Choosing the choice spots

AFS anglers seeking Toledo Bend’s big fish potential

MANY, La. – Nature has its pecking orders and the largemouth bass of Toledo Bend follow a self-regulated system in which the biggest fish claim the prime habitat. Finding these areas will be the goal for anglers fishing the final FLW American Fishing Series Texas Division event.

Known for its quality and quantity, this Sabine River reservoir can quickly change ones fortunes with a nice little rally or that one big bite. Entering day two in 13th place, Arkansas pro Larry Nixon sits 9 ounces out of the top-10 with 19-4. Although he consistently found quality fish, he’s determined to locate the big ones that will push him higher in the standings.

“I had about 10 places where I thought I was going to catch fish and in two or three of them, I thought I was going to catch big fish,” Nixon said. “I caught a good string of fish, but I never caught a big fish. I had a limit that was about 4 pounds apiece. Maybe today I can get one of those great big ones to bite and catch a good sack of fish and move back up there close to winning this thing.”

Nixon said he’ll stick with the same Texas-rigging tactics he fished on day one. He’s throwing a black grape or candybug worm with a 5/16-ounce weight.

“There’s nothing fancy; I’m just hopping it, shaking it and hoping to find a stump or a log or something down there on the bottom,” Nixon said. “Anywhere there’s cover on the edge of one of those boat lanes, that’s the kind of places the fish are in.”

He’s fishing in 18-25 feet of water and targeting the “choice” locations where solitary lunkers live.

“Big fish have a habit of doing one of two things – they’ll either use a choice grass bed or a choice drop-off and usually they’re not where you find a big school of fish,” Nixon said. “When you find great big fish, it might be two or three together, but it’s not a big school of fish.”

Nixon said the spots most attractive to the big fish are the drastic breaks that suddenly plunge to deeper water. Stick-outs and other oddball features around the tip of a break are the sweet spots.

“That’s what I key on all day long,” Nixon said. “I hunt that choice piece of break. Hopefully, I can find a place today where a big one is moving up to eat.”

Pro leader George Jeane Jr. has a lot of big fish located and his 30-pound, 5-ounce day one bag gives him a lead of more than 7 pounds. Jeane said he culled another 20 pounds on day one. He’s targeting creek channels in the south end of the lake and he’s hopeful that his main spot will serve up another competitive bag today.

“I think (I have plenty of fish) if no one has gotten on them and there wasn’t a boat around me for miles (on day one).”

Jeane’s was the first number called at the day two checkout, so he’ll get first crack at his spot.

Yesterday, tenth place pro Harold Allen of Shelbyville, Texas, had a limit of 19-13 that was buoyed by the day’s biggest fish – a fat 9-8. Allen said he had a plan for the fish he’d found in practice, but Jeane’s heroics compelled him to rethink his strategy.

“I kind of backed off yesterday because I thought I had caught enough to manage my fish until (Saturday’s finale),” Allen said. “But I didn’t expect a 30-pound stringer. There were some key places I didn’t hit yesterday, but we’ll hit those today.”

Logistics

Anglers will takeoff and weigh-in at Cypress Bend Park located at 3462 Cypress Bend Drive, Many, La. Takeoff will be at 6:30 each morning while weigh-in will begin at 2:30 p.m. daily. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

Pros will fish for a top award of $25,000 plus a 198VX Ranger boat with 200-horsepower outboard if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. Co-anglers will cast for a top award of $10,000. If the co-angler meets the Ranger Cup guidelines, they will earn an additional $5,000.

The Toledo Bend American Fishing Series tournament is being hosted by the Sabine Parish Tourism Commission & Sabine River Authority.

Friday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 6:09 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 74 degrees

Expected high temperature: 95 degrees

Water temperature: 85 degrees

Wind: S 5-7 mph

Humidity: 55 percent

Day’s outlook: sunny