Need advice for Toledo Bend 1st trip there this week

[T&T]

Hello,
My husband & I (& my brother) are heading to Toledo Bend this week from Tue thru Sat for 1st time ever. We'll be staying in a rental in the Milam area on the Texas side & launching from Holly Park area (I think it is the closest launch). Any advice on fishing bream, bass, & crappy is welcome! We know it is different than what we are accustomed to w fishing in basin (Benoit & Charenton) & the Lake Verret area. But, any advice on rigging or fishing tips in general are welcome. We really haven't been able to do much fishing in the past 7 months because my Mother died unexpectedly in Nov. & 2 weeks later my brother (56) was murdered the day before Thanksgiving. We have been happily taking care of my Father w Alzheimer's since then. This is a much needed little mini-vacation) Not looking for any pity here, just some fishing tips! God is good & life is great. We have happily assumed our new roles as full-time caregivers but we do miss our fishing time. God bless. & thanks in advance for a few fishing tips. We are treating ourselves to a guided fishing trip for crappy on Thursday w Gordon Steele so hoping to at least catch some on that day! Heard he was a great guide. Praying for good weather & envisioning all the fish we will load the boat with! Lol Seeing is believing!

[BR Bandit]

Just got back from Zwolle caught all the bream we wanted as long as you dont mind the crickets, a few sacs and bass. I'm not sure where your going to be but they are catching on the brush piles with shiners, you will see the boats sitting in one spot for a few hours and that's what they are doing fishing the sunken brush.

good luck

[T&T]

Thank you. Well...i've said i won't do crickets but might have to eat those words...they crunch & remind me of a roach! But my husband & brother are planning to use them. I use needle-nose pliers & can bait a line as fast as anyone because i've done it for so many years w/o ever touching the cut up worms. Ha! Hate crickets but I'll go over & catch the neighbor's snake in their garden. Not sure i can catch a cricket on the jump w needle nose pliers but i will try. Lol
How deep are the brush-piles we need to look for? Heard some folks don't use bobbers for bream there.

[prefers shiners]

Don't know a lot about TB.....but, good luck Tracy & Terry on your trip....

[T&T]

Thank you
we will need it!

[Cajun Pop]

That is farther north than I fish but down south the sac au lait are on brush piles 25' - 30' deep and are suspended at about 18' - 20'. They are also on hydrilla 20' deep suspended about 10' - 12' deep. Bass have been active on pepper grass 6' - 8' deep in the mornings - topwater and frogs - and on deep grass after about 10 AM - carolina rigs, worms, and deep diving crank baits. Don't know how much deep grass you will find there but there is usually some in the main lake near the mouth of Patroon and in the coves between Patroon and the bridge. I'll bet the guide will give you some better info. Good luck.

[T&T]

Thank you for replying! Appreciate the info & details. Feel like we will be all thumbs there.
Now if only the weather will cooperate!
Needing this more than ever...crisis mode here for past 3 days...sitter had lined up for Dad is in hospital herself now, his fridge went out on Saturday, the new sitter today hired had family emergency...but it is still all good...my sister takes over here this evening...will probably pack into the night & just can't wait to be in the boat ON THE WATER! Lol
God bless)

[Tracker123]

Don't worry yourself about boating a bunch of fish. Just go up there and enjoy yourself - that's exactly what I do. I catch some, then call it good. Fishing is more to me then filling a box full. You will enjoy that beautiful lake, it's not like southern Louisiana. For fun, get a basket of crickets and fish far off the banks for bream to get away from the little ones - laydowns are good. Shiners are good above the grass if you find it. You're close to the Pendelton bridge, on the Louisiana side, there are artificial reefs along some of the pylons of the bridge. In the shade, you'll see them on the depth finder. Pull crank baits if all else fails. Good luck to you - please post pictures when you get back.

[Fish on Line]

Your Stregnth in the face of adversity I admire. We are glad you are taking a breather and do hope you will NOT be a Stranger here on CDC. If you need us we will be here for You

[skiptomylu]

Sorry to be late, but if you have a fly rod the Bream Killer fly works very well on the bream and can avoid the pesky crickets! I tied myself some not long ago and tried them just off my neighbors dock and caught some. He the week before went with me and he used his fly rod after we gave up on crickets after the day before (we did do well on the crickets, but they are a pain). He did better than I did trying shrimp with his fly. Try them, they work and if you want a picture of my Bream Killer to know what they look like see below.

Oh and the only thing you could have done better is to have been here maybe mid May as May is the month for them to start their spawn.

I tied these on a #8 curved hook and the wing and tail on ones that I put a tail is gray squirrel.