Patterns That Works in December and January




Deep or shallow for bass at this time of the year? Winter normally means dropping water temperatures, but Texas being Texas, if we have 3-4 days of the daily warming, the bass will get more active shallower.

John Dean, a well known bass fishing guide on Toledo Bend recently reported catching bass in ditches and along the shoreline with 4-inch, soft-plastic ringworms during a warming trend, especially from mid-day on. A suspending jerkbait bite was also a good bait choice.

On warmer days, he finds bass in 5- to 7-foot depths chasing and eating shad. When the water cools and they don’t feel like it, they stay deeper.

This is a time of year when horizontal baits come into play. Chatterbait-style lures, swim jigs, jerkbaits and ½- or ¾-ounce Rat-L-Traps (chrome/black, chrome/orange or crawfish-colored depending on the water color) and chrome/black or gold/orange jerkbaits can produce more than other artificials.

Offshore, the bass will likely be schooled up and the savvy angler will follow and keep up with these schools for weeks up into February.

Louisiana pro angler, Greg Hackney will be flipping a ½-ounce Strike King Hack Attack Flipping Jig that is compact and features a heavy wire, black-nickel Gamakatsu hook to deliver better penetration on the hookset when fishing Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn and Fork. The Hack Attack produces best because of the 30-degree angle of the line tie that presents a better hookup ratio than other jigs. Its head configuration, weedguard and size make it extra weedless, and its corkscrew wire keeper secures the soft plastic trailer.

The jighead is built to slip through heavy cover, but it doesn’t go through cover as fast as plastic. “You have a tendency to fish slower,” he said. “When water temperature gets to 60, 50 degrees is when it really shines.”

Hackney’s favorite color combinations include a black/blue jig with a 4-inch black/blue Rage Craw, a 4-inch Sexy Craw jig with a “doubleheader” Rage Craw and a Peanut Butter Bug with a Junebug Rage Craw.
Hackney trims the skirt a little bit, which gives the silicone strands a little more life.

He fills his Lew’s Custom Pro reels with Strike King’s Tour Grade braid. He doesn’t use anything heavier than 50-pound test; the braid cuts through vegetation like a knife. He flips the jig on a 71/2-foot Hack Attack Flippin Stick.

Starting in December, several double-digit bass will start showing up at the marina and tackle shop weigh scales. Some real giants are caught during late December and early January. Stay tuned to the local weather forecasts for forecasted temperature trends. Just because the weather might get a little nasty, dress warmer and try your luck. Maybe you can start 2020 off with a double-digit trophy bass.

 

 




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Toledo Bend Lake Current Weather Alerts

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Toledo Bend Lake Weather Forecast

Thursday

Slight Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 93

Thursday Night

Slight Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 75

Independence Day

Slight Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 89

Friday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 75

Saturday

Partly Sunny

Hi: 93

Saturday Night

Mostly Clear

Lo: 75

Sunday

Slight Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 95

Sunday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 75


Toledo Bend Lake Water Level (last 30 days)


Water Level on 7/3: 171.25 (-0.75)



Toledo Bend Lake

Fishing Report from TPWD (Jul. 2)

GOOD. Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.66 feet below pool. Rain continues to fall with more on the way, keeping the lake just a few inches below full pool. The bass bite is holding steady, with a solid shallow water bite early in the morning and again during midday. Topwater lures are producing at daylight, while midday action has been best in thick vegetation using popping frogs and flipping beaver-style baits in heavy pads and bushes. Deeper fish are being caught on Texas rigs and big crankbaits along main lake ridges in 12-24 feet of water. Crappie fishing has slowed with the heat and high water, with the best reports coming from anglers fishing at night under lighted docks or using floating flood lights–live bait is outperforming jigs. Report by Stephen Johnston, Johnston Fishing. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.

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