As of May 10, 2010 the lake level on Toledo Bend is 170.30 which has the lake about one foot and eight inches below full pool. The water temperature has been in the seventies just about every day, and should continue rising throughout the month. The fishing has been really good but the fish seem to be scattered anywhere from one to sixteen feet deep. You can just about catch them on any thing you want to throw. For the shallow fish, top waters and spinner baits are tough to beat. On calm days I have been throwing a chrome black back pop R, on the windy days I have been throwing a zara spook and a black ribbit. If they do not eat the top water I have been throwing a white chartreuse ½ oz. double willow spinner bait. Try targeting the outer edge of the hay grass and the inner edge of the milfoil. I have been throwing the Pop R on a PG143-6’10” and using a PG104-7’6” with the spinner bait, ribbit, and the spook. The heavier action rod is essential in order to keep thwww.e fish from burying up in the milfoil and coming off. I am using 15 lb. monofilament on everything except for the frog which I am throwing on 50 lb. braid. For the deeper fish, from about six to sixteen feet, either a Carolina Rig or a Texas Rigged baby brush hog seems to be producing the best results. Concentrate on the outer edge of the milfoil or the hydrilla and fish both rigs fairly slow. If they do not eat the brush hog try mixing in a senko or fluke. I have been using a PG104.5-7’6” with a ½ oz. weight and about a two foot leader of 15 lb. fluorocarbon for the Carolina Rig, and a PG144-7’0” with a three sixteenth oz. weight for the Texas Rig.

Good Luck,
Danny Iles

www.johnstonfishing.com