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Fishing Reports
Joe Joslin is a syndicated outdoor writer and writes for several Louisiana newspapers and
numerous magazines including Texas Game and Fish, Louisiana Game and Fish, CenLa
Sportsman, Louisiana Sportsman and LakeCaster. Joe Joslin has fished Toledo Bend Reservoir
for over 30 years and has been a full-time licensed guide since 1998. He specializes in Largemouth
bass. He guides mainly the southern 1/3 of Toledo which many feel harbors more than its share of
Toledo Bend's lunker bass. Joe has been a full time pro guide on Toledo Bend/Sam Rayburn since 1998.
Joe Joslin Outdoors Fishing Guide Service Wholesome atmosphere * Safety minded * Latest equipment,
featuring 2009 21i Class Skeeter with 250 HP Yamaha Series 2 outboard,
Lowrance Electronics and 101 Maxxum Pro Digital Minn Kota trolling motor
* Tackle supplied upon request * References
available upon request * Available Year-Round. E-Mail Joe at joejoslinoutdoors@yahoo.com
Toledo Bend Reservoir Fishing Report
for
February 19, 2010
Hello, Anglers. Mid February is here and this is usually what we call the pre-spawn season of bass fishing in this area of the country. However, it is still fishing much like winter but weather forecasts are looking more like we might have a warm-up in our future. Friday, Saturday and Sunday all look good even into early next week with highs in 50s.
2010 BASS MASTER CLASSIC
Lay Lake, located just south of Birmingham, Alabama, is the site for this year's Classic. The Bass Master's Classic, known by many as the Superbowl of bass fishing tournaments, will feature 51 of the top bass anglers in the world in three days of tough competition beginning this Friday February 19 through Sunday February 21. Bass pro veteran Gary Klein has fished 28 Classics, Kevin Vandam 20 and this will be a first for 9 anglers including Pam Martin-Wells who is the only woman fishing the event. Martin-Wells qualified by winning the angler of the year award for the Bass Master's Women's Tour. While it is an honor to compete in the Bass Master's Classic, every invitation comes from performance and none are here without meeting qualifications. The only automatic berth was well deserved and went to 2009 Classic winner, Skeet Reese while fishing the Red River in Shreveport. The Classic will visit Louisiana again in 2011 in New Orleans and the Louisiana Delta.
Here at Lay Lake/Birmingham the water temperature was in low 40s Monday with light snow. One report had the water temp listed as 36 on Wednesday, two days before competition begins. It will be interesting to see how this plays out but it is going to be a tough tournament at least for the first day or two of competition. If weather predictions are on target, the final day (Sunday) may be the best day in the past 7 to 10 days due to slightly warmer water temps.
The jig pitching/flipping experts could have an upper hand as well as drop shot specialists who may target spotted bass in clear, deep water. In my way of thinking with the water conditions, the drop shot or spotted bass patterns will be a major factor at least the first day or two. If the water warms by Sunday then other patterns may kick in but for some it may be too late. It will be fun to watch. We will send in highlights/updates each day from the Classic which will run in several of the publications who carry these columns.
MY CLASSIC ASSIGNMENT: We'll get plenty of fresh air each day as we will give demo boat rides to fans and spectators. There is a lot of talk in bass fishing circles about Skeeter's new FX series and Yamaha's new 4-Stroke SHO (super high output) engines. We look for demo lines to be long even with cold weather. These rigs are so new that most bass anglers have not seen one and have only seen pictures or videos on internet. Skeeter's new 20FX and 21FX were manufactured exclusively for the new Yamaha 4-stroke. Federal law required all outboards brought into the USA in 2010 to have a three star rating which is given due to engines with low emissions and high fuel economy.
These new Yamaha SHO engines do that plus are lighter weight and out-perform comparable 2-stroke engines. Most bass anglers/boaters would say that is impossible and I too was in that group. I was sold on 2-stroke engines because of past performance and have been slow to change to 4-stroke engines. However, this new technology moved me from 2-strokes in about three minutes of "on the water" time.
WHY FOUR STROKE?
Simply put....the two stroke engines need oil mixed with the gas in order to run while the four-stroke is just like an automobile where the oil is in a crankcase and lubricates but is not burned up like the oil mixed in the gas. The environmental improvements are easily understood as omissions are much less on four stroke as there is no burning of oil in the atmosphere and in addition the 4-stroke uses less fuel. In earlier four strokes, in order to get these improvements the boater had to sacrifice performance plus earlier models were usually heavier with some weighing over a 100 pounds more than their counter 2-stroke engines. Hence we have a game changer.....a 4-stroke with lighter weight, low emissions, equals or out-performs comparable 2-strokes (super high output/SHO) and better gas economy. Win, Win.
As a pro angler and outdoor writer I want to be totally transparent when talking about these new products. I am sponsored by Skeeter/Yamaha so you expect me to be positive in these matters. However, I assure you this is the real deal but I don't expect you to completely take my word for it. When you get an opportunity, take a boat ride in one. It is cutting edge technology like I have never seen in boating and outboard manufacturing and I have owned over 20 boats in 35 years of fishing and boating.
LAKE CONDITION: Toledo remains cold with water temperatures in mid to upper 40s with the lake level at 170.45 feet with one unit running 24 hours. North Toledo is stained to heavily stained, mid lake is stained and south Toledo is clear and more so as you get closer to the dam. All major feeder creeks have stained-to-muddy water in upper portions. We need some warm weather!
FISHING REPORTS: Cold weather and the lowest water temperatures I have seen in over 15 years have combined to slow the pre-spawn patterns from yet developing on my favorite fishing hole. The most consistent patterns have been moderately deep to very deep patterns will all presentations slow and slower. There is an occasional jig bite in 15 to 30 feet as well as a Carolina rig bite in same depth. The bites are usually very subtle/light so be alert and cautious. Lizards and Stanley's new Itza Bug on Carolina rigs and Bugeye Football jigs on jig rod. Also, we are getting a lot of half-bites where the fish will just pull on the bait and not eat it. I have tried several approaches on getting these fish to take the bait but have not found the secret. The most productive thing for me is to stop moving the bait, lift the rod gently and softly shake it while not retrieving it. Another is to pitch a drop shot back on top of where I got the bite. My drop shot worm is a small profile 5 inch Berkley Wacky Crawler in green pumpkin in low light conditions and watermelon candy and plain watermelon in bright hours of the day. We are getting a few bites on jerk baits on the edge of the outside grass in 12 to 20 feet. Also, on bright days, we are catching a few on wacky rigs just at sundown on grassy points close to deep water. work the wacky slowly .....very slowly. We are dropping down to 8 and 10 lb test line on wacky rig. There are still some fish very deep on jigging spoons in 35 to 50 feet.
AUTHOR INFO: Joe Joslin is a syndicated outdoor columnist, tournament angler and pro guide on Toledo and Sam Rayburn. Contact him at 337-463-3848 or joejoslinoutdoors@yahoo.com and WEBSITE www.joejoslinoutdoors.com.
JOE JOSLIN OUTDOORS
Licensed Guide on Toledo & Sam Rayburn
Tournament Angler & Outdoor Media
Member: Louisiana Outdoor Writers Assoc.
& Southeastern Outdoor Press Assoc.
Joe Joslin Outdoors Fishing Guide Service
160 Country Lane
DeRidder,
LA 70634
(337)463-3848