While many bass fishing tips are planned events with numerous hours of research, study, and planning, Connor Johnson of Krotz Springs traveled to Toledo Bend on a whim for a night of bass fishing. Little did he know, spontaneity would yield a double-digit bass that would far surpass his past big bass catches on the reservoir. It would also become the 10th bass of the 2025-26 Toledo Bend Lunker Bass Program season.
On the night of Aug. 30, Johnson almost secretly hitched up his Ranger RT 178 aluminum bass boat outfitted with a 70hp Yamaha and departed Krotz Springs at approximately 9:30 p.m. Having fished all the real estate Toledo Bend offers, he headed to the south end and launched in Six Mile.
“I didn’t even tell my girlfriend I was going,” Johnson said. “No one knew I was going.”
The night brought a catch of respectable bass, but then the biggest surprise of his life snatched his 10 ½-inch Old Master Zoom worm donning a black with red flake design. After landing the big bass, Johnson took a weight reading and celebrated its 11.13 pound size.
“The conditions weren’t even ideal for nighttime fishing,” he said. “There was a slight breeze about 5 to 7 mph out of the northeast, but at 1:20 a.m. it all came together and that’s when I caught her.”
Night time is the right time
With the oppressive heat threatening to thwart any fishing trip at present, Johnson highly recommends nighttime fishing on Toledo Bend. He caught his record bass in 13 to 20 feet of water, fishing deep in the structure. He had good luck focusing on structure in the vicinity of docks. While many anglers who enjoy Toledo Bend concentrate on the deep open water of the main reservoir, Johnson targeted the interior of Six Mile’s main lake.
“I wasn’t fishing right on a dock or pier,” he said. “I was a little ways away from it and I think the structure I was fishing was man-placed, probably by that landowner.”
Johnson said fishing at night is one part of the puzzle. When targeting bass, the right bait selection is critical. He suggests something dark, and in this case, size matters.
“Throw something big,” Johnson said. “The big bait gets the big bass.”
Johnson is an avid bass angler and has outfitted his Ranger with LiveScope, but for this trip, he never even used it.
“LiveScope is great, and I have seen some big fish on it, but just because you see them doesn’t mean they are going to bite the bait,” he said. “I just started watching the depths.”
According to Johnson, the bait fish are moving up and the bass are following. Discovering where the bait is going plays a big role in locating a record bass this time of year. His frequent trips to Toledo Bend aided in his strategy.
“I used up all my vacation time from work, but it finally paid off in the biggest bass fishing night of my life,” he said. “I will definitely be going back to night fish again. Right now, that’s the best fishing.”
