bend is 170.39 which puts the lake about 1.6 feet below full pool.
Summer patterns are definitely starting to dominate the fishing with an average water temperature of 92 degrees. Large numbers of school fish can be caught in creeks on the lower end of the lake. Look for bends and points with sharp breaks in the back half of the creeks for shad. If the fish are down, throw a Norman DD 22 or a Deep Little N on a PGC-170-7’0” in a shad color. Try throwing a ¼ oz. spoon or yellow magic at the fish that break the surface with a PG-143-6’10”.  Most of the better fish are being caught on the outside grass edge in the 13 to 17 foot range. Start each morning throwing a Texas Rigged worm on a PG-144-7’0” in either red bug or plum. Later in the day when the fish bury up in the grass try flipping a 1 oz. Falcon Jig in black blue or black brown and amber on a GM5-7’3”. If the fish will not eat the jig, try flipping plastics on a PG-104.5-7’6” with a ¾ or 1 oz. tungsten weight. Be sure to remember to take along plenty of ice and Rejuvenade in order to keep your bass alive during the summer tournaments. Good luck on the lake.

Thanks,
Danny Iles

www.JohnstonFishing.com