As far as bass fishing prospects, what I’m hoping for before Christmas are cooler water temperatures and at least 1 foot more water in Toledo Bend. That’d be an early and very welcome Christmas gift.
The combination would ramp up what already is a dang good fish-catchin’ month of bassin’ on the sprawling lake shared by Louisiana and Texas. So go ahead, Santa, make my day as November turns to December.
As of Nov. 1, the pool level was at 167.47 (4 ½-feet below full pool), up a little from a day earlier when it was 167.29. It’s been a lot like last year when the lake was in the 167 range for months before finally rising in January. It’d be a huge plus to get 6 to 12 more inches of water in the pond, which could happen because the region’s finally getting significant amounts of rainfall after an unseasonably hot, dry fall.
I’d also love to see consistently lower water temperatures in the mid-60s to lower 70s. When it’s 65 to 72 degrees, that’s when Toledo Bend’s bass go nuts and really put the feed bag on. We’ll need several cold fronts to accomplish that temperature range in my opinion.
I can’t wait, and I know neither can so many other outdoorsmen who don’t walk the woods hunting deer, squirrels and rabbits or man duck blinds this time of year. It’s a time to concentrate on 5- to 7-foot depths as the fish continue to transition to the shallows and prime time to throw lipless crankbaits like the Bill Lewis Lures Rat-L-Trap. That’s my go-to bait from late November through early February. It rarely lets me down.
All the ingredients in place
I’ll be done with punchin’ Neko-rigged, 7-inch long June bug/red Senkos in the grass, a pattern that paid off for me in September/October. On a trip Oct. 12, seven 3-pound class bass, all pot-bellied and looking like they came out of a cookie cutter, were caught and released on a solo trip.
Those days are over as successful bass anglers turn to a ½-ounce or Magnum red or crawfish-colored Rat-L-Trap, or their favorite Carolina-rigged watermelon/red or South African soft plastic like a Fluke. Another top go-getter in early winter and all the way to spring is a gold/orange Rogue.
Also have a lightweight Neko-rigged Senko and a spinnerbait tied on.
The Magnum Rat-L-Trap historically triggers bites from bigger bass, and bigger bass definitely start showing up this first month of winter, if not before. The double-digit “fat girls” get more aggressive with their migration tendencies and feeding habits, which make them oh-so susceptible to big Rat-L-Traps and Rogues.
Bass will be preying on shad and they’ll share the same water over grassy flats and ridges near deep drains. As long as the baitfish stay put, the bass aren’t going to move. They get on top of stuff and usually gorge themselves until late January or February. All the ingredients will be in place if the water rises and cools significantly before December.
Good luck. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
If you want to catch bass in December, I’ve been guiding on this lake most of my life and you’re welcome in my boat. Give me a call at (936) 404-2688.
