Had some of the worst luck fishing!!

[waterinthefuel]

Ok guys, I don't consider myself a pro, but usually, considering I've fished the same cove for 20 years (I'm 24) that normally when I go out, I can catch at least some fish. I went last weekend, fished 3 solid days, multiple trips each day, and caught not one fish.<br /><br />Water temp: 46 on Saturday, 50 by Tuesday morning. Water has risen due to torrential rains we've had down here over 5 feet in just 3 weeks. Water is murky due to sediment from surrounding hills draining into the lake. It did clear by trips end, with no increase of fishing success. The lake is Toledo Bend, so if anybody has any help as to what to fish on this lake, please advise.<br /><br />I fished rattletraps and watermelon lizards with pegged and non-pegged slip sinkers. Usually this time of year, those two baits are hot on the Bend. Anybody have some other ideas?

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Had some of the worst luck fishing!!

I take it you are fishing for bass. I would find some clearer water to fish. A shallow cove that has some exposure to the warm sun with some weed growth might be the ticket. The bass will follow the bait fish into these areas to feed when things warm up. Sticking to the same cove that has not produced will be useless. I am guessing that the bass down there are pre spawn or in the spawn? I would look for a less murkey area with a fairly hard bottom with deep water near by. If you can find this you will have increased your chances of getting bit. Up here in spring we do well running shallow running crank baits or jerkbaits over top of the weeds that have not yet grown up to the surface. Also do well with weightless worms fished slow. I hope this helps but then again I never fished for those southern bass. When those hogs get a case of lockjaw it can be frustrating.<br /><br />Tightlines Flathead

 

[jtexas]

Re: Had some of the worst luck fishing!!

I got just one word for you, waterinthefuel:<br /> texasfishingforum.com <br /><br />Toledo is the one lake where I can honestly say I never been skunked! Last time out there (last Nov.) I only got one hybrid white, about 9 lbs, while fishing for large-mouth, but it still counts in my book.<br /><br />Do you remember when that lake was no limit/no size restrictions?

 

[JB]

Re: Had some of the worst luck fishing!!

Hi, WITF.<br /><br />Is it fishing you live for, or only catching?<br /><br /> In a life without failure there is no joy in success. JB, 02/19/2004

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Had some of the worst luck fishing!!

JB, I'm not quite sure what you meant by that. If I go fish I'm out there to enjoy it, but I'm also there to catch something. I never keep what I catch, but I want to catch something. If I go out 4 times, hours each time, and catch nothing, and still go out for a 5th time, obviously it's not the end of the world to me if I catch nothing, it's simply frustrating.<br /><br />To answer the previous questions, yes I'm fishing for bass, and unfortunatly in this lake, for the past couple of years, there is no vegetation to be found. Even scientists can't figure it out. That makes it ten times more difficult to fish due to the lack of vegetation, i.e. "gimme" spots to fish.<br /><br />I will check out the website the individual posted for me. Thanks!

 

[JB]

Re: Had some of the worst luck fishing!!

Just a little philosophy, WITF. No offense intended.<br /><br />If you get skunked once in a while, those days that you catch fish will be all the sweeter.<br /><br />At least you got three days on the lake. Lotta guys snowed in to their cabins envy you that.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Had some of the worst luck fishing!!

"Holy Toledo, Batman!" You mean there's no more hydrilla?<br /><br />WITF, I'd be interested to hear once you find the bite there - not asking for your honey holes or anything, maybe just the pattern. My inlaws live about 12 miles from Huxley Bay, which greatly eases the pain of family visits, but I don't get over there very often so anything you can offer would be a great help.<br /><br />jtw

 

[sonybob]

Re: Had some of the worst luck fishing!!

Go for the banks in coves where the sun warms the water. I don't think that clarity is a big factor; warm temps more important. Shad seek these areas in the late winter/early spring. Try a lure that imitates injured minnow fished on or close to surface. Don't be afraid to use a good sized plug. (5/8 oz surface pencil plug). Don't spend too much time in one spot. 6 casts with no hits - move to the next warm sunny shore. Good luck.<br />Bob

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Had some of the worst luck fishing!!

Early spring when the water is cold I look for shallow bays with a mud bottom. These tend to warm up faster because mud soaks up the heat from the sun. Cast to about six inches from shore. I like using beetle spins for this usually small or medium either chartruse and black or black and orange. The bass usually nail it a foot from shore. <br /><br />This picture is the bay I like to fish using this approch. Outside temp was 42 degrees and the lake temp was 48 degrees except in the bay where it was 52 degrees.<br />

 

[gonfishn]

Re: Had some of the worst luck fishing!!

You don't know bad luck until you spend a day with MellowYellow..Use colors as to foliage and bait that is around.<br />Water temps play a role to in how to play the game..Not a basser here but game is same the name just is diff.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Had some of the worst luck fishing!!

bad luck 4 musky means good luck 4 MY <br />physch....

 

[jtexas]

Re: Had some of the worst luck fishing!!

waterinthefuel, I don't know if you're keeping up with the texas fishing forum, but here's a couple reports on Toledo Bend:<br /><br /> tff <br /><br /> tff

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Had some of the worst luck fishing!!

Youve received some great advice, but the reason you didnt catch fish is primarily due to the water rising, It gives bass lockjaw like nothing else. I garantee that when the water stabalizes you will start to catch fish again. As Im sure you know, slow is the key to cold water bass, and points are your best bet, near bedding areas.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Had some of the worst luck fishing!!

Waterinfuel<br />I know nothing about your area but I can tell you out here in California still need to fish at least 35 feet deep for Black Bass. Need to fish very very slow. By May the water will start to warm and the fish will be more active. In June we can fish 5 to 12 feet in coves with deep water near by and catch 50 fish a day many below Keeper size especialy shallow. What works best here is a small 4 to 6 inch straight worm. In real muddy I will put a couple of glass beeds above my split shot to make noise. From December till now is when the biggest bass are cought and very few small fish. Slow down in cold water.