Toledo Bend Report-April 2009 

Lake level is 171.45 and the water temp is running 64 to 69 degrees.

The lake made a big jump the last week of March, which put water in the bushes. I have been starting off with a 3/8 oz. Falcon spinnerbait with double willow combination with gold and silver blades. The best color skirt has been white and golden shiner. I’m using the spinner bait on my PG-144. These fish have been on the outside edge of the bushes in 1 to 3 feet.  My next step is to pick up my PG-104 with a Falcon 1/2oz. jig in black-blue or black-blue Yum tube. Having my reel filled with 50 or 65 lb. braided line. I like to fish the outside bushes first, then as the sun comes up move into the bushes that or off the edge. Always keep your PG-144 with a TX rig lizard with a 1/8 oz weight and cast the lizard between the bushes. Keep in mind that all the fish don’t get in the bushes, there are always some fish hanging out between the bushes. If you are fishing an area of the lake that does not have bushes, then your PG-142 with a Falcon K-Wacky 1/16oz weighted hook is the way to go. Put a wacky-worm in watermelon-red and cast this on the edge of the flooded hay grass. Also use your PG-144 TX rig with a lizard in this same area. When the lake was down through the winter the hay grass grows on the edge of the water line, so when the lake came up it’s a great place for the bass to hide. Keep in mind that if you are fishing on the south end of the lake the big grass flats out on the main lake are a great area to fish in April. I like to use my PG104.5 Caroline rig with a baby-brush hog or lizard with a 18 to 24” leader. Another good way to catch them on the flats is with my PGC-170 rigged with my DD-14 or DD-22 in a perch or shad color. I like to put my boat on the outside edge of the grass in 10 to 14 feet and cast straight down the outside edge of the grass. There will not be a big number of fish in this area the first of April but as the month goes on more and more fish will start to show up. If you are planning on making a trip to Toledo Bend, feel free to give me a call or e-mail. 

Stephen Johnston

409-579-4213

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