October is the month when the bass fishing picks up on Toledo Bend. Cover some water and downsize your moving baits, such as crankbaits and jerkbaits.
The days of the lake “turning over” nearly everywhere, which happens in September, should be at an end and shad ought to be moving to the back of creeks up and down the lake. Everybody talks about a fall transition of bass on so many bodies of water but, to be honest, I don’t think it’s as much on Toledo Bend as it is on other lakes.
A lot of bass will be caught shallow in the fall, but we’ll still see plenty of fish come from the main basin. This year has been different in a lot of ways because bass have been shallow all year thanks to the lake being unseasonably high. It’s been kind of crazy, with so many bass in the 15-foot range. To be honest, I really like it when they get out to 18- to 24-foot depths but, really, there haven’t been a lot of fish out there.
This October could be a heyday for Louisiana boys who prefer to fish shallow. They can start in the back of creeks and just work their way out until they run into them, particularly in Housen Creek and Six Mile Creek on the Texas side. It’s going to be just all about the shad … bass are going to be keying on shad.
Downsizing your baits
Do you fish the grass? That grass is going to start turning some, and bass probably are going to pull off vegetation that starts to die off. Those healthy green swatches generally are going to be the key with grass in 8-foot depths and less. I like to find grass with 3- to 4-feet of water above it and really look for scattered grass. It all depends if you’re punching it. Many folks, though, like to run their shad-colored crankbaits and jerkbaits in “patchier” grass.
About downsizing… I would say to downsize is a good thing. Whatever you’re throwing beforehand, a smaller version probably will get more bites. Bass here have a tendency to relate to a smaller profile in the fall.
There’s a real good chance the topwater bite will be a success. The ol’ Chug Bug is hard to beat, any kind of walking bait. Personally, I throw a Yellow Magic Havana. Those things walk really nice. Plastic frogs can trigger bites, too, and if it’s a shad deal, I’ll throw white and if it’s dirty water I’m throwing black. If you’re missing more plastic frog bites than you like, try a Lake Fork Tackle Trailer Hook. It’s as good a trailer hook as I’ve ever found.
It’s always hard to beat a Senko. I’ve been successful throwing a green pumpkin/red with a little bit of purple in it. Any of those watermelon reds, red bugs, and there’s a black/blue I like to throw on Toledo Bend.
Targeting crappie
Greater crappie fishin’ success should start as soon as we get the turnover behind us. Then crappie fishing ought to be good for sure. In the fall, they might have a tendency to get on vertical stuff a little more than horizontals. It’s a little early for them to get on them (verticals) really good but I wouldn’t overlook it. Mostly, I believe, they’ll be hanging around in the 16-foot range and there could be some fish on some shallower stuff, too.
I’m more of a “minnow guy” than a jig guy and I believe smaller minnows usually get bit more than bigger minnows. I try to use the smallest bronze or blue hooks I can get away with (a lot of 4s and maybe a few 6s).
That said, we probably use more soft plastics than anything. They make micros that are really good and you use like a 1/32-ounce leadhead. As far as color, it’s hard to beat “monkey milk” unless you’re up north in dirtier water, where blacks and chartreuses come more into play.
Hope y’all have a great fall on the water.
Call Living the Dream Guide Service at (318) 256-8991 to make a dream fishing trip come true on Toledo Bend.
