MANY, La. — A special window could be opening when anglers arrive for the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Toledo Bend Reservoir presented by Lowrance. That’s according to Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens presented by Battery Tender pro Jace Lindsay.
“I know what happens when you get on the right stuff, and it can get really crazy,” said Lindsay, of Beckville, Texas. “If those schools of postspawners are pushing off and they are fresh, I really think it will take over 75 pounds to win. It is one of my favorite times of year to fish Toledo Bend.”
Tournament days are scheduled for April 22-24, with tournament takeoffs and weigh-ins set for Cypress Bend Park in Many, La. The full field will compete the first two days before the field is cut for the final day. The top 10% of boaters and nonboaters will punch their ticket to the 2026 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance, details of which will be announced later.
One of the largest reservoirs in the country, Toledo Bend has been kicking out impressive numbers of giant largemouth bass for decades. The Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series last visited in February 2024. A better indication of what could go down in this event can be drawn from looking at the April 2023 Bassmaster Open won by Ben Milliken.
Bass were mostly in a spawning and postspawn phase, and while there were bass caught off the bed, Milliken dialed in a bite centered on a gizzard shad spawn. Lindsay anticipates whoever wins this event will take advantage of those spawning gizzards.
“That is where you are going to find the bigger groups of big bass. You can do some damage in a tournament on something like that,” Lindsay said. “A lot of people overlook the gizzard shad spawn. Here in east Texas, if you find the right spot with a gizzard spawn going on, there will be a group of 10 to 15 bass that are 8 and 9 pounds. It is crazy when you see it.”
That spawn typically occurs around shallow clay points with hard spots. Lindsay also noted that the threadfin shad spawn should be starting, which could also yield impressive numbers in a hurry using buzzbaits and ChatterBaits.
Along with foraging on the shad spawn in the mornings, bass will likely be making their move toward warm-season areas. Hard spots and standing timber will be the main draws. There is also plenty of grass in the fishery right now, but Lindsay doesn’t necessarily see that as a winning pattern for this tournament.
“It is anything goes that time of year,” Lindsay said. “The lake is full of bass. If you find timber with bait on it, you can catch them around that too.”
Many baits could come into play, depending on where the bass are in the spawning process. Glidebaits, big crankbaits, oversized swimbaits and Carolina rigs could all come into play in deeper water, with wacky rigs and Texas-rigged creature baits tempting bass still hanging around the shallows.
Follow along with all of the action from the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Toledo Bend Reservoir presented by Lowrance on Bassmaster.com.
This event is being hosted by Toledo Bend Lake Country.
2026B.A.S.S. NationSeries Title Sponsor: Mercury
2026B.A.S.S. NationSeries Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance
2026B.A.S.S. NationSeries Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2026B.A.S.S. Nation Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mountain Dew, Nitro Boats, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2026B.A.S.S. NationSeries Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Lew’s, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, VMC, Yokohama
