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| Joe Joslin
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 Posted: Apr 16, 2012 at 8:01 AM |
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Hello, Anglers. Easter week 2012 saw a large influx of people head to the lake with many off work and school out for Easter/Spring vacation. I talked to several who decided to camp and fish instead of heading out west for a ski vacation.
The high cost of gas, at nearly $4 a gallon, was a major reason some decided to stay closer to home. I have also encountered several boaters/anglers this past week who said it was the first time to launch their boat since last spring because of extremely low water levels. Recent heavy rains have given us a significant rise in Toledo’s water level.
LAKE CONDITIONS: At mid-week the level was 170.45 ft (msl) mean sea level with both generators running 24 hrs until further notice. Release is over 14000 cubit ft per second(cfs). North Toledo has heavily stained water conditions but clearing some on the main lake, mid lake is stained and clearing and south Toledo is clear on the main lake with stained conditions in the back half of main feeder creeks such as Housen, Six Mile and Mill Creeks. Water temps are running 68 to 70 on the main lake and low 70s in creeks and bays. The lake is getting safer to run as floaters are not as numerous and boat lane buoys are being replaced....and yes, much more water!!
YET ANOTHER FISH STORY: To have the young 10 yr old Alivia Lange catch a double digit bass a couple of weeks ago was so much fun that we wanted to keep those big bass coming. Last Thursday morning about 8 a.m. one of our regular customers, Jim Melanson, tossed his Yamamoto Senko on to a 6 ft flat and the battle was on!
A huge bass engulfed the worm and Jim set the hook and the huge bass came completely out of the water almost immediately. I raised the trolling motor to keep the trophy from getting wrapped in it and grabbed the dip net. The fish came out of the water again and showed all of us this time how truly big she was and then she headed straight under the boat and Jim could not get her to move. If you have fished for a few years, you have had big bass get under the boat and the outcome is often not desirable.
He was fishing with a spinning/rod and reel and as soon as Jim set the hook and I saw we had a big bass hooked up, I shouted to him, "What pound test do you have on?" He answered "Twelve" so I shouted "great!". I knew he either had 10 or 12 pound test because with wacky rigs that is what we use. Still under the boat, the fish was fighting hard so I encouraged him to push the rod away from the boat as far as he could and lift a little on the rod.
The bass, all 10.2 pounds of her, finally started to come out from under the boat where we got her into the net. She was just a monster of a bass and had eggs coming from her and was mostly spawned out. We weighed her, made photos quickly and a brief video and got her back into the lake (filmed that too) within 20 feet from where we caught her. The front part of her egg sack was flat so she was basically finished spawning so she could have easily been nearly a 12 pounder a week or so ago. Another great memory!
BASS REPORTS: Obviously, from the latest big fish story we continue to work shallow water with soft plastics. Not only are we working Senkos but also Berkley Jerk Shads and Flukes and all of these are either rigged weightless or very little weight. Since the lake has been up for several weeks there is new shallow grass growing in depths of 1 to 5 feet. It is a very thin, green looking grass that I have always called eel grass.
What ever you call it, bass like it and are holding in it especially early, late and on cloudy days. There also continues to be bass on the bank in the dead/brown grass that is starting to break up but is still there in several areas. This grass holds more fish when it is in 2-4 feet. Finally, as far as grass goes, the submerged grass line (8 to 16 feet) is also holding bass and this ares continues to improve each week as the lake falls slightly and bass finish spawning.
Basically, we are fishing soft plastics 90% of the time with most of our big fish falling to a slow-moving Carolina rig, Texas rig, wacky rig or drop shot. Out top baits continue to be Berkley Havoc Bottom Hoppers (Shady Watermelon Candy), Senkos(w.m. blue, Baby Bass, w.m. candy), Trick Worms and Berkley Power Lizards. We are fishing drains, points, ledges, ridges both on the main lake as well as in major feeder creeks.
Morning action has been slower the past week due to the full moon cycle but we have gotten some quality bites. The afternoon bite should be good this week and the morning bite should slowly improve in 5-7 days.
CRAPPIE: White perch anglers continue to catch fish strolling on the outside edges of the submerged grass line in 8 to 20 feet. Small jigs, Beetle Spins and Road Runners are all catching fish. It is common for crappie anglers to also catch catfish, white bass, spotted bass and largemouth bass while strolling these small baits. It is a fun time to fish! Have a great week and God Bless! Hope you catch your biggest fish ever this week.
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 web at joejoslinoutdoors.com. Also Google Joe Joslin Fishing.
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