Outdoors: Toledo readies for its biggest event
Last Modified: Thursday, May 17, 2012 12:01 PM
By Joe Joslin / American Press
Hello, anglers and faithful readers.
I hear back from a lot of readers who say they do not fish but read our columns each week because of their love of Toledo and want to stay in touch with what’s going on around the lake.
We are aware of that and often try to
include info about water issues, wildlife stories and firsthand reports
concerning “stuff”
that just happens when you are in the wild as much as we are each
week. Mother Nature is always putting on a show and we love
to tell about it and find it good to know that others share our
love of the outdoors.
Lake conditions
At midweek the lake level is 170.3 feet, which is basically a normal level for mid-May.
Lots of grass is growing along the shorelines and lily pads and pepper grass are also increasing.
The lake is really in great condition with the northern end slightly stained, midlake is mostly clear and south Toledo is clear. However, there is plenty off-colored water conditions in the back portions of major feeder creeks with water temps running from 74-79 degrees.
Both generators are running from 2-8 p.m. weekdays, which is having only a slight impact on water levels the past two weeks.
Big splash
McDonald’s Big Splash on Toledo, the largest bass tournament of the year, is scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. As many as 3,000 thousand anglers will hit the lake with headquarters at Toledo’s Cypress Bend Resort.
There will be several patterns that could produce those big bass anglers will be looking for. Patterns from 1-30 feet will
be in the mix and someone will make that lucky cast to win it all. We will give a report in next weeks column.
Bass reports
The shallow bite, from 1-6 feet, is improving as we have had some cloud cover the past few days.
The eel and pencil grass continue to grow in the shallows and are giving more cover for bass to hang out.
Topwater poppers, frogs and weightless soft plastics are all getting some action and capable of enticing a big bass. Norman’s Pro Pops, Yellow Magic and Stanley’s Ribbit frogs are some of my favorite topwater offerings.
In the mid-depths (8-16 feet) we continue to work Deep Little Ns, wacky-rigged Bottom Hoppers, Senkos and Trick Worms as well as Texas-rigged Bottom Hoppers, Speed Craws and Trick Worms. Out deeper (16-28 feet) we are using Stanley Bug Eye football jigs, Carolina-rigged Itszabug, Power Lizards and Speed Craws.
We also are working deep-diving crankbaits with Norman’s DD22s in Sexy Shad, Bumble Bee and Blue Chartreuse.
•••
Joe Joslin is a syndicated outdoor columnist, tournament angler and pro guide on Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn. His column appears Thursdays. Contact him at 463-3848 or joejoslinoutdoors@yahoo.com or visit www.joejoslinoutdoors.com
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