How-To

5 must-have setups for Toledo Bend

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Bassmaster Elite Series angler Darold Gleason not only crosses the country on the Bassmaster Elite Series, but he also runs a premier guide service on his home lake of Toledo Bend. Winner of the 2019 Bassmaster Central Open on Toledo Bend, Gleason knows the lake as well as anyone. We asked him to share his top five techniques for a successful day on the famous fishery.
Bassmaster Elite Series angler Darold Gleason not only crosses the country on the Bassmaster Elite Series, but he also runs a premier guide service on his home lake of Toledo Bend. Winner of the 2019 Bassmaster Central Open on Toledo Bend, Gleason knows the lake as well as anyone. We asked him to share his top five techniques for a successful day on the famous fishery.
As Gleason travels the country, he needs his rods and reels kept safe and secure, but he also needs easy access. Gleason was prepping for an Elite Series tournament on Lake Champlain, so some of his Toledo combos were buried on top of his Toyota Tundra.
As Gleason travels the country, he needs his rods and reels kept safe and secure, but he also needs easy access. Gleason was prepping for an Elite Series tournament on Lake Champlain, so some of his Toledo combos were buried on top of his Toyota Tundra.
Others were tucked away in the boat for the official practice period. Gleason carefully grabs a few from the front locker of his Phoenix boat.
Others were tucked away in the boat for the official practice period. Gleason carefully grabs a few from the front locker of his Phoenix boat.
“For anyone coming to Toledo Bend for the first time, anytime after the spring, this group of baits will catch them if you can locate fish. This group of baits helps to narrow down such a large lake and will cover you however you like to fish.”
“For anyone coming to Toledo Bend for the first time, anytime after the spring, this group of baits will catch them if you can locate fish. This group of baits helps to narrow down such a large lake and will cover you however you like to fish.”
One of his favorite baits, a football jig, is the first he selects as a top five bait for Toledo. Let’s be honest, a football jig works all over the country.
One of his favorite baits, a football jig, is the first he selects as a top five bait for Toledo. Let’s be honest, a football jig works all over the country.
The jig is a 3/4-ounce V&M Pacemaker Football Jig.
The jig is a 3/4-ounce V&M Pacemaker Football Jig.
Gleason loves a soft plastic trailer. He opts for the V&M J-Bug for this Toledo Bend setup.
Gleason loves a soft plastic trailer. He opts for the V&M J-Bug for this Toledo Bend setup.
The trailer is a Jacob Powroznik signature series soft plastic, and the color is his own design, “Gleason’s Candy.”
The trailer is a Jacob Powroznik signature series soft plastic, and the color is his own design, “Gleason’s Candy.”
For the football jig setup, Gleason uses a Falcon Cara, 7-foot, 3-inch Amistad XH Rod.<br> <br> “We have big crawfish and brim, especially in the summer. The Pacemaker mimics both well, and the bulkiness does well around offshore brush and timber. I like to target 15 to 25 feet of water. During the prespawn, it will work around shallower water hard spots.”
For the football jig setup, Gleason uses a Falcon Cara, 7-foot, 3-inch Amistad XH Rod.
“We have big crawfish and brim, especially in the summer. The Pacemaker mimics both well, and the bulkiness does well around offshore brush and timber. I like to target 15 to 25 feet of water. During the prespawn, it will work around shallower water hard spots.”
Next up is a V&M Baby Swamp Hog.
Next up is a V&M Baby Swamp Hog.
Gleason turns to this versatile creature bait for several different techniques around the country. For Toledo Bend, he is rigging it on a Carolina rig.
Gleason turns to this versatile creature bait for several different techniques around the country. For Toledo Bend, he is rigging it on a Carolina rig.
Carolina rigged, the Swamp Hog is the perfect meal for big bass.
Carolina rigged, the Swamp Hog is the perfect meal for big bass.
The third bait, shown here, is the V&M Pork Shad. Gleason lets the bite dictate which bait he chooses but notes the Pork Shad glides a little further off the bottom than the Swamp Hog.
The third bait, shown here, is the V&M Pork Shad. Gleason lets the bite dictate which bait he chooses but notes the Pork Shad glides a little further off the bottom than the Swamp Hog.
“I will go with the Swamp Hog on the C-rig when the bite is good, and if it’s bad, a quick switch to the V&M Pork Shad.”
“I will go with the Swamp Hog on the C-rig when the bite is good, and if it’s bad, a quick switch to the V&M Pork Shad.”
To toss his Carolina rig around, Gleason reaches for a Falcon Cara, 8-foot Super Duty rod. The long rod gives him the ability to move a lot of line with one sweep which is key when fishing offshore.
To toss his Carolina rig around, Gleason reaches for a Falcon Cara, 8-foot Super Duty rod. The long rod gives him the ability to move a lot of line with one sweep which is key when fishing offshore.
“I throw a lot of different baits on a Carolina rig, and it just depends on the time of the year and how good the bite is. The Pork Shad works well for prespawn and the spawn; the Swamp Hog is more of a summer and fall bite.”
“I throw a lot of different baits on a Carolina rig, and it just depends on the time of the year and how good the bite is. The Pork Shad works well for prespawn and the spawn; the Swamp Hog is more of a summer and fall bite.”
The fourth bait of choice is a V&M Straight Shooter worm. It’s a 4.5-inch finesse worm loaded with salt. When the fish can feel the pressure, Gleason has no problem grabbing a lighter spinning combo and going to work with lighter line.
The fourth bait of choice is a V&M Straight Shooter worm. It’s a 4.5-inch finesse worm loaded with salt. When the fish can feel the pressure, Gleason has no problem grabbing a lighter spinning combo and going to work with lighter line.
Gleason rigs his Straight Shooter on a drop shot and is not afraid to fish it shallow and deep.
Gleason rigs his Straight Shooter on a drop shot and is not afraid to fish it shallow and deep.
The Straight Shooter is loaded with salt, and Gleason prefers the Morning Dawn color bait.
The Straight Shooter is loaded with salt, and Gleason prefers the Morning Dawn color bait.
Whether the fish are shallow spawning, holding to grass edges when it grows well or offshore, a spinning rod keeps Gleason in the action.
Whether the fish are shallow spawning, holding to grass edges when it grows well or offshore, a spinning rod keeps Gleason in the action.
For the drop shot, a Falcon Cara, 7-foot Medium Spin rod does the trick. The medium action allows him to maximize his casting distance but still has the power to get a hook in big fish and guide them to the boat.<br> <br> “When the fish are finicky, light line and a spinning rod will catch them all. Either community holes with pressured fish or on bluebird sky, poor fishing days, I can pick this combo up and still get bites.”
For the drop shot, a Falcon Cara, 7-foot Medium Spin rod does the trick. The medium action allows him to maximize his casting distance but still has the power to get a hook in big fish and guide them to the boat.
“When the fish are finicky, light line and a spinning rod will catch them all. Either community holes with pressured fish or on bluebird sky, poor fishing days, I can pick this combo up and still get bites.”
For a typical offshore measure, last but not least, Gleason couldn’t make a Toledo Bend list of baits without including a crankbait.
For a typical offshore measure, last but not least, Gleason couldn’t make a Toledo Bend list of baits without including a crankbait.
This one is a Strike King 6XD. Gleason likes shad colors, and Sexy Shad is one of his favorites.<br> <br> “In that 12- to 18-foot range, I always have one tied on. From prespawn through winter, it is on and ready to roll.
This one is a Strike King 6XD. Gleason likes shad colors, and Sexy Shad is one of his favorites.
“In that 12- to 18-foot range, I always have one tied on. From prespawn through winter, it is on and ready to roll.”
To toss the big plug, Gleason uses a Falcon Expert, 8-foot Tennessee Ledge rod.
To toss the big plug, Gleason uses a Falcon Expert, 8-foot Tennessee Ledge rod.
Here are Darold Gleason’s top five baits for fishing Toledo Bend.
Here are Darold Gleason’s top five baits for fishing Toledo Bend.
With the group of rods listed, any angler could have success using these techniques. <br><br> Thanks for showing us around your boat, Darold!
With the group of rods listed, any angler could have success using these techniques.

Thanks for showing us around your boat, Darold!

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