This week we are at stop No. 5 of the Bassmaster Elite Series at the world-famous Toledo Bend Reservoir. We fished here last in 2014, which was my first year on the Elites, and I had a decent finish (42nd) so I’m excited to get back out there. I must say though that the Elite Series anglers competing on Toledo Bend is like a weekend series at Yankee Stadium for the 1927 Yankees – future Hall of Famers in their element are everywhere you turn.
I think this tournament will be a lot different than it was two years ago. At that time, the fish were spawning and there was a shad spawn going on as well. This week I’d say both of those have already come and gone. Add the fact that this part of the country is just getting back to normal after catastrophic floods and you might as well say we’re looking at a completely different fishery this week. Toledo Bend is still above full pool but it’s not flooded, I wouldn’t say. The wind isn’t blowing in at Yankee Stadium by any stretch.
I do believe the high water will keep more fish shallow than normal and I expect to see guys in the Top 12 this week fishing completely different styles and depth ranges. This lake is known as a good “ledge” style fishery in the summer months and there’s no doubt if there are schools of fish out there, these guys will find them. Babe Ruth will get his pitch eventually.
As for me, I plan to split my time up between deep and shallow. If I had my preference I’d lock a flipping stick in my hand all week and run with the shallow deal, but I’ll have to get some big bites that way before I will completely commit to it. It only takes one school out deep to make you look like a hero and as many fish as there are in this lake I feel like I have to get out there and put my Raymarine units to work against this bass version of Murderer’s Row.
When I do fish shallow I’ll be looking for bushes, docks, lay-downs, and grass. This lake has several different types of grass, and that was the key for me last time we were here so I will definitely try to make that work. When looking out deep I’ll be looking for points, creek channel turns, high spots, and anywhere I think a bass might set up to feed. Finding a hard bottom and rock seems to be a big key in this part of the country especially. This place spits out solid, 15-pound limits almost as consistently as Lou Gehrig took the field over his career so we all have to keep that in mind.
When flipping up shallow I’ll use a creature bait like the Zoom Z-Hog with a 1/4 to 3/8 oz weight when flipping light cover and I’ll have one rigged with a big 1 oz. weight for penetrating the thicker grass. I’ll use an MHX FP-936 for the heavy weight and an MHX FP-885 for my lighter setup.
If I do find a school out deep the first thing I’ll reach for is a Carolina rig. I rig it with a 3/4 oz weight, two beads, a Mustad swivel, and 15-pound Vicious fluorocarbon on the main line and 14-pound mono for the leader. I throw it on an MHX MB-843. I’ve tried a lot of different rods for a Carolina rig and I’m telling you a 7′ MH is as good as it gets. For my bait I start with a Zoom Baby Brush Hog but several different baits will work.
This should be a fun event and will showcase the best anglers in the world on a legendary fishery. Hopefully I can keep my focus on the fish and not think about all the future Bass Hall of Famers licking their chops on a fishery slam full of fish spread all over the lake. This is one week I’m thankful to be “pitching” my bait at the fish and not the guys in the take-off line with me!