Torrential rains in western Louisiana during late July were on pace to fill Toledo Bend to full pool, which is fairly unusual for this time of year.
Just what that would do to my newfound bass fishing technique and punchin’ pattern in the hydrilla is anyone’s guess, because higher water levels tend to spread the bass out.
Toledo Bend was in the low 170s in late July when I busted their chops in grass 9- to 12-feet deep in a drain around Housen Bay. I waited patiently all summer for the lake to drop to tighten up those fish seeking grassy drains as they leave the shallows.
Earlier this summer I thought something would trigger bites and it did that day, as I had approximately 15 bites, boated two 4-pounders and 10 or so 1 ½- to 2 ½-pounders and had a “hawg” pulling for a thrilling while only to come back with just the sinker, hook and O ring. O ring? Oh, yeah. Considering a Senko is so productive during the spring, I rigged up what I call “deep Neko rigs” with 7 ½-inch long June bug/red Senkos and carefully measured the halfway point of each one to pinch an O ring over the soft plastic stick bait in the exact center.
I started with a 3/8-ounce weight while fishing but quickly determined a ½-ounce model works better. I used a 4/0 circular shaped Gamakatsu hook.
The bass in the grass loved it and I had a ball because they were set up perfectly suspended off the bottom. Don’t you love it when a plan comes together?
Looking ahead
It’s wait and see over the next week or so to see how high the water rises and how it affects the bite. By September, I believe the grass bite, whether punchin’ the aforementioned rig or your favorite soft plastic or jig, is going to be good. Based on my experience here the past five decades, the hydrilla beds stacked like they are now around the lake are thick enough and spread out enough to hold the fish.
Bass fishing success has been fair to good from late June through July. The pleasantly surprising factor in the catches has been the number of double-digit bass joining the Toledo Bend Lunker Bass Program. There has been at least one, sometimes two, 10-pound-plus hawgs hitting the digital scales weekly. I’ve never seen this many during summer months. That’s a tribute to the comeback of this great lake.
With the water higher than 170 feet, there are bass being caught in shallower depths. That should continue in September with topwaters (chrome or shad-colored Spooks, bone or black Whopper Ploppers, bream and shad-colored hollow body frogs, white or chartreuse/white buzz baits, etc.), golden bream-colored bladed jigs and spinnerbaits accounting for many of those bass still hanging around.
I’ll stick to punchin’ my “deep Neko rig” and recently rigged up Zoom Magnum Trick Worms too. They’ll work, as will June bug/red, red bug, plum apple and cranberry soft plastic creature baits, Flukes, wacky worms, etc.
Night fishing
Stay on the breaklines of the grass beds that harbor (from what I see) clouds and clouds of baitfish — shad or bream. That is why the bass are there.
September’s night fishing should be as good as it has been the past few months. The full moon is on Sept. 17.
Take advantage of the night fishing and the punchin’ bite. Both should be rewarding this month. Take care and be safe on the water.
If you want to catch bass in September, I’ve been guiding on this lake most of my life and you’re more than welcome in my boat. Call me at (936) 404-2688.
