First Toledo Bend trip of 2015 ...

[jpd0144]

Started out as a scouting trip for our local club tournament on Saturday the 7th. I haven’t been to the Bend since mid November so I wanted to see how Mother Nature had changed things there.

Water was at 49 degrees and had an east / south east wind at 5-10 mph when I started out. I was chunking a 3/4 oz. lipless ripping thick hydrilla when this chunk hit.
It was my second fish of the day. I figured that was going to be the highlight of the day but ended up boating a few more nice fish.

Not a jaw dropping day but ended it with this 8.25lb.'er and my best 5 going 19.75 lb.'s. ( All fish weighed with Boga grip 15lb. model)

I kept the 8 lb.er in my live well for about 45 min. with the timer set to almost constant pump in letting the overflow run out to make sure it was ok. ( also with the water at 49 degrees I figured it would be fine) I finally ran across another angler to ask to photo it for me and then it was released.
Not my largest fish but still wanted to capture it as a memory of the first Toledo Bend trip of 2015. ( Pic. makes it look smaller than what it was ... Hate when that happens !)

Hope it’s a sign of good fishing next weekend!

Gear used wasn't anything high end but got the job done ...

3/4oz. Bill Lewis original Rattle Trap in Cherry Bomb color. ( Hooks changed to #2 KVD Short Shank )
40 lb. Stren Sonic Braid.
Powell Endurance 726 H cranking rod.
Curado 200i HG ( spool bearings changed/knob bearings added)

Bandit Ledge 250 in Red Crawfish ( Hooks changed to #2 KVD Short Shank )
30 lb. Stren Sonic Braid.
Powell Endurance 726 H cranking rod.
Curado 200i ( spool bearings changed/knob bearings added)

Happy safe fishing to everyone in 2015 and thanks for the read...

Jeff

[jpd0144]

[Ham Solo]

Nice!

It looks broad from belly to the first dorsal.

[fishingandfords]

Nice fish Jeff

[Finnz922]

Great catch!

[RISE]

That's a chunk! Beautiful fish!

[jpd0144]

Thanks guys !

Lets just hope that Saturday can start off on a good note.

Pre-fishing 7 days out is tough ... but hard to do it any other way between family time and a Monday through Friday work schedule.

Fish on ! ------<><

[dhottle]

Nice bass Jeff. Loved that first pic.

[nickp]

Nice stuff, at least you have a confident base line to expand upon.

[Imavol]

Not bad at all for a scouting trip. Good luck at the tournament.

[kyty]

Nice fish!!! Can't wait to go to Guntersville in March and catch a few big ones.

[MTBF]

Huge largemouth for sure! I dream of getting over a 7lb Largemouth Bass up here one day it will happen.

Congrads, what a catch!

MTBF

[jpd0144]

Thanks for the nice comments and wishes guys ... !

Hope in the morning to have somewhat of a repeat. Ill update tomorrow evening after the weigh in.

Geees my nerves are shot just packing gear and going over things in the boat.

[jpd0144]

Well guys the fish must have felt sorry for me and decided to just load up in the boat!

I ended up winning our club tournament !!! I would have never thought last weeks scouting would have worked out 7 days later and the fish would have not relocated ... I got lucky !

I didn't catch a lot of fish but the right ones bit. I had 8 bites , caught 7 , and had 5 keepers. (9 hr. Tournament)

My 5 went 22.86 lbs. with my largest weighing 6.89 and second largest was 6.48.

I think I'm most exited about the caliber of fish and technique holding up more than anything.

It's hard to stick with your plan when people are catching around you ( but smaller fish ) and your grinding out for just a few hopefully larger ones ...

I had caught the 8 lb.er last Saturday on a trap but my primary deal was a Bandit 250 ledge ( red crawfish ) in 10-12 feet of water. Most of the boats here are beating the banks with traps and spinnerbaits out to 6 feet of water in thick vegetation. I stayed out a little deeper and focused more on timber just out in front of the flats with an occasional clump of hydrilla here and there at that depth.

Pics were taken at Cypress Bend boat launch. As soon as they were taken all 5 were released healthy. Gotta love cooler water temps for fish care.

The gear I used mostly today was again nothing fancy ....

Curado 200i
Powell Endurance 726 H Cranking Rod
30 lb. Stren Sonic Braid ( yes cranking on braid )
Bandit Ledge 250 ( replaced hooks to #2 KVD's)

Jeff

[Ham Solo]

Congratulations, man! That's awesome!

I'm sure that Gary will love seeing that sweatshirt.